Quantum computers can be used in a variety of applications, from simulations in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry to efficient solutions for complex optimization problems in the logistics, financial, and insurance industries and even applications for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Yet when it comes to the deployment of quantum computers, the industry is still in its infancy. The Bavarian Competence Center for Quantum Security and Data Sciences BayQS is pursuing the goal of researching the fundamental concepts and developing solutions for the broad application of quantum computing.

Security, robustness and optimization

The BayQS Competence Center focuses primarily on researching software issues to support companies in future in identifying »quantum advantages«. At the same time, it seeks to aid in the correct assessment of risks that could arise through the use of quantum computers with regard to companies’ intellectual property and minimize them wherever possible.

To this end, the project is targeting the three focal areas of security, robustness and optimization by combining the core areas of expertise of the involved Fraunhofer Institutes: The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security AISEC has years of expertise in the cybersecurity area, the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS is researching the robustness of quantum computing systems as part of BayQS and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS is supporting the project through its experience and expertise in the area of QC-supported optimization of systems.

The Technical University of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich and the Leibniz Supercomputing Center of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences are directly involved as academic partners.

Quantum computing and its potential for the Bavarian economy

»Quantum technologies in general – and quantum computing in particular – play a decisive role for the technological sovereignty of Germany and Europe. Quantum computers have the potential to trigger disruptive changes in many industries and enable a wide variety of new applications,« stated Fraunhofer President Prof. Reimund Neugebauer at the kick-off event. »Fraunhofer is contributing to these pioneering technology areas through numerous initiatives and projects to enable an efficient transfer of the excellent findings from basic scientific research to applications. The nationwide Fraunhofer Competence Network Quantum Computing represents an important interface for research organizations and businesses alike to develop solutions and key applications in the quantum computing area together. The Bavarian Competence Center for Quantum Security and Data Sciences BayQS is providing particularly important input on the software side.«

»Quantum computing is becoming increasingly important for applications in the Bavarian economy. Fraunhofer is the ideal partner for Bavarian businesses that want to utilize this potential. The interface between cybersecurity and quantum computing is particularly relevant for business, which is why it is a focal topic of the new competence center,« said Roland Weigert, Bavarian State Secretary for the Economy, at the kickoff event for BayQS.

»To make the major potential of quantum computing widely available, BayQS will focus on the development of corresponding quantum software,« explained Prof. Claudia Eckert, spokesperson for the Competence Center and Institute Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security AISEC in Garching, near Munich. »As such, with its Munich location, BayQS is a perfect complement to the existing expertise at the physical and hardware level.«

»Quantum computing is the next level for solving optimization problems. Accordingly, we will contribute our expertise in the area of classic optimization and build upon it to research solutions to complex, real application problems through quantum computing. We are working on methods for QC-supported optimization to solve real problems from the areas of x-ray image reconstruction, beam-forming in mobile communications and planning and routing problems in logistics more efficiently in the future,« added Prof. Alexander Martin, Institute Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen.

»Quantum computing harbors extraordinary potential, particularly in combination with artificial intelligence,« said Mario Trapp, Institute Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS in Munich. »Our task now is to pave the way for utilizing this potential for concrete practical applications as well. There are several promising application areas, such as medical engineering and pharmaceuticals or production and logistics.«

Applied research for the benefit of society

In total, the Bavarian competence center BayQS will receive funding of 17 million euros from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy over the next five years. BayQS is part of the national quantum computing competence network of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, as well as part of Munich Quantum Valley, which bundles the expertise of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, the Leibniz Supercomputing Center and the two Munich universities LMU and TUM in the area of quantum computing and other quantum technologies.