Portable Quantum Computer: Germany Launches €35M Initiative

Germany’s Cybersecurity Agency, the Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit (Cyberagentur), has awarded three major contracts as part of a €35 million project to build the first-ever portable quantum computer by 2027, reports our colleague Nick Flaherty of eeNews Europe. The contracts have been granted to two consortia: one led by Quantum Brilliance in partnership with ParityQC, and another by Infineon Technologies alongside Oxford Ionics.

According to Flaherty's reporting, the portable quantum computer project aims to create a mobile quantum computing system capable of performing complex simulations and computations directly in the field, rather than relying on data centers or cloud access. Such a system would provide secure and reliable computational power for remote and sensitive environments, enhancing capabilities in fields such as defense, national security, and scientific research.
   

Advancing Portable Quantum Technology

Quantum Brilliance, known for its innovative approach to miniaturizing quantum systems, will be integrating its diamond-based qubit technology into a chip-scale package. This room-temperature technology, which utilizes nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in synthetic diamonds, offers a unique advantage by eliminating the need for cryogenic cooling systems typically required by other quantum computers.

ParityQC will focus on developing a specialized quantum architecture and operating system that supports highly scalable NV-center quantum computers. Their work will be crucial in creating a system that is both powerful and flexible enough to be deployed outside of traditional laboratory settings.

Ion Qubit Quantum Computing Without Lasers

The second contract was awarded to Infineon Technologies and Oxford Ionics, who will develop a mobile quantum computer using ion trap technology. Unlike conventional ion qubit systems that rely on lasers, their design will use a quantum processor built in Villach, Austria, allowing for a more compact and efficient setup. This approach can be scaled to include over 1,000 high-quality qubits, significantly enhancing computational power.

Redefining Quantum Computing Applications

The development of a portable quantum computer has far-reaching implications for various industries, Flaherty reported. In defense and security, for example, a mobile quantum system could be used to optimize troop movements, simulate complex battlefield scenarios, or even model chemical and biological threats in real-time. In scientific research and logistics, it could perform advanced simulations and optimizations directly in the field, bringing unprecedented computational power to locations that were previously inaccessible.

This landmark project represents a significant investment in the future of quantum computing and positions Germany at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology, Flaherty noted. The successful development of a portable quantum computer could open the door to a new era of computing, bringing the power of quantum mechanics out of the lab and into the real world.

Editor's note: Our colleague Nick Flaherty first reported on this in EENews Europe, a publication in the Elektor network.