QVLS strategy and future prospects
Over the next 10 years, more than 1.5 billion euros are to flow into quantum technologies in the region. Through its diverse activities, the QVLS aims to act as a catalyst to strengthen the existing local ecosystem of research institutions, companies, start-ups and political decision-makers. In this way, the potential of quantum technologies can be translated into real solutions that create added value for society and the economy. Looking to the future, QVLS aims to further expand the growing regional ecosystem to become one of the world’s leading centers for quantum innovation.
For QVLS, research on ion trap quantum processors is particularly important as this technology has the potential for scalable quantum computing applications. Equipped with a strong infrastructure and an investment of 25 million euros spread over the next five years, the initiative’s flagship project QVLS-Q1 aims to build a scalable 50-qubit ion trap quantum computer by the end of 2025.
The QVLS strategy, developed in collaboration with our partners, includes six focus areas for the next ten years: innovation-enabling partnerships, outstanding research, strong quantum technology industry, world-class infrastructure, sustainable talent education, community and outreach.
Read more about QVLS’ strategy (in German) here (PDF).
Based on the outstanding research collaborations already established in the region and the existing research infrastructure, excellent basic research in the field of quantum technologies and the necessary key technologies will continue to be conducted at the highest level. The DFG-funded clusters of excellence QuantumFrontiers and PhoenixD as well as the special research areas DQ-mat and TerraQ, in which the fundamentals and applications of quantum and nanometrology, quantum sensor technology and quantum computing are researched, stand for this.
Due to the market proximity of the quantum sensor technology in focus here and, in the future, quantum computing, the focus will increasingly be on marketing quantum technologies by transferring them to industry. In addition to low-threshold access to critical infrastructure, support for start-ups and the transfer of expertise and qualified personnel to industry will play a key role here. Several projects are being planned for this purpose, e.g. the QVLS-iLabs, in which researchers will work together with industry partners in joint integration laboratories to transform technological developments into marketable products. Furthermore, deep-tech company start-ups in the field of quantum technologies are to be stimulated as part of a proposed high-tech incubator/accelerator (QVLS-HTI). To bridge the “valley of death” between application-oriented research and the market, the QVLS-HTI GmbH to be founded will be a second central element in addition to the cooperation with the research institutions. This will bundle all operational activities relating to private investors and venture capital. The focus here will be on “patient capital”, i.e. long-term financing. This will create a sustainable regional incubator with european appeal.
As part of a long-term strategy, the quantum technology infrastructure is to be sustainably expanded, e.g. with a new building for the Quantum Technology Competence Center at the PTB, a new building for physics at the TU Braunschweig, as well as a research building for quantum computing in Hanover and new buildings for the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics and the DLR-SI.