Quantum technology ready for a breakthrough

Can Germany keep up in the global race for technological supremacy in quantum technology? In his commentary, Tobias Wölk, Product Manager at Reichelt Elektronik, sheds light on the state of quantum technology in Germany and whether Germany has a chance of establishing itself as a pioneer of this future technology.

Quantum technology then and now

When physics greats such as Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger launched modern quantum mechanics around 100 years ago, calling into question physical laws that had previously been taken for granted, a jolt went through not only the world of physics, but society as a whole. However, it would be some time before the first products and technologies based on the new findings of quantum technology came onto the market.

Good conditions in Germany

Research into quantum technologies in Germany is excellent and is supported by a number of initiatives. A joint lab for research into semiconductor-based quantum computing has just been opened in Frankfurt an der Oder and is just one example of a vibrant research culture with a focus on quantum technology. Companies are also investing in quantum technology research from Germany. IBM, for example, opened its first quantum data center outside the USA in Stuttgart at the beginning of October, offering the opportunity to use the latest IBM Heron quantum computer and benefit from its enormous performance and speed.

Innovative products based on quantum technology, such as flash memory and MRT, are already available on the market and have become established. New, even more complex products such as quantum sensors are in the process of conquering the market. Although experts often estimate that it will be around ten years before these are established on the market, the first German companies have already presented remarkable market-ready products and solutions.

For example, Reichelt Elektronik is already selling one of the first industrial-grade quantum sensors from the young Leipzig-based company Quantum Technologies. The product offers two decisive advantages: It is significantly more compact and robust than comparable magnetometers and is therefore suitable for use in the high-voltage range as well as in electromobility.

First ecosystems established for quantum technology

Progress can also be observed on the software side. The first apps for quantum computing have already been rolled out. One example of this is the company Qutac, which helps German industrial companies to set up ecosystems for quantum technology and bring them into use. Currently, these are mainly used to optimize machine utilization in production. However, the technology still offers great potential for other areas of application. In particular, the significant speed advantage that quantum computers have over conventional computers makes it possible to quickly create analyses from enormous amounts of data and thus find more efficient solutions - for example to optimize supply chains or to use complex simulations to calculate the behaviour of materials and substances over a longer service life. However, qubits are still extremely sensitive to external influences such as temperature fluctuations or vibrations. This challenge must be overcome if quantum computing is to become established in industry.

The opportunities that quantum technology brings in many areas - development, energy, supply chains, e-mobility, medical technology, finance, IT security and cryptography and many more - are enormous. Especially in combination with AI and data science, it will help the industry to achieve major development boosts.

That's why Germany is not the only country to rely on quantum technology. The USA and China have long since made major investments and are leading the quantum race. And according to experts, Japan also currently has more mature solutions and products. The strength of the Japanese company Fujitsu and the Riken research institute in the field of quantum computing is particularly noteworthy here. With Digital Annealer, Fujitsu has developed a technology based on quantum computing to solve complex optimization problems more quickly. So the competition is strong.

However, this does not mean that the die is already cast. Germany still has a good chance of positioning itself as an important player in this emerging market. According to the Bitkom study cited above, German developers and users of quantum technologies consider themselves to be pioneers in this field. The competition should therefore be seen as both a challenge and an opportunity. Germany has the unique opportunity to build up a new industry and take an important position in the global market. And the country has the best prerequisites for this, because what is needed above all is a dynamic and well-developed ecosystem that is curious about quantum technology and creates practical applications. Germany has a wealth of companies that are technically advanced enough to take this step.

Tobias Wölk, Product Manager at Reichelt Elektronik