Ecosystem – DLR Quantum Computing Initiative

Innovation Center
Hamburg

Innovation Center
Ulm

To achieve a leading international position in quantum computing, we need a strong quantum computing ecosystem. A strong ecosystem accelerates technology transfer between industry and research, supports collaborations and the associated synergies and innovations and creates an attractive environment for specialists. We are shaping and strengthening this ecosystem with our innovation centres in Hamburg and Ulm.

Innovation Centre Hamburg Innovation Centre Ulm

Our Mission

In order to bring quantum computers into application more quickly, we are pooling infrastructure, expertise and resources at our innovation centres in Hamburg and Ulm. Industry and research come together at these innovation centres and jointly develop quantum computers, the necessary enabling technologies, software and applications. To this end, we provide quantum start-ups and industrial consortia with laboratories, workshops and office space and create a highly attractive location with shared areas for efficient technology transfer, effective collaboration and an environment in which groundbreaking progress is possible.

Our footprint

17

Hardware projects for quantum computers, enabling technologies and manufacturing processes

23

Partners from industry, start-ups and research who work with us to build quantum computers and develop use cases

60+

Infrastructures for our industrial partners and research projects

5

Qubit technologies and an analogue computer – a broad basis for the future of computing

4,340 m²

Laboratories, clean rooms, offices and coworking for us and our industry partners

1

Unique ecosystem for the industrialisation of quantum computing

Active in Germany and Europe

As the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative, we work with a European perspective: we put our contracts out to tender across Europe, collaborate with quantum computing initiatives in other countries and are part of the European discourse. Our focus is on the German quantum computing ecosystem: at federal level, we help shape the big picture of quantum computing in Germany through dialogue with ministries, in committees and at events. We are in close dialogue with the state initiatives of the federal states or are part of them and work together with local politics and economic development at our locations. To this end, we exhibit our contribution to the quantum computing ecosystem at trade fairs and at our own events such as our annual AFQC exchange forum and the DLR QCI Showcases: The focus is not only on the projects, but also on the diverse partners from industry, start-ups and research with whom we realise them.

All of this comes together at our two innovation centres in Hamburg and Ulm: Here, we not only create highly attractive quantum computing locations, but also become part of the existing local ecosystems.

We bring industry, start-ups, business & research together

An important success factor for us is the involvement of industrial companies and start-ups in the DLR QCI. On the one hand, we award contracts for the production of quantum computers and enabling technologies: fully financed complete systems and necessary supplier systems. On the other hand, we involve companies in our application projects as contractors for special research and development work: they formulate use cases, provide data or support us in the development of specific applications. Our goal: If the application side is considered from the very beginning of hardware development, we enable even faster use of quantum computers for practical applications. To this end, we work with companies to further develop the use cases of quantum computers and link the application results back into industrial hardware development.

We currently involve 13 companies for the development of quantum computers and enabling technologies and a further 8 companies to support our application projects (their number continues to grow strongly). As industrial partners in the DLR QCI, these companies benefit from networking in the national and international ecosystem and with venture capital investors. We support the visibility of the companies and provide them with a long-term perspective for the development of production capacities, personnel and market-orientated products. To this end, we support start-ups in the registration and defence of patents and IP and promote enabling technologies that can be used in other quantum technologies far beyond the DLR QCI ecosystem.