Hamburg on the way to becoming a Quantum Innovation Capital
How can the optimal path of millions of containers be calculated almost in real time? Which combinations of active ingredients are crucial for the development of new drugs? How can the most efficient flight routes be planned worldwide?
These are questions that we are rapidly reaching the limits of our technical capabilities to answer today. Help in answering them is promised by quantum computers, which with their incomparable performance and speed can make a decisive contribution to the solutions to these and other of the most pressing questions of our time.
The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg has recognised the potential of the technology for science and business and has set out to develop the topic further at the location. On 11 May, Economics Senator Michael Westhagemann and Dr Eva Gümbel, State Councillor for Science, officially launched the Hamburg Quantum Computing Initiative “Quantum Innovation Capital Hamburg” (QUIC). The aim of the initiative is to bundle, network and promote the world-leading potential of Hamburg’s science and industry in the field of quantum computing and to become one of the central pillars in the national and European quantum computing strategy.
Science Senator Katharina Fegebank: “With quantum computing, we will be able to solve the major social challenges of tomorrow, and Hamburg wants to be at the forefront. There is hardly any other place where scientific expertise in quantum computing is as concentrated as here. Our outstanding universities, our world-leading research institutions and the diverse funding projects form an ecosystem that gives Hamburg a unique locational advantage. That is why I am particularly pleased about the successful launch of the Hamburg Quantum Computing Initiative QUIC. It shows what is important now: using our potential from science and industry, promoting it and bringing it together in a way that is open to technology. In this way, we can ensure that Hamburg is at the forefront of the competition for technological leadership.
Senator for Economic Affairs Michael Westhagemann: “The QUIC quantum computing initiative is of outstanding importance for the Hamburg metropolitan region, both in economic and ecological terms. It will future-proof and sustainably strengthen the business location.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chairwoman of the DLR Executive Board: “Hamburg as a technology location is suitable for the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative’s innovation centre due to its competencies, in combination with the immediately available premises. The cooperation with start-ups and strong industrial partners guarantees a fast transfer of scientific results into industrial use.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Timm-Giel, President of the Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg): “Quantum computing is a technology of the future that is currently in transition from basic research to application. This is precisely where TU Hamburg, with its electrical engineering, microsystems engineering and computer science, is making its contribution to building quantum computers as a system and adapting them for application fields. I am pleased that Hamburg has the opportunity to develop the entire ecosystem for this technology: strong industrial and application partners, an excellent university environment, with which we can jointly ensure technology development and training of specialists. I am delighted to be part of this excellent initiative that will set new standards in Europe.”
Dr. Lars Reger, CTO NXP: “NXP is a central anchor of the semiconductor ecosystem in the Hamburg metropolitan region. Microchip development will also be a key driver of innovation in quantum computers. I look forward to contributing with our expertise as part of the Hamburg initiative to bring the Hanseatic city to the global forefront in quantum computing.”
Jörn Messner, Managing Director LHIND: “We see great potential for quantum computing-based optimisation in the aviation industry and are therefore already involved in the Quantum Technology & Application industry consortium (Qutac). As a founding member of ARIC, we are very pleased that the city of Hamburg has decided to expand the topic of quantum computing and are convinced that, with combined forces, we will become one of the leading regions in Germany.”
Within the framework of the event, key players presented in short lectures and discussion rounds which competences are available in the science and business sectors as well as in the field of applied research at the location, which people and institutions are already intensively involved with the topic and how a future-oriented joint perspective of Hamburg as a quantum computing location can be shaped.
The QUIC initiative will be based at the Hamburg Artificial Intelligence Center ARIC e. V., which, in addition to the topic of artificial intelligence, will also function as the central Hamburg contact and coordination point for the topic of quantum computing in the future. The activities will be flanked by a quantum computing innovation centre of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which is being established on the NXP campus in Lokstedt, where industrial partners will work together with DLR and other partners on the economically relevant further development of the quantum computing ecosystem.
Questions from the media:
Authority for Economy and Innovation
Susanne Meinecke
Telephone: 040 42841 2239
E-Mail: pressestelle@bwi.hamburg.de
Authority for Science, Research, Equality and Districts
Silvie Wemper
Telephone: 040 42863 2322
E-Mail: pressestelle@bwfgb.hamburg.de
Artificial Intelligence Center Hamburg (ARIC) e. V.
Benedikt-Sebastian Mehmel
Telephone: 0171 479 2361
E-Mail: mehmel@aric-hamburg.de
Source and further information:
FHH, BWI