In April 2023, the German government unveiled the “Handlungskonzept Quantentechnologien” (eng. action plan quantum technologies) as a strategic framework for the next 4 years to 2026 with a total budget of € 2.8 bn aiming to establish Germany as a world leader in quantum technologies.
QBN welcomes the strategy for the next few years and the long-term vision until 2036. The action plan includes beneficial and necessary measures. However, there are concerns about falling behind international competitors and the need for development and reconsideration in certain areas.
The action plan for quantum technologies does not meet the challenges.
In the official statement, QBN, the world’s leading business network for quantum technologies, and its 80 members have compiled a set of key recommendations and explanations in terms of quantum technologies, as well as organizational, structural, and general aspects that need to be addressed in order to make quantum technologies an industrial and political success story for Germany and Europe.
QBN’s official statement was handed over to the German ministries, Germany’s state ministries and the European Commission.
QBN’s 11 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Strengthen the ecosystem through close collaboration efforts across Europe’s existing national quantum programs and the promotion of Public-Private Partnerships.
- Promote and incentivize innovation, collaboration, and competition by providing favourable conditions for entrepreneurs and technology transfer.
- Enable commercialization by eliminating bureaucratic barriers that hinder funding for industrialization, creating incentives for product development and sales and procuring devices and software from startups and SMEs.
- Link quantum technologies hardware development to the Chips Act and make the production of quantum chips a priority and German and European UPS.
- Align the national quantum strategy with Germany’s and the EU’s green and digital transformation strategy.
- Provide fast and uncomplicated grant awarding schemes to support young companies and SMEs and prioritize them for significant projects.
- Eliminate the lack of private investments as a barrier for technology transfer and commercialization.
- Foster the development of talent in quantum technologies with a priority on education and training and improved tax and visa regulations.
- Align QC hardware, software, and real-world application development in a realistic and ambitious manner and develop a long-term disruptive vision for large-scale quantum systems (~1 million qubits).
- Make fiber-based QKD a cornerstone of the quantum communication strategy.
- Define clear goals and KPIs for quantum sensing, imaging, and metrology technologies and promote tailored application-oriented development.
QBN statement
– English Version –
QBN statement on Germany’s action plan on Quantum Technologies
– German Version –
QBN Stellungname zum Handlungskonzept Quantentechnologien
To unfold Germany’s innovation potential and create significant economic impact, and sovereignty, we emphasize the importance of a bold and ambitious strategy to address global challenges and overcome barriers for the successful development of a strong quantum industry. QBN seriously believes that more is needed to manage the transition from a public funded community to an established quantum industry and markets.
QBN has a proven track record in ecosystem building and innovation support as well as the structures. Together with currently 80 members, QBN represents an extensive network and resources, and thus is happy to support the coordination and implementation with a proactive approach for all fields of quantum technologies.
We will keep working with conviction and passion to build a strong quantum industry in Germany and Europe.
About QBN
QBN is the world’s leading business network with around 80 members that promotes networking, business creation and the development of organizations working in the field of quantum technologies and its value chains. We provide our members with growth acceleration and technological advancements through industry collaborations, deep market insights, increased visibility and supportive structures, business development, technology transfer and innovation support as well as entrepreneurial mentoring and fast access to private and public funding.
In our working groups on quantum computing and applications, quantum communications, quantum sensors and diamond quantum technologies as well as with our standardization and unique networking activities, we bring together people from industry, science and politics, connect them with the entire value chain and provide them a supportive platform to build a strong Quantum Industry together.
Contact
Dipl.-Phys. Johannes Verst, CEO
Quantum Business Network UG
Fürkhofstr. 9, 81927 Munich, Germany
