Inside the Lab: Exploring Quantum Research @Fraunhofer IAF
The IQST Visit @Fraunhofer IAF, held on 20 April 2026, brought together early-career researchers from across the IQST community for a day of scientific exchange and networking at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF.
The program opened with welcome remarks by Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Quay, followed by a series of engaging talks on quantum technologies and materials, covering topics from diamond-based quantum systems to quantum optimal control and materials development. A networking lunch provided ample opportunity for participants to connect and exchange ideas across institutions and research areas.
In the afternoon, guided lab tours offered first-hand insights into ongoing research activities, including quantum computing platforms and diamond growth facilities, complemented by a live demonstration on quantum machine learning.
The visit was part of the Early-Career Training series organized by the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW, which supports the scientific and professional development of young researchers while fostering connections within the wider quantum ecosystem.
These activities are supported by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg.
Stay tuned for further activities in the IQST Early-Career Training series.
IQST is pleased to announce the next round of funding opportunities within the IQST Boosting Programme and the IQST Postdoc Programme. These calls offer researchers the opportunity to develop their ideas, initiate new collaborations, and advance their research within a dynamic quantum science environment.
The Boosting Programme supports IQST Fellows in developing high-quality proof-of-concept projects, enabling them to explore new research directions, establish collaborations, and prepare follow-up proposals for major funding schemes. Projects can receive up to 100,000 €, bringing together two IQST Fellows in collaborative research efforts.
The Postdoc Programme is aimed at outstanding early-career researchers in quantum science who are interested in joining an IQST research group. Fellows benefit from working in an interdisciplinary environment, strengthening their research profile, and building new collaborations across institutions. The postdoc position is funded for up to one year and includes additional support for travel and consumables.
The calls for applications are open until 15 May 2026. Selected projects must be completed by 31 July 2027.
Detailed information and application templates are available below.
IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW continues to grow with further support
The IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW will receive an additional 4.5 million euros from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts for the period 2027 to 2032. This support enables the continuation and expansion of the graduate school and further strengthens quantum research and training in Baden-Württemberg. The organisational implementation of the Graduate School is managed at the University of Stuttgart.
“The continued support builds on the successful development of the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW and allows us to further expand our activities,” says Prof. Dr. Stefanie Barz, coordinator of the Graduate School. “Within IQST, we support projects that bridge the gap between basic research and technology development and create an environment for new ideas to grow.”
Since its launch in 2024, the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW has established itself as a vibrant platform for structured doctoral training in quantum science. It currently supports 11 research projects with doctoral researchers from around the world, fostering an international and interdisciplinary research environment. The new funding phase will enable the establishment of additional cohorts of doctoral researchers.
The graduate school combines excellent fundamental research with early perspectives on potential applications. Doctoral researchers are integrated into cutting-edge projects from the outset and complement their scientific training with transferable skills and entrepreneurship education. Internships with partners from industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startups provide additional insights beyond academia and contribute to the programme’s growing European network.
With its training and professional development offers—open to early-career researchers from all universities in Baden-Württemberg—the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW contributes to shaping the next generation of quantum scientists.
The Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST) invites applications for its Sparking Programme, offering scholarships for outstanding Master’s students working on quantum-related thesis projects within IQST research groups. The application deadline is 15 April 2026.
The programme aims to connect talented students with cutting-edge quantum research at an early stage, supporting Master’s thesis projects carried out under the supervision of an IQST Fellow. In addition to academic excellence, IQST places strong emphasis on diversity, equality, and internationalisation, and explicitly encourages applications from underrepresented groups in quantum science and technology.
Scholarships are granted for up to 12 months during the Master’s thesis, with additional support available for participation in IQST activities. Applicants must be enrolled in a relevant MSc programme, have secured supervision by an IQST Fellow, and submit a joint application including a letter of support.
Join IQST and take your first step into the world of quantum research—apply now and become part of a vibrant and international community shaping the future of quantum technologies!
The IQST Retreat 2026 brings together PhD students and early-career researchers from across the IQST network for three days of scientific exchange, networking, and professional development. The program combines research and tutorial talks, poster sessions, and interactive workshops, providing opportunities for participants to present their work and engage with peers from different institutions.
The retreat will take place at Schloss Reisensburg near Günzburg.
To facilitate travel, a bus transfer will be organized from Stuttgart with a stop in Ulm. Participants can join the bus at either location. Detailed travel information will be shared with registered participants.
Please note that the program below is preliminary and may be adjusted as further details are confirmed.
