QCI
Update 01 / 20256
AFQC 2026 programme: Challenge · QCI Solutions: Quantum Roadmaps for SMEs · Interview Robert Axmann · News
There are exactly three months to go until AFQC 2026, our community conference for the German quantum computing ecosystem. Today we have published a first look at our workshops and talks, a uniquely diverse programme that is only available at AFQC.
Also: We have relaunched our enabling services QCI Connect and QCI Solutions, our offerings for low-threshold access to quantum computing resources and use cases for research, industry and SMEs. DLR QCI Head Robert Axmann talks about the ecosystem lessons learnt from the last AFQC. And more news from the DLR QCI.
Agenda
What to expect from the AFQC 2026 · 27 & 28 May 2026 in Düsseldorf
The AFQC 2026: Challenge brings together experts from across the quantum computing ecosystem in a participatory format to solve quantum computing challenges together. While last year we approached the sore points in the ecosystem from a bird’s eye view, this time we will be productive in a good two dozen workshops, lessons learnt & best practice sessions and meetups.
27 Mai
09 am · Doors open & Soft networking
11 am · Programme starts
07 pm · Networking & Party
11 pm · Doors closed
28 Mai
8 am · Doors open
9 am · Programme starts
12/01 · Lunch
2 pm · Finale
Including: Balancing quantum advantage and business needs with Corey O’Meara, E.ON · FullStaQD: Full stack quantum computing for Germany with Philipp Kunst, Fraunhofer IAO · Fixing our supply chain: How can we cooperatively overcome the sourcing challenges? with Jakob Buchheim, DLR QT-IMN · Benchmarking #1 with Benedikt Poggel, Fraunhofer IKS · How-to for Startups: Applying for Public Contracts with the DLR Procurement Department – Ion Trap Quantum Computing with EleQtron · Benchmarking #2 with Colin Becker, DLR QCI · State Minister & Deputy Minister-President Mona Neubaur, Ministry of Economics, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy · From Business Use Cases to Hardware-Ready Quantum Circuits: A Modern Quantum Algorithms Design Hands-On with Nikola Strah, Classiq · Assessing Practical Quantum Speedups with Andreea-Iulia Lefterovici, Uni Hannover + innovailia · We need to talk, a communication expert’s meetup · State Minister Ina Brandes, Ministry of Culture and Science of NRW · Optimising Quantum Applications on Quantum Hardware with César A. Rodríguez Rosario, Commutator Studios · Analogue and Hybrid Computing with Bernd Ulmann, Anabrid · From Quantum Start-up to Scale-up, BD Playbook to build upon with Eda Sorani, Planqc · Mobilisation vs. Regulation with Tobias Tenner, BDB · Digitalk Special with Digitale Stadt Düsseldorf · A Uniquely Quantum Pub Quiz with Jan Werum, Kategorisch Fragwürdig + and many more.
Call for Participation
The AFQC thrives on all the participants from research, start-ups and industry who are incredibly willing to exchange ideas and who take advantage of every offer and every opportunity for cross-connection and bridge-building. We want to build on this at AFQC 2026 and are therefore launching a call for participation for programme items on both days. Anyone who wants to propose their own workshops, panel discussions, pitches or completely different formats can submit ideas to us and we will take care of the implementation.
QCI Solutions
Quantum readiness roadmaps for SMEs
Quantum computing also has enormous potential for small and medium-sized enterprises. We support them in determining their own needs based on real use cases, applying for funding and planning the next steps – independently, confidentially and with DLR’s expertise.
In co-operation with the DLR Institute of Software Technology.
Interview
Robert Axmann: “We need to show more progress with real use cases.”
With the High-Tech Agenda Germany, the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space has made it clear in which direction the quantum computing ecosystem in Germany must develop. As DLR QCI with two innovation centres, 17 hardware projects, 65 industry-relevant use case projects and over 100 involved stakeholders and a successful community conference, we have a unique insight into the status quo of the quantum computing ecosystem. After AFQC 2025, we asked Robert Axmann, Head of DLR QCI, what he thinks the future holds for the ecosystem.
15 January 2026
Tensor AI has been awarded the contract in the QUADRANT tender for research and development in our materials research project QCMineral. Together with the DLR research team, and with Fraunhofer IAO and Fraunhofer IPA as subcontractors, the quantum startup is developing hybrid quantum-classical simulation methods for the precise ab initio simulation of perovskite redox materials for us. Promising industrial applications include energy storage and the synthesis of solar fuels.
12 January 2026
We put out a call for tenders to find support for our QML project QuTeNet. BearingPoint – with Multiverse Computing and Fraunhofer CML as subcontractors – was awarded the contract in the bidding competition. Together with the research team, led by the DLR Institute for AI Security, the companies are now developing highly efficient tensor network solutions for maritime logistics that can also be applied to many other optimisation problems.
23 January 2026
At AFQC 2025, we asked experts from across the ecosystem two simple questions: What are the biggest challenges facing our ecosystem? And what will it take to overcome them? Here are the answers: Nine challenges for startups, technologies and the ecosystem with many solutions that can be implemented immediately. At AFQC 2026, we want to find out how we can actually put these solutions into practice (spoiler: it will take more than a white paper).
