Minister Pinkwart Takes an In-Depth Look at Jülich’s Quantum Research

Jülich, 19 March 2022 – With its interdisciplinary research in the field of quantum technologies, Forschungszentrum Jülich is one of Europe’s leading research institutions in this area and one of twelve strong partners in the quantum computing network “EIN Quantum NRW”. Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, Minister of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalization, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), paid a visit to Forschungszentrum Jülich to learn about Jülich’s quantum research. He was accompanied by Prof. Dr. Holger Burckhart, rector of the University of Siegen, which is also a member of the network.

Besuch Minister Pinkwart — Minister Andreas Pinkwart, Prof. Kristel Michielsen, Prof. Tommaso Calarco, Prof. Astrid Lambrecht, Prof. Wolfgang Marquardt. Dr. Markus Jerger (v.l.n.r.)

In the recently founded “EIN Quantum NRW” network, NRW institutions pool their existing expertise in quantum technologies. Jülich scientist Prof. Tommaso Calarco, who heads the Quantum Control subinstitute at the Peter Grünberg Institute, is involved in coordinating the network’s activities. “EIN” stands for education, innovation, and networking, as the network focuses on influencing teaching in this area, creating professional development concepts for industry, establishing associations with relevant networking locations, and facilitating rapid technology transfer.

The entire spectrum of quantum computing research is covered at Jülich, from the investigation of quantum materials to the development of prototypes. During his visit, Minister Pinkwart gained an insight into many of these topics – including the QSolid project, in which the first quantum computer demonstrator is being built. The infrastructure will then also be made available to national and international partners from science and industry, and will make a wide range of applications possible. All components of a quantum computer will be developed in the project, thus creating a full supply chain for the platform technology in Germany.

Speaking with Prof. Kristel Michielsen, Minister Pinkwart also learned about the recently unveiled quantum annealer JUPSI, Europe’s first quantum computer with more than 5,000 qubits. It will be made available to various groups within JUNIQ, the first user infrastructure of its kind in Europe, with the aim of providing user-friendly access to quantum computing. Research institutions and companies are already identifying an increasing number of problems that require quantum computing power. JUNIQ provides them with access to Jülich’s quantum computing ecosystem, whose excellent technical infrastructure offers the best conditions to rapidly accelerate innovations through the optimal utilization of quantum computers.