Preliminary Program
Monday — 11 May 2026
09:00: Bus departure from Uni Stuttgart (Campus Vaihingen) 10:00: Bus stop at Uni Ulm (Meyerhofstraße — ZQB) 11:00: Arrival at Schloss Reisensburg 11:00 – 12:30: Check-in and Welcome Coffee 12:30 – 14:00: Lunch 14:00 – 15:00:Research Talk: Jasmin Meinecke (Technical University Berlin) 15:00 – 16:00:Industry Insights Talk: Eva Peters (QuiX Quantum GmbH) 16:00 – 16:30: Coffee break 16:30 – 18:30:Tutorial talk: Tobias Huber-Loyola (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) 18:30 – 19:00: Discussion 19:00 – 20:30: Dinner 20:30 – 22:00:Poster Session – Group I
Tuesday — 12 May 2026
08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast 09:00 – 11:00:Tutorial Talk: Laëtitia Farinacci (University of Würzburg) — Magnetism at the atomic scale: engineering interactions with the environment to achieve coherent spin dynamics 11:00 – 11:30: Coffee break 11:30 – 12:30:Tutorial Talk: Sabine Wölk (German Aerospace Center — DLR) – Quantum Machine Learning (Part I) 12:30 – 13:30: Lunch 13:30 – 14:30:Tutorial Talk: Sabine Wölk (German Aerospace Center — DLR) – Quantum Machine Learning (Part II) 15:00 – 19:00: Social activity 19:00 – 20:30: Dinner 20:30 – 22:00:Poster Session – Group II
Wednesday — 13 May 2026
08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast 09:00 – 11:00:Tutorial Talk: Gláucia Murta (Vienna University of Technology) — Security of quantum key distribution 11:00 – 11:30: Coffee break 11:30 – 12:30:Workshop: Mia-Celine Zsohár (Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science, University of Stuttgart) and Lena Schmid (Entrepreneurs Campus, Ulm University) – Your Path from PhD to Innovator (Part I) 12:30 – 13:30: Lunch 13:30 – 15:30:Workshop: Mia-Celine Zsohár (Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science, University of Stuttgart) and Lena Schmid (Entrepreneurs Campus, Ulm University) – Your Path from PhD to Innovator (Part II) 16:00: Bus departure from Reisensburg 17:00: Bus stop at Uni Ulm (Meyerhofstraße — ZQB) 18:00: Arrival at Uni Stuttgart (Campus Vaihingen)
Participation is free of charge but spots are limited, so we encourage early registration.
Join Us in Freiburg: Registration Open for the Next Early-Career Training Event
20 April 2026 @ Fraunhofer IAF
The IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW is pleased to invite young researchers from across the IQST community and the Baden-Württemberg quantum ecosystem to the next event in our Early-Career Training series: IQST Visit @Fraunhofer IAF.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about ongoing research activities at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF. The program also includes guided laboratory tours and time for informal discussion and networking.
Preliminary program
11:00 – Arrival and registration
11:10 – 11:30 – Welcome note — Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Quay
11:30 – 13:00 – Talks and Q&A
Talk: Quantum Systems Engineering for Diamond-Based Quantum Computing – Dr. Rebekka Eberle
Talk: Pulse-sequence optimization for efficient quantum optimal control – Dr. Walter Hahn
Talk: Chemical vapor deposition of diamond for quantum applications – Dr. Philipp Schätzle
13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch break and networking
14:00 – 16:00 – Lab tours and presentations
Quantum Computing Lab Tour – Annarita Ricci
Diamond Growth Lab Tour – Dr. Philipp Schätzle
Live demonstration: Pac Man meets Quantum Machine Learning – Michael Krebsbach
This is a preliminary program and will be updated as further details are confirmed.
These early-career training activities are offered by the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW, funded by the Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg.
On 23 February 2026, the IQST community gathered at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) for IQST Day 2026. Hosted in the Gaede Lecture Hall, the event brought together more than 200 participants from across academia and the broader quantum ecosystem for a full day of scientific exchange, discussion, and networking.
The day began with welcome remarks by IQST Directors Stefanie Barz and Fedor Jelezko, joined by Ina Schaefer, Vice Provost Research at KIT. In their opening addresses, they emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the growing strength of the quantum landscape in Baden-Württemberg and beyond.
The scientific program featured an outstanding lineup of internationally renowned invited speakers. Costanza Toninelli (INO-CNR / LENS, Italy) opened the first session with insights into quantum interfaces based on single molecules, followed by Julian Schmitt (Heidelberg University, Germany), who explored new frontiers in quantum matter made of light.
In the second session, Ian Walmsley (University of Oxford, United Kingdom) presented perspectives on shaping the quantum future, before Carsten Rockstuhl (KIT) delivered an IQST Fellow talk on designed and inversely designed quantum nanophotonic systems.
After lunch and the first poster interactions, the afternoon continued with Klaus Blaum (Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Germany), who discussed advances in quantum metrology using Penning traps, and Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop (University of Queensland, Australia), who showcased optically controlled quantum sensors.
The final session highlighted further IQST Fellow contributions: Alexander Kühne (Ulm University), Patrick Emonts (Ulm University), and Julian Berberich (University of Stuttgart) presented their latest research spanning molecular quantum applications, tensor networks, and quantum algorithms.
A group picture during the afternoon coffee break captured the strong sense of community before the event concluded with an extended poster session and networking reception. The poster session once again proved to be a central element of IQST Day, fostering lively discussions between senior researchers, fellows, doctoral candidates, and industry representatives.
IQST Day 2026 marked the first time that KIT hosted this flagship IQST event, underlining the growing collaboration within the network and the shared commitment to advancing quantum science and technology through interdisciplinary exchange.
We thank all speakers, fellows, contributors, and participants for making IQST Day 2026 a dynamic and inspiring success.
Opening remarks by the IQST Directors, marking the start of IQST Day 2026 at KIT.
Ina Schaefer, Vice Provost Research at KIT, addressing the audience at IQST Day 2026.
Costanza Toninelli opening the scientific program of IQST Day 2026 with her invited talk.
Coffee break conversations fostering exchange across institutions and disciplines.
Ian Walmsley opening Session 2 with his invited lecture.
Carsten Rockstuhl presenting his work on quantum nanophotonic systems.
Lively exchange during the lunch break and poster session.
Klaus Blaum presenting during Session 3 of IQST Day 2026.
Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop sharing insights on optically controlled quantum sensors.
Conversations and new connections during the second coffee break.
IQST Fellow Alexander Kühne contributing to Session 4 at IQST Day 2026.
IQST Fellow talk by Patrick Emonts.
Julian Berberich presenting his research during the final session of the day.
A buzzing poster session and networking reception to conclude IQST Day 2026.
We are pleased to invite you to the next IQST Seminar,
given by Dr. Soo-hyon Phark.
Dr. Phark (Center for Quantum Nanoscience, Institute for Basic Science, Korea) will present recent advances in atomically engineered spin qubit platforms based on STM-ESR techniques.
Single- and Two-Qubit Quantum Gates to Bottom-up Crafted Spin Qubits
Date: Monday, 02 March 2026 Time: 14:00 – 15:00 Location: University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, Room 6.141
We are pleased to invite you to the next IQST Seminar,
given by Prof. Yasunobu Nakamura, on recent advances in
superconducting quantum computing.
In his talk, Prof. Nakamura will discuss progress toward scalable, fast,
and high-fidelity control and readout of superconducting qubits — key
technologies on the path to fault-tolerant quantum computing.
High-fidelity control and readout of superconducting qubits
Inside the Lab: IQST Early-Career Training Visit @Heidelberg
As part of the Early-Career Training Activities supported by the
IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW, the IQST Visit @Heidelberg
brought students and early-career researchers to the European Institute for
Neuromorphic Computing (EINC) for an afternoon of scientific exchange, hands-on
training, and networking.
The visit opened with a series of scientific talks highlighting current research
and innovation at the interface of quantum photonics and technology. Contributions
included a presentation on fiber-to-chip interconnects and reconfigurable photonic
circuits by J. Brandes, insights into superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors
and their applications by S. Ferrari, and a startup-focused talk by R. Bankwitz from
Linq Photonics, offering perspectives on the transition from academic
research to entrepreneurship.
A central element of the visit was the Pernice Lab tour, during which
participants rotated through five hands-on stations featuring live demonstrators.
These covered integrated photonic device characterization, fiber tapering using a
hydrogen flame, characterization setups for superconducting films and SNSPDs, active
fiber-to-chip alignment using a Fineplacer system, and a convolution-based neuromorphic
edge detection system. The interactive format enabled direct exchange with researchers
and provided valuable insights into experimental techniques and infrastructures.
The visit concluded with informal networking over refreshments, fostering discussions
across disciplines and institutions.
IQST warmly thanks the Pernice Lab and the entire hosting team in
Heidelberg for their openness, excellent organization, and commitment to early-career
training.
