DFG Graduate School “Towards Graduate Experts in Photonic Quantum Technologies”
The graduate school GRK 2462 Towards Graduate Experts in Photonic Quantum Technologies” started in 2021 and aims to establish a new type of professional: The Photonic Quantum Engineer. The Research Training Group builds on the activities of the Stuttgart Research Centre of Photonic Engineering (SCoPE) and IQST.
The Photonic Quantum Engineer is an expert in both quantum physics and engineering. The Research Training Group therefore pursues in innovative interdisciplinary training programme that covers aspects ranging from novel materials and fabrication methods, electronics and data analysis to theory and simulations. Each PhD student is jointly supervised by an expert in physics and an expert in engineering, and works on cutting-edge research projects related to quantum light sources, quantum sensing and enabling technologies.
Cluster for Future QSens
The joint project QSens has won the highly competitive “Clusters4Future” competition of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as one of seven innovation networks in Germany and the only one on quantum technologies. Since 2021, researchers from Stuttgart and Ulm work with industry to develop quantum sensors for future applications and bring them to market. Applications range from medical diagnostics to autonomous driving and information technology (IoT — Internet of Things).
In addition to the existing industrial cooperation with Zeiss, Bosch, Bruker and Trumpf within IQST, further industrial partners are involved. There are also strong collaborations with the state research institute IMS Chips in Stuttgart and the recently established DLR — QT Institute (German Aerospace Centre on Quantum Technologies) in Ulm.
Competence Network Quantum Technology in BW | QTBW.net
Leading research institutions and institutes in Baden-Württemberg have joined forces to form the nationwide “Quantum Technology — Baden-Württemberg” (QTBW.net) competence network in 2020. The Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg foundation is providing five million euros in funding for interdisciplinary and cross-location research projects from this network. The “Quantum Technologies” research programme of the Baden-Württemberg Foundation aims to support excellent research and existing research groups in Baden-Württemberg, and to translate their results into practical applications.
QTBW.net receives an additional one million euros from the Ministry of Science and the Arts (MWK) to finance the network’s activities. The mission of QTBW.net is to bundle research, development and application of quantum technologies and to strategically position Baden-Württemberg as a leading research location in this fledging field.
QPhoton
The transregional centre QPhoton, funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, provides an interdisciplinary platform for research and exchange for around 50 scientists from the universities of Jena, Stuttgart and Ulm working in the broad field of quantum photonics. Photonics is one of the key technologies of quantum science: Photons serve as sensors, data carriers and quantum systems. Linking the three sites accelerates the translation of basic research results into applications. The respective strengths in quantum technologies with atoms, solids, superconducting materials and photons complement each other and also enable the targeted promotion of young scientists.
The aim of QPhoton is to develop a new generation of imaging and sensor technologies based on quantum science. These will enable higher sensitivities and faster data processing. To this end, research is being carried out in three areas of innovation: sensor technologies for the control of quantum systems, quantum technologies for quantum imaging, and quantum-based information processing.