The Bavarian state government is funding quantum science and technology (QWT) with around 120 million euros over the next two years, Prime Minister Markus Söder announced after a recent the cabinet meeting.
In a news release (in German), the government reported that an alliance of non-university research institutions with the participation of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences is committed to founding a Munich center for QWT to open up new opportunities in this field of innovation for Bavaria as a base for science and business.
The release states: “The area of QWT makes targeted use of the properties of quantum physics in order to generate new applications in information and communication technology, sensor technology, materials science and basic research and to open up new branches of technology in the long term. With the current funding program as part of the Hightech Agenda Bavaria, this important future area, in which Bavaria has a top position worldwide, is being decisively strengthened and positioned for international competition. The aim is to build on the successful basic research on QWT.”
The initiative led to the establishment of the DFG-funded cluster of excellence Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST) in Munich with the participation of the Walther Meißner Institute for Low Temperature Research (WMI) of the BAdW. The Leibniz Computing Center (LRZ) of the BAdW organizes the “Bavarian Quantum Computing Exchange”, a monthly forum for science and industry.
In a partnership between research and industry, the current program is intended to cover all aspects from the basics to the application in order to position Bavaria at the top in this economically important technology area, according to the release. An alliance of non-university research institutions of the Max Planck Society (MPG), the Fraunhofer Society (FHG) and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences (BAdW) is formed with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich (LMU) ) for the establishment of a Munich center in this area, which would work with particularly high international visibility in Bavaria-wide activities. Munich and Bavaria are to be developed into a leading international center with the potential to attract the best researchers and open up new opportunities for Bavaria as a business location in this field of innovation.
As a research institute of the BAdW, the Walther Meißner Institute (WMI) conducts top international research in the field of quantum and solid state physics. It develops experimental methods for the production and characterization of superconducting and magnetic material systems and components. Thanks to its broad scientific expertise and modern technological facilities, it occupies a leading position in its fields of work and forms the nucleus for numerous national and international joint projects.
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