Berlin to become a hotspot for research and development of quantum technologies

The new “Berlin Quantum Alliance” aims to pool the expertise of universities and research institutes and develop joint initiatives with Berlin’s business community. The goal of the “Berlin Quantum Alliance” is to sustainably expand existing competencies in quantum technology with the help of the state funding of 25 million euros. Both the fundamentals of quantum research and its practical application will be strengthened. To this end, the alliance also wants to attract top international scientists to the capital.

On the initiative of the Governing Mayor and Berlin Senator for Science and Research, Michael Müller, the Berlin Senate is funding the project over the next five years with a total of 25 million euros from the state’s Innovation Promotion Fund. The first tranche of 10 million euros has now been allocated by the main committee of the House of Representatives at its meeting on September 8, 2021. Quantum computing and quantum technologies are among the most important future technologies with great potential to produce completely new technical solutions, such as more powerful computers, more accurate measuring devices, or more secure data communications.

The Governing Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Science and Research: “Berlin is now a leading research metropolis and the right place for key technologies. With our excellent universities, research institutes, and innovative companies, we have the best prerequisites for Berlin to develop into a true hotspot for quantum technologies. To this end, we have consistently invested in the innovative potential of our city in recent years and are continuing to expand this funding. Because every euro invested in science and research is good for all of Berlin and the best insurance for the future of our city.”

The Berlin Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy, and Operations, Ramona Pop: “Berlin relies on future technology like no other city. By bundling the competencies of quantum technology in the Berlin Quantum Alliance, we are strengthening our science and business location. The development of quantum technologies is a steadily advancing field of research worldwide. That’s why it’s important for Berlin to play a part in this megatrend and lay the foundation for new, future-proof jobs.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. Sabine Kunst, Spokesperson of the Berlin University Alliance: “The Berlin Quantum Alliance sustainably strengthens scientific competence and promotes economically relevant developments. This is successfully achieved by networking established and excellent competencies in the Berlin University Alliance together with non-university research institutions. Science plays a key role in ensuring that Berlin, as a science location, is on an equal footing internationally in the important fields of the future.”

Dr. Stefan Franzke, Managing Director of Berlin Partner: “Berlin combines research, industrial, and start-up culture in one location and thus offers ideal development conditions for a technology field on the threshold of industrial use. The city attracts young talent from all over the world, who find excellent conditions for transferring new knowledge from research to industry at the interdisciplinary interfaces between science and business. In the recent past, networking initiatives such as innoQT, the first quantum technology start-ups, and settlements in Berlin have laid an important foundation for a new, dynamic quantum community. By supporting the Berlin Quantum Alliance, the State of Berlin is providing the right stimulus at the right time to take the next step. Berlin will thus once again become a place where we are already working today on the answers to the questions of tomorrow.”

With the state funding, a strategic development of joint initiatives is pursued in the interaction between the Berlin University Alliance, non-university research institutes, as well as providers and users from industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups. The funds used are also intended to have a leverage effect and enable the acquisition of an additional 40 million euros from funding programs of the German Federal Government, the European Union, and other funding institutions. The Berlin Quantum Alliance (BQA) is based on a concept jointly developed by researchers from the Alliance of Excellence with Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, as well as the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications (HHI).

BQA’s efforts include training young scientists in the future field of quantum technologies and promoting international cooperation, especially in Europe and compatible with the activities of the “Quantum Flagship,” an initiative of the EU Commission. Advancing the necessary basic research, combining expertise from physics, computer science, materials science, engineering, and electrical engineering, is another key BQA measure. For example, with the help of the Einstein Foundation Berlin, the Berlin University Alliance has founded a long-term research alliance, the Einstein Research Unit “Perspectives of a quantum digital transformation.” Technological applications are to be further developed on the basis of the research. The BQA also supports the transfer of competencies from research to the regional economy within the framework of joint projects and by means of spin-offs from universities and research institutions.


Your Press Contacts:
Matthias Kuder, Press spokesman for Science and Research
The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Senate Chancellery - Science and Research
Phone: +49 (0)30 9026 5010, Email: matthias.kuder(at)wissenschaft.berlin.de

Matthias Wulff, Deputy Press Officer of the Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Operations
Phone: +49 (0)30-90 13 74 18, Email: matthias.wulff(at)senweb.berlin.de