Ministry of Science supports "Quantum Initiative Rhineland-Palatinate" with 1.2 million euros

In order to strengthen networking and coordination of quantum research in Rhineland-Palatinate, the universities in Kaiserslautern and Mainz are joining forces with the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM to form the Quantum Initiative Rhineland-Palatinate, or QUIP for short. The goal is also to specifically train young scientists in quantum technologies and make them fit for this new economic field. Among other things, a graduate college and summer schools are planned for this purpose. In addition, foreign students are to gain insight into the work at the participating institutions during research stays. The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science is funding QUIP for three years with about 1.2 million euros.

Science Minister Clemens Hoch handed over the funding decision at the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University (RPTU) in Kaiserslautern on 17 March.

In the future, quantum technologies will make it possible to meet central challenges in areas such as computing, sensor technology, energy technology, logistics and sustainability with completely new tools and methods. Quantum computers, for example, will perform computing operations much faster than supercomputers currently do. And quantum sensors could, for example, measure brain waves and tiny magnetic fields much more efficiently, or quantum encryption programmes could ensure absolutely secure encryption in message transmission. These are just three examples that show how the technologies can be used in different fields.

In recent years, research has laid the foundations for this. Quantum research at the universities in Kaiserslautern and Mainz has also played a large part in this. "Decisive contributions to the development of modern quantum technologies can be traced back to work done in Mainz and Kaiserslautern, such as so-called 2-qubit gates and Rydberg gates, which are used, for example, as building blocks in quantum computers to perform computing operations," says Professor Dr. Herwig Ott, who coordinates the initiative and conducts research on quantum atom optics at the RPTU in Kaiserslautern. But these technologies have also long played an important role in non-university research institutions and companies in Rhineland-Palatinate, especially in the development and testing of quantum algorithms.

The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science held the workshop "Quantum Technology in Rhineland-Palatinate" in March 2022. This had shown that the state was broadly positioned in the field of quantum technology, that researchers were in some cases national and international leaders in their field and that Rhineland-Palatinate had a high volume of third-party funding in the field of quantum technology. "Quantum technology is a key technology of the future; the technological leap it will bring about will change the world permanently. It was important that this workshop was held because, as areas with opportunities and potential, it highlighted better networking of stakeholders across institutions, better visibility of Rhineland-Palatinate as a quantum technology location, and the recruitment, training and retention of young talent. Here, we were happy to provide support on the path to the future and are making 1.2 million euros available to implement the Quantum Initiative Rhineland-Palatinate until the end of 2024 in order to strengthen research and innovation in the state, taking these results into account," said Science Minister Clemens Hoch.

The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), the RPTU, the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM are involved in QUIP.

One important task that the initiative has set itself is the promotion of young talent, as Professor Dr. Werner R. Thiel, Vice President for Research and Technology at RPTU in Kaiserslautern, explains: "We want to attract prospective students, undergraduates and graduates from all over the world to Rhineland-Palatinate as a location and to train and educate them here. We also want to make them an offer to stay in Rhineland-Palatinate after their studies or doctorate." Professor Dr. Stefan Müller-Stach, Vice President for Research and Young Academics at JGU, adds: "Currently, there is a lack of specialists in the region who are familiar with these new technologies. We also want to address this need with the new initiative."

A research training group is planned, which is open to all doctoral students from the quantum sciences in Rhineland-Palatinate and in which they can network with each other. In addition, the Research Training Group provides for soft skills seminars, a coaching and a mentoring programme as well as the establishment of so-called scientific focus groups, each of which focuses on one area of quantum research. There will also be regular meetings of the participants and lecture series.

Within the framework of summer schools, doctoral students will also have the opportunity to deal more intensively with the areas of quantum computing and quantum sensor technology. Furthermore, QUIP will offer research stays of one to six months, during which foreign students in particular will gain insight into the work of the universities and institutes.
In order to make QUIP more visible, there will be a central contact point that is responsible for enquiries and arranging contacts, among other things. In addition, the website "Quantum Initiative Rhineland-Palatinate" will provide offers and information for various target groups. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Questions answered:
Professor Dr Herwig Ott
Quantum Atom Optics Group/Department of Physics
RPTU in Kaiserslautern
Phone: 0631 205-2817
E-mail: ott(at)physik.uni-kl.de