The KQCBW was founded in 2020. Within the Competence Center, the first IBM quantum computer on German soil was installed and made available to industrial companies, SMEs, startups, and academic institutions for application-oriented use. In doing so, pioneering work was carried out in the development of quantum computing, and key competencies were built up at the two institutes Fraunhofer IAF and Fraunhofer IAO.
From 2020 to March 2024, the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Baden-Württemberg supported the establishment of the KQCBW and the joint projects coordinated by the Competence Center with a total of 40 million euros. The further development and continuation of the KQCBW is being funded by the Ministry with around 20 million euros for the period from 2024 to 2028.
Since its founding, the Competence Center for Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg has developed into one of the most powerful quantum computing ecosystems in Germany. Over the course of its project phases, the KQCBW has brought together and networked six Fraunhofer institutes, 17 additional university, college, and non-university institutes across the state, as well as around 60 associated corporate partners. Together, a unique infrastructure and expertise in the field of applied quantum computing were built up. The research and development work of the KQCBW has achieved significant progress in various application areas: from quantum simulation in materials science and the natural sciences, to requirements for powerful and reliable hardware environments, to the programming of quantum algorithms for industrial applications. In addition, a quantum computing training program was established as part of the KQCBW, jointly developed by Fraunhofer IAO and Fraunhofer IAF.
The Competence Center for Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg actively contributes to the objectives of the state initiative QuantumBW and drives forward the state's quantum computing roadmap.
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF
