Two consortial projects which involve ML4Q members started as of January 1st within the Federal Government Framework Program “Quantum technologies – from basic research to market”.
Quantum computer in the solid state – QSolid was granted a total funding volume of 76,3 million Euro for the next 5 years. The project is part of the funding call for quantum computer demonstrators which was released last May in order to support high-risk, pre-competitive research and development projects with the goal of realizing a demonstration quantum computer of the first-generation NISQ type. The consortium is coordinated by ML4Q member, Frank Wilhelm-Mauch (Forschungszentrum Jülich) and involves scientists from universities (Braunschweig, Stuttgart, Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Konstanz), non-university research institutions (Fraunhofer society, KIT, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena and CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik) as well as industry (Parity QC Germany, HQS Quantum Simulations, Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik, supracon, RACYICS, AdMOS, LPKF Laser & Electronics, ParTec, Atotech Deutschland, Atos Information Technology, Zurich Instrument Germany as well as GLOBALFOUNDRIES).
In this project, a quantum computer demonstrator with processor generations of different performance profiles (size, precision, application) based on superconducting circuits will be created. The core element is the combination of a qubit double strand with resonators. The circuits achieve their high quality through precise fabrication and analytics coupled with detailed modeling. System integration is guided by a tightly tuned software and firmware stack. A supply chain of supporting technologies is being established in preparation for further scaling steps.
QSolid is one of 8 demonstrator projects that started since December 2021 which involve other computing platforms including single atoms, photons, trapped ions as well as spin qubits in diamond. Find out more on quantentechnologien.de
Furthermore, David Gross is one of the partners of Quantum Methods and Benchmarking for Resource Allocation – QuBRA which is a collaborative effort between research and industry and is funded within the funding call for application networks for quantum computing. The consortium is coordinated by Leibniz Universität Hannover. Academic partners with expertise in quantum as well as classical information processing are the University of Cologne, Ruhr University Bochum and TU Braunschweig. Concrete application examples are to be developed in collaboration with Infineon Technologies AG and Volkswagen AG.
The goal of QuBRA is to bring together such a broad consortium of experts to quantify the extent of practical quantum advantage for combinatorial optimization of “NP-hard” problems; an issue that is currently poorly understood but of great importance for industrial applications, including optimization problems from the practical context of both industrial partners.
One example: For the production of goods ranging from microchips to automobiles, data from customers, suppliers and the company’s own factories must be combined in order to maximize the utilization of capital-intensive production facilities. Even small solution improvements to this optimization problem can lead to economic benefits amounting to millions.
Link to the press release of the University of Cologne
More on the Federal Government Framework Quantentechnologien on quantentechnologien.de