The Munich Quantum Valley
Moving towards a sciencific and technological revolution
Quantum mechanics and information science have revolutionised our modern world. While quantum mechanics is the foundation of our understanding of the microscopic world, information science is the basis of today's omnipresent communication and information processing systems. A scientific and technological revolution is currently on its way, where these disciplines are uniting to form a new field of technology and research: quantum science and technology (QST). It holds far-reaching and potentially revolutionary opportunities and possibilities for various areas of society that cannot yet be fully assessed.
With its excellent institutions in education and research as well as its industrial and venture high-tech environment, the Munich metropolitan region offers an extraordinary opportunity to create a unique centre for quantum sciences and technologies (QST) in Europe, and thus establish Bavaria as a world leader in this important field. Based on this centre in Munich, other important Bavarian locations in the field of QST (especially Erlangen-Nuremberg and Würzburg) can be efficiently connected. As a Bavarian initiative, the Munich Quantum Valley can and will be an essential pillar in a national and European quantum strategy based on long-term institutional funding.
A three-point plan for Bavaria is to be pursued:
• First, the establishment of a Centre for Quantum Computing & Quantum Technologies (ZQQ) that combines industry and academia, prioritises research and development in QWT and coordinates allocated fundings with three objectives: (i) promoting basic research and developing enabling technologies in QST through lighthouse projects; (ii) developing, building and operating quantum computers for which long-term and flexible institutional funding should enable international competitiveness, (iii) transferring results to industry.
• Second, the establishment of a quantum technology park that provides the technical infrastructure for the development and production of state-of-the-art components necessary for the scientific work, the establishment of start-up companies, and the industrial use of quantum technologies.
• Third, the scientific qualification and further training of a new generation of scientists, engineers and computer scientists in QST and the recruitment of top researchers and developers. This includes the further education and retraining of professionals in industry and the specific education of society about the opportunities of the scientific and technological revolution of quantum science and technology.
Background Information on the Munich Quantum Valley
The strategy paper on the research intitiative for quantum science and technology (in German):