Race for Supercomputers: Germany Launches Quantum Computing Competition

Germany's technological sovereignty is to be secured at the atomic level in the future. The Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has officially published the funding guidelines for the “Quantum Computing Competition” (QCC). The competition is part of the Federal Government's High-Tech Agenda. Its goal: By 2030, at least two new quantum computers should be available that are at the European top level. The focus is on industry-led, cutting-edge research. It primarily addresses start-ups and established companies to close the gap between theoretical excellence and practical application.

Key Technology Quantum Computer

Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär (CSU) justifies the announcement of the QCC with the significance of the technology, which goes far beyond pure computing power. Quantum computers are considered a key technology and promise breakthroughs in fields that are currently hardly accessible to conventional supercomputers. According to Bär, such systems could accelerate the development of drugs or control complex traffic flows in real-time. The expected synergy effect with artificial intelligence is promising for the tech industry: New approaches in machine learning could experience a significant performance boost for AI models through quantum technology.

“For our competitiveness and sovereignty, we must be at the forefront internationally,” explains Bär. She is convinced: With the QCC, “we are on the way to becoming a top quantum technology country.” Together with German quantum companies, the federal government will take the decisive step. The focus is no longer solely on basic research, but on establishing measurable success parameters for technologically excellent hardware made in Germany.

Technology-Open Competition

The competition is designed to be technology-open, relying on diversity rather than early commitment. Projects will be funded in the three most advanced technology platforms currently available: superconductors, neutral atoms, and ion traps. This allows the ministry to cover a broad spectrum to leverage the specific advantages of the different physical approaches. A focus of the funding is on overcoming the biggest hurdle of the current hardware generation: susceptibility to errors. The technical prerequisites for error-corrected quantum computing are to be created, along with pilot lines for production.

The application process is two-stage and will be handled by a project management organization. Interested parties must first submit project outlines by May 11, after which formal funding applications will follow in a second phase. The funding amounts range from 20 to 55 million per company or consortium project. With this approach, the BMFTR aims to ensure that Germany keeps pace with the global leaders and consolidates its position as a location for quantum technologies.

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