acatech HORIZONS: Quantum Technologies

The quantum computer will replace the traditional computer in the living room in a few years? This is unlikely, even if some headlines may sound like it. Many myths surround the second generation of quantum technologies, to which the quantum computer belongs too. This is also because the fundamentals of this technology – quantum and their manipulation – could hardly be further from our everyday world. This issue of acatech HORIZONS aims to shed light on how quantum technologies work, what is currently technically possible, and where the technologies’ potential lies. Expectations are high: with the help of quantum technologies, it should soon be possible to solve problems for which current “supercomputers” would take thousands of years. Bug-proof communications, precise predictions of natural disasters and accurate measurement of brain activity are also possible use cases. The acatech HORIZONS Quantum Technologies answers how far research and development have come, where commercial use is imminent and where it is still a long way off.

Project Group

Prof. Dr. Stefanie Barz
Institut für Funktionelle Materie und Quantentechnologien, Leitung Quantum Information & Technology, Universität Stuttgart
Dr. Astrid Elbe
Managing Director, Intel Labs Europe, Intel Deutschland GmbH
Dr. Markus Gräfe
Head of Quantum-Enhanced Imaging Group, Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik/ Co-Founder, Quantum Optics Jena GmbH
Prof. Dr. Stefan Kück
EURAMET TC-PR Chair, Leiter der Abteilung Optik, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
Dr. Thomas Pöppelmann
Senior Staff Engineer, Infineon Technologies AG
Dr. Heike Riel
IBM Fellow, Department Head Science & Technology, IBM Research
Dr. Thomas Strohm
Koordinator und Senior Research Scientist für Quantentechnologien, Robert Bosch GmbH
Dr. Michael Totzeck
Fellow, Corporate Research and Technology, Carl Zeiss AG
Prof. Dr. Andreas Tünnermann
Institutsleiter Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik/ acatech
Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Joachim Ullrich
Präsident Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt/ acatech
Prof. Dr. Artur Zrenner
Department Physik, Universität Paderborn/ acatech, Projektgruppenleiter

Overview: the acatech HORIZONS series

In the acatech HORIZONS series, the academy explores important technology fields that are already looming large on the horizon, but where there is still some uncertainty about their potential impacts. More