First Hamburg Quantum Network Meeting a complete success
Prof. Dr Klaus Sengstock conducts research on quantum gases at the Department of Physics at the University of Hamburg. He coordinates the BMBF-funded project Rymax.
The Hamburg Quantum Innovation Capital (hqic) invited to the First Hamburg Quantum Network Meeting. Actors of the Hamburg quantum technology ecosystem gave insight into their research and development activities and talked about the next development steps of the Hamburg ecosystem.
The quantum technology ecosystem of the metropolitan region has been sustainably strengthened by the funding measures at federal and state level. Integral components of this are the Package of measures by the Hamburg Senate for 34 million euros to strengthen the quantum computing ecosystem and the awarding of contracts by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for the Construction of quantum computers based on ion traps worth €208.5 million. The Hamburg Quantum Network Meeting builds on these developments, integrates the adopted measures more closely into the existing ecosystem and networks the players in the quantum technology ecosystem. Actors along the entire value chain from the Hamburg metropolitan region took part in the event. From enabling technology actors such as Schäfter+Kirchhoff, research institutions such as the University of Hamburg, the Technical University of Hamburg, the University of Lübek, the Fraunhofer CML, the DLR to quantum technology start-ups such as QUDORA Technologies, ParityQC, eleQtron and industrial actors such as NXP Semiconductors, Lufthansa Industry Solution, Atos, AIRBUS, the Otto Group and HHLA. The successful exchange was introduced by Jan Pröksen, Head of the Hamburg Senate Chancellery and accompanied by short presentations by the following actors, who gave insights into some of their multi-layered activities.
University of Hamburg: Quantum Annealer and Hamburg Quantum Computing School
About the research activities of the University of Hamburg and in particular the Centre for Optical Quantum Technologies (ZOQ) Professor Dr Klaus Sengstock from the Department of Physics and head of the Quantum Gases Research Group spoke. The focus was on the 25 million euro funded BMBF project Rymax and the Hamburg Quantum Computing School. Within the BMBF project, ZOQ is leading the development of a quantum annealer for industrial applications, especially logistics. The goal is 500 qubits and integration into a high-performance computing environment by 2026. With the 19.1 million euro funded “Hamburg Quantum Computing School”, both the University of Hamburg and the Technical University of Hamburg are addressing a key success factor for the development and expansion of the quantum computing ecosystem: Research and education in the areas of hardware, software and applications of quantum computers will be strengthened. This also includes a connection to industry in order to promote the transfer of technology and knowledge plus spin-offs at the location.
Fraunhofer CML: Quantum computing for maritime logistics
On the part of the Fraunhofer Centre for Maritime Logistics and Services (Fraunhofer CML) Dr Ole John, Head of Department for Ship and Fleet Management, spoke about quantum computing for ship type and maritime logistics. In maritime logistics, there are many complex issues such as route optimisation, optimal port sequencing and fleet management, which form the core of the operations of various players in the maritime industry. These are too complex for today’s digital high-performance computers and cannot be solved efficiently. Accordingly, the City of Hamburg is funding the development of quantum algorithms for maritime logistics at the Fraunhofer CML with a volume of 2 million euros as part of its package of measures. In this context, the Fraunhofer CML is researching the platform-independent realisation of use cases, identification and mathematical modelling, backend solvers and associated tests and evaluations of the short-, medium- and long-term potential of quantum computing.
University of Lübek: Hardware-accelerated database management systems
To further accelerate digital applications, new approaches to data management are being investigated in the metropolitan region. Within the framework of the BMBF project QC4DB: Quantum computing for databases researches Prof. Dr Sven Groppe from the University of Lübek from the Institute for Information Systems on relational database management systems. The project is investigating hardware acceleration using quantum computers to enable the optimisation of transaction schedules and queries. Following on from the research activity, the University of Lübek offers its own lecture on quantum information theory, which is intended to sustainably strengthen expertise at the interface of physics and computer science.
DESY: Strategic initiative – DESY QUANTUM
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Borras, Chief scientist at Deutsche Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) and Professor of Physics at RWTH Aachen University, presented the quantum technology initiative DESY QUANTUM. DESY QUANTUM bundles DESY’s research activities at the Zeuthen site and in Hamburg into three strategic areas: Development and application of quantum sensors, as well as research and realisation of methods and applications in quantum computing and the development of quantum materials. The special features of DESY lie in the unique combination of competences in detector development, novel computing methods and access to high-resolution X-ray sources in Hamburg, as well as the newly founded Centre for Quantum Technologies and Applications in Zeuthen. Examples of current research projects are, in the area of quantum machine learning, the project funded by the EU over 1.26 million euros. Tensor networks in the simulation of quantum materials and in the field of quantum error mitigation, the BMBF-funded 2 million euro project Noise in Quantum algorithms.
NXP Semiconductors: Quantum computers based on ion traps and post-quantum cryptography
On the part of NXP Semiconductors Dr. Svend Buhl, Head of Government Relations, spoke on research and development activities in the field of quantum technologies. NXP is involved in each of the three projects tendered by DLR for the Construction of quantum computers based on ion traps to the tune of €208.5 million and gave a closer look at the collaborations with DLR and consortium partners ParityQC, eleQtron and QUDORA Technologies. For the construction of ionic quantum computers, NXP contributes its semiconductor expertise, control electronics for integration into classical computing environments, as well as photon detection sensor technology and suitable cyrogenic packaging. A special feature of the cooperation within the framework of these consortiums is the DLR-led Quantum Computing Innovation Centre at the NXP site in Hamburg. This is where DLR’s tendered research projects, industry, start-ups and future users meet and form an important nucleus of the Hamburg ecosystem. In addition to these activities, an insight was gained into the Involvement of NXP in the development of post-quantum cryptography standards s given.