The Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space Travel (BMFTR) has approved €15 million ($17.4 million USD) in second-phase funding for the QVLS-iLabs “Future Cluster.” Spanning the next three years, this investment supports the Hannover–Braunschweig region’s efforts to transition trapped-ion quantum computing and quantum metrology from academic research into industrial applications. QVLS-iLabs is one of the few selected clusters in the German government’s Clusters4Future initiative with an exclusive focus on quantum technologies.
The cluster’s technical roadmap centers on trapped-ion quantum computing and robust quantum components designed for seamless integration with existing High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments. Key developments from the first phase include:
- Hardware Integration: The development of QUDORA Technologies’ newest trapped-ion model, which utilizes proprietary Near-Field Quantum Control (NFQC) to achieve high coherence times and precise qubit manipulation.
- Deep-Tech Facilities: A 350-square-meter laboratory in Braunschweig’s Rolleiwerke serves as an incubator for startups and a site for industrial-grade system building.
- Industrial Use Cases: Successful pilot projects include quantum sensors optimized for battery manufacturing and open-source software now used by global research groups.
Led by Prof. Dr. Christian Ospelkaus (PTB and Leibniz Universität Hannover), the cluster brings together 25 partners across research, industry, and startups. The transition to the second phase is managed by the newly formed QVLS Innovation GmbH, which oversees professional technology transfer and facility management. This cluster is a core component of the broader Quantum