Since June 2021, the “IBM Quantum System One” in Stuttgart has been the first quantum computer in Germany. The breakthrough of quantum computing as a new era in high-performance computing is imminent – and with it numerous new applications.
At the same time, Moore’s law, which has been in force for decades – “every 18 months a doubling of performance” – is increasingly reaching its limits. Quantum computers catapult computing power into a completely new dimension. Coming soon: “More than Moore”.
The difference between a classic computer and a quantum computer is about as big as that between a bicycle and a Formula One racing car. With one crucial difference: Quantum computers have extremely low energy consumption despite the sometimes complex cooling technology.
After artificial intelligence, quantum computing is probably the most important key digital technology. There are four main reasons for this:
First This makes simulations possible that are not even written today because the estimated computing times would take thousands of years – before that, however, the computer would have broken and the programmers would have died.
Secondly Processes that now take weeks become real-time capable. It is possible today to calculate the very complex train timetable for the coming year, but not to optimize the current situation on the network if the timetable is out of sync – because only minutes or seconds are available for this.
Third Better results can be obtained by searching the entire solution space of a problem – instead of just the best known ones.
And fourth Product development processes, especially in materials science disciplines such as pharmacy, chemistry or medicine, will be massively accelerated if the – typically very “tough” – simulations can in future map reaction times comparable to Google search queries.
In all points there is also great potential for sustainability and climate change: New materials with a better CO2 footprint can be composed faster, resources can be used better, complex mobility and other climate-positive concepts can be implemented more quickly.
Europe is trying to become the world leader in this technology
As always with revolutionary technical breakthroughs, the opportunities are great – for “early birds” with high technological and engineering skills at the same time. While the latter is out of the question for Germany and many European countries, speed has not been Europe’s strong suit in recent years.
The big breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and other digital technologies, for example, but also hardware-related topics such as battery technology, were led by other nations, almost always the USA or China.
When it comes to quantum computing, however, the cards are being redistributed. Many European nations – as well as the European Commission itself – launched larger funding initiatives for quantum computing very early on, with significantly higher funding amounts compared to other topics.
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The German Aerospace Center (DLR) alone received 740 million euros last year to set up suitable Quantum consortia for hardware and software/middleware. Even if these funding amounts are still much lower than the corresponding amounts in the USA – they can hardly be reliably determined for China – it is clear that we are seeing a changed mindset. The goal is to sit in the driver’s seat again with the new, groundbreaking technologies instead of observing developments from the grandstand.
With these four steps, development can be accelerated
The following steps can help to further accelerate the hopeful developments: On the one hand, the industrial players must immediately develop their own quantum computing roadmaps, define use cases, build teams, form ecosystems.
Secondly, additional chairs and courses must be set up and expanded as quickly as possible, the global battle for talent is in full swing.
Thirdly, start-ups – especially in the current phase of great geopolitical uncertainty – need quicker and easier access to the capital market, with a focus on European deep-tech investors.
Last but not least, politicians must understand that quantum computing not only offers outstanding economic opportunities for Germany and Europe – it is also an important tool for the active fight against climate change and a basic building block for European digital sovereignty.
The author: Sabina Jeschke is co-founder and CIO of the start-up Quantagonia, which is dedicated to quantum computing, and is the CEO of KI Park eV in Berlin. Previously, she was board member for digitization and technology at Deutsche Bahn and professor for mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen University.
More: How Germany wants to catch up in quantum technology