The colloquium will feature the invited talk by Prof. Nobuhiro Yanai, “Molecular Quantum Sensors Enabled by Materials Chemistry,” presenting recent advances in quantum sensing with chemically engineered molecular systems, from biological environments to programmable materials.
The programme also includes a contribution from the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW, where Julia Zolg (Ulm University) will present her work on “Organic Light-Emitting Diradicals for Quantum Applications.”
The event will include a networking coffee, offering the opportunity for informal exchange with speakers and participants.
The invited talk abstract and further information are available below. If you wish to participate remotely, please get in touch with us using the button below.
Scientific Exchange and Community Building at the IQST Retreat 2026
The IQST Retreat 2026, held from 11–13 May at Schloss Reisensburg, brought together more than 40 early-career researchers from across the IQST community for three days of scientific exchange, training, networking, and community building. Participants from seven universities and research institutes across Baden-Württemberg joined the retreat, representing a broad spectrum of research areas within quantum science and technology. Set above the Danube valley near Günzburg, the historic venue offered an ideal environment for intensive scientific discussions, informal interactions, and interdisciplinary exchange throughout the retreat.
The scientific program featured research and tutorial talks by:
Eva Peters (QuiX Quantum GmbH) — Modern Ways of Management
Tobias Huber-Loyola (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) — Quantum dots for the generation of single and entangled photons
Laëtitia Farinacci (University of Würzburg) — Magnetism at the atomic scale: engineering interactions with the environment to achieve coherent spin dynamics
Patrick Emonts (Ulm University) — Introduction to Many-Body Certification Methods
Gláucia Murta (Vienna University of Technology) — Security of quantum key distribution
The final day also featured a workshop on innovation and entrepreneurship led by Mia-Celine Zsohár (University of Stuttgart) and Lena Schmid (Ulm University), focusing on pathways from academic research to innovation activities and startups.
In addition to the scientific and training sessions, the retreat included two interactive poster sessions, networking activities, and community-building events. An interactive icebreaker game encouraged participants to connect with researchers from other groups and institutions, helping to initiate discussions and new exchanges early in the retreat. The team-building event further strengthened these interactions, as participants were mixed into groups during a blacklight minigolf session that combined collaboration, friendly competition, and informal networking in a relaxed atmosphere.
During the retreat, participants also elected the new PhD representatives of the IQST Early-Career Network: Mirko Rossini (Ulm University), Annarita Ricci (University of Freiburg), Qinlin Zhang (Heidelberg University), and Alessandro Ciorra (University of Stuttgart).
The IQST Retreat 2026 highlighted once again the importance of creating spaces for interdisciplinary exchange, collaboration, and community building within the growing quantum ecosystem in Baden-Württemberg.
Open call for PhD projects in the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW
IQST invites applications for new PhD project proposals within the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW. Funded by the Innovationscampus QuantumBW (Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts), the programme supports doctoral research projects that combine excellent fundamental research with perspectives for future technological applications.
Applications must be submitted jointly by an academic supervisor at a university or research institution in Baden-Württemberg and an industry advisor from a company, SME, or startup in Europe. Projects should focus on excellent fundamental research while encouraging early consideration of transfer opportunities and unconventional or emerging research directions.
Since its launch in 2024, the IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW has established an international and interdisciplinary research environment and currently supports 11 ongoing research projects with doctoral researchers from around the world. In addition to scientific training, the programme offers structured professional development in transferable skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation-related topics. All training activities are open to early-career researchers from all universities in Baden-Württemberg.
The application deadline for project proposals is 30 June 2026. Application documents and detailed submission guidelines are available below.
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 Graduate School @QuantumBW continues to grow with further support
The IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW will receive an additional 4.5 million euros from the Innovationscampus QuantumBW (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.
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.
IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW: Three Days of Science, Skills, and Industry Insights
The IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW successfully ran a three-day program from 1–3 December 2025, bringing together its first international cohort of doctoral researchers, academic supervisors from across Baden-Württemberg, and representatives from the regional quantum industry. The event gathered participants from six countries across four continents and showcased strong links between academic research and local industry.
Day 1 – Project Presentations and Scientific Exchange
The meeting opened with welcome remarks by Prof. Dr. Stefanie Barz, Director of IQST, and continued with a full day of scientific exchange. Academic supervisors from five Baden-Württemberg universities — University of Stuttgart, Ulm University, Heidelberg University, University of Tübingen and University of Freiburg — presented the newly funded Graduate School projects.
A highlight of the day was the tutorial talk by Dr. Susanne Baumann (University of Stuttgart), titled “Controlling Individual Magnetic Spins on the Atomic Scale.” Project presentations by the academic supervisors were followed by a lively poster session, where PhD students presented their research plans, early results and internship timelines and engaged directly with supervisors and industry guests. Representatives from ten industry partners — active across the Baden-Württemberg quantum ecosystem and hosting student internships — also participated in the day’s discussions.
Day 2 – Early Career Training: Scientific Presentations Workshop
Day 2 launched the Graduate School’s Early Career Training series (open to IQST students and early career researchers across the region) with an interactive workshop led by Prof. Dr. Matt Carter (Williams College): “Scientific Presentations: How to Optimize Posters and Talks.”
Core principles of effective scientific communication
Crafting a compelling narrative
Designing clear, impactful visual slides
Presenting with confidence
Poster formats and practical alternatives
Participants worked through practical exercises, received peer feedback, and refined their presentation and poster skills in hands-on sessions.
Day 3 – Industry Visit: Swabian Instruments
The final day featured a visit to Swabian Instruments in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. The program included a company presentation and an introduction to time-tagging technology, followed by a networking lunch with company staff where students and employees exchanged views on careers and industry transitions. The visit continued with a guided tour of R&D and production areas and concluded with a practical, hands-on session using the Time Tagger API.
Thanks & Next Steps
We warmly thank all students, supervisors, speakers and industry partners for their contributions to a successful kickoff program. The IQST Graduate School @QuantumBW is funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts of Baden-Württemberg (MWK) via QuantumBW. Stay tuned for further training activities and collaborative events across the IQST network.
