Saxony's first mobile quantum computer put into operation

The device is available to the Saxon Research Network for Quantum Technologies (SAX-QT), in which several Fraunhofer Institutes, universities and colleges are involved, for research into new areas of application for quantum computing. The IWU itself will use the new computer primarily for the further development of Industry 4.0 solutions for self-controlling, human-learning (cognitive) production. Industrial partners will also benefit from the institute's close links to the manufacturing sector (automotive, aviation, mechanical and plant engineering).

In principle, quantum computers are many times more powerful than conventional computers and could solve highly complex tasks in many areas in the future - tasks that would either overtax the computing power of today's computers or are not economically feasible with 'conventional' computers. The development of quantum computers is still in its infancy; the devices are bulky, expensive to purchase and can usually only be operated under laboratory conditions at temperatures below -270 °C.

The quantum computer obtained from the Leipzig-based start-up SaxonQ is one of the first devices to be designed for industrial use and is easy to handle. The mobile box's processors do not require cooling or complex infrastructure and are insensitive to interference. The qubits, the computing units of the quantum computer, are generated on a diamond chip just a few millimetres in size.

Science and industry expect quantum technology to deliver significant increases in performance and energy efficiency. Put simply, today's (digital) computers have to calculate every operation with 0 and 1 sequentially (one after the other), whereas quantum computers can run through all (possible) options in parallel (simultaneously). This opens up fascinating new possibilities for data processing, with drastically reduced energy consumption. Not only AI applications, which demand enormous sequential computing power from today's computers, could be operated in a much more environmentally and climate-friendly way in the future.

The new quantum computer is intended to give the Saxon Research Network for Quantum Technologies (SAX-QT) an additional boost. In SAX-QT, the Fraunhofer IWU and IPMS institutes are working on innovative quantum technologies and quantum materials, in particular with the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW) Dresden. SAX-QT brings together the expertise of the participating network partners in the field of quantum technologies in order to promote regional and European technological sovereignty in this area. The Fraunhofer IWU already offers training courses on quantum computing for all interested parties from industry and research who want an easy introduction to the world of quantum computing.