Research projects, Contests / awards

In mid December 2022, Cyberagentur had published the research project "Mobile quantum computer - quantum processors for mobile use in defense and security applications" (https://www.cyberagentur.de/ausschreibung-der-cyberagentur-zu-mobilen-quantencomputern/). Fifteen interested parties were selected from the applications and are now starting the first of four phases of the competition. "We were aware that this research project is challenging," said Dr. Roman Bansen, Head of Quantum Technologies at Cyberagentur, "so we honestly did not expect such a good turnout."
In what is now Cyberagentur’s third major project call, the requirements placed on the bidders are to think and research the aspects relevant to mobility in the research and development of quantum computers at an early stage, also with a view to cyber security. Particular focus is placed on size, weight and energy consumption, while at the same time significantly increasing performance compared to current quantum processors.
The 15 competitors comprise a total of 49 potential prime contractors and subcontractors. Seven academic institutions are involved in the applications. The other applicants come from industry, including numerous start-ups. "This shows us how high the potential interest in quantum technology research is in industry," estimates project leader Dr. Bansen.
"We were also pleased to have nine participants from abroad among the applications," Bansen continues. "We have thus shown that indexing the topic of mobile quantum computing from Germany is an important technological approach." The list of applications from abroad includes Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Israel, the UK, France, Denmark and Australia.
After the first bidding phase, an expert jury consisting of project staff from Cyberagentur and external experts will evaluate the bids received and make a decision on who will be awarded the contracts for the next project phase of the competition, which will be carried out in a PCP procedure (https://www.cyberagentur.de/professionelle-unterstuetzung-der-cyberagentur-im-ausschreibungsverfahren/).
"We hope that the competitors will come up with bold ideas for researching mobile quantum computers," Roman Bansen hopes at the start of the first phase of the competition. "This will be important for use in future security and defense scenarios. One is then no longer dependent on a data connection to a stationary data centre with a quantum computer." Thus, he said, this Cyberagentur project also represents a significant contribution to Germany's digital sovereignty and in the field of quantum computing.

Contact
Michael Lindner
Press Spokesman of the Cyberagentur
Phone: +49 151 44150 645
E-mail: presse@cyberagentur.de

Background: Cyberagentur
The Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH (Cyberagentur) was founded in 2020 as a fully in-house company of the Federal Government under the joint leadership of the Federal Ministry of Defense and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs by the Federal Government with the aim of taking an application-strategy-related and interdepartmental view of internal and external security in the field of cybersecurity. Against this background, the work of the Cyberagentur is primarily aimed at the institutionalized implementation of highly innovative projects that are associated with a high risk with regard to the achievement of objectives, but at the same time can have a very high disruptive potential if successful.
The Cyberagentur is headed by Prof. Dr. Christian Hummert as Research Director and Managing Director and Daniel Mayer as Commercial Director.

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Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Dr. Roman Bansen

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Weitere Informationen:
https://www.cyberagentur.de/erste-projektphase-zur-entwicklung-mobiler-quantencomputer-beginnt/