Whether it's enormous computing power, ultra-precise sensors or state-of-the-art encryption, quantum technologies promise groundbreaking applications. An international ranking by the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE) think tank places Karlsruhe at the top nationwide as a key player with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The city ranks seventh worldwide and second within the EU.

‘Germany's most important quantum cluster’

‘The ranking as Germany's most important quantum cluster and the second strongest in the European Union underlines the national and international appeal of our location,’ says Professor Oliver Kraft, Vice President of Research, Teaching and Academic Affairs at KIT. ‘It confirms our long-term approach of closely interlinking basic research, application-oriented development and industrial implementation.’

Excellent science, innovative companies

‘The fact that Karlsruhe is both a national leader and one of the top quantum clusters in Europe is a strong signal for the future viability of our location,’ explains Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe. ‘This success is based on years of close cooperation between excellent science, innovative companies and a reliable public sector. KIT is a central figurehead for Karlsruhe – and proof of how effective the integration of research, business and urban society can be.’

Ideal conditions

Jochen Ehlgötz, Managing Director of TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe: ‘The current ECIPE study impressively confirms that Karlsruhe, as a technology region, offers the ideal conditions for networking, driving innovation and enabling sustainable growth. This is happening around the outstanding scientific work being done at KIT.’

Long-standing integration of research and practice pays off

According to the ECIPE ranking, Karlsruhe stands out as a quantum location in particular due to its high level of communication. It highlights KIT as a ‘top research collaborator’. In the subcategory ‘external collaborations’, the city ranks first worldwide and third in the overall assessment of all collaborations. In addition, the study ranks the quantum cluster in Karlsruhe second for its ability to build bridges between otherwise separate scientific and technological communities (‘bridging power’). According to the authors, this is the first international ranking to compare quantum locations in terms of market focus, cooperation, and maturity. Around 130 locations worldwide were analysed.

Quantum research at KIT

Quantum technology research at KIT covers a broad spectrum – from basic research on quantum materials to the development and implementation of application-oriented systems for future technologies. Key topics include quantum materials and their integration into functional components, including quantum spintronics and molecular quantum spin systems, superconducting quantum circuits, and hybrid quantum architectures that couple spins, photons, and superconducting circuits, and with which researchers transmit, test, and further develop quantum keys.

Quantum connection between the KIT locations

One of the most significant breakthroughs in recent years has been the discovery of a new class of optically addressable molecular spins with exceptional optical coherence. To demonstrate the potential of these systems for quantum communication, KIT researchers have set up a 20-kilometre-long fibre optic connection between the KIT's North and South campuses, which researchers use to transmit, test and further develop keys. In addition, they want to build a quantum network that will enable, among other things, the interconnection of quantum computers. At the same time, the scientists are conducting research into the optical readout of quantum systems and the coupling of molecular nanostructures with photons – crucial steps on the way to scalable quantum architectures.

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