The Annual Meeting in Eichstätt has become a tradition. For the third time, the small town in Upper Bavaria, halfway between Munich and the Erlangen-Nuremberg region, was the meeting place for the project's members. As a "grown MQV family", MQV Director General Joachim Ullrich welcomed the participants to the kick-off and took the opportunity to thank Rudolf Gross, who had previously led the MQV.
For three days, scientists from the research consortia and the MQV office presented and discussed the status of their research in relation to the MQV's joint mission to build and operate quantum computers in Bavaria. In addition, the holders of the eight research and development professorships newly created as part of MQV had the opportunity to present themselves and their work and to find links to the scientific work in the core project. For the first, the last day of the event was entirely dedicated to the MQV Lighthouse Projects, including in particular the companies of the MQV ecosystem.
Presentations of the consortia and R&D Professorships
MQV is pursuing a full-stack approach to the development of quantum computers in seven research consortia. The consortia each presented their individual progress since last year as well as the linking of the individual research areas in the sense of the full-stack approach in cross-sectional talks. This knowledge transfer, which is intended to promote the efficient, interlocking development of all levels of quantum computing – from hardware and software to applications – is a particularly important aspect of the project and a particular strength of MQV. In addition to the seven research consortia for full-stack quantum computing, the two sub-projects dealing with the creation of suitable technological and organizational infrastructures for research and development, entrepreneurship, education and training also gave presentations.
Education and training of young scientists is also the goal of the R&D Professorships funded through MQV at Bavarian universities. The eight professors introduced themselves and their research, which complements and expands on the core topics of MQV.
In-depth discussions in an internal setting
The internal, protected setting provided by the Annual Meeting invited critical questions and open, intense discussions, creating a fertile ground for new ideas and productive collaborations. Thematically focused sessions, each attended by members of different consortia, provided an opportunity for intensive exchange on specific challenges.
The poster sessions, in which a total of 40 posters were presented, provided an overview of current research results and were an opportunity for exchange and a starting point for further discussions, especially for the invited Ph.D. students. In addition to the extensive scientific program, there were numerous opportunities for informal exchange and exploration of thematic overlaps.
Lighthouse Project Day
The main objective of the MQV activities, the development and operation of competitive quantum computers in Bavaria, is complemented by a wide range of complementary topics in the Lighthouse Projects (LTPs). In order to give these topics a platform of their own, to promote the exchange between the LTPs and the core consortia, and to enable synergies through links between them, an additional LTP day was held for the first time as part of the annual meeting. The MQV fellows working in related areas were also invited to attend.
With a view to the future of the Munich Quantum Valley project in terms of translating research results into marketable products, the focus of the LTP Day was on the targeted involvement of companies from the MQV ecosystem, many of which are partners in individual LTPs. A poster and networking session with the LTPs, which have now grown to 13 projects, some of which started only a few weeks ago, gave participants the opportunity to get to know each other and network in a relaxed atmosphere. The LTPs also gave short presentations to the audience. A spotlight presentation by the TUM Venture Lab Quantum highlighted the entrepreneurial activities of MQV, which are helping to establish a vibrant quantum ecosystem in Bavaria.
At the end of the Annual Meeting, Rudolf Gross took the floor and praised the visible progress, in particular the increased and efficient collaboration across consortia boundaries and the great motivation for interdisciplinary teamwork. The strength of MQV lies precisely in this intensive, interdisciplinary collaboration between the numerous MQV scientists, and the Annual Meeting once again provided the necessary framework to work out together which steps need to be taken next.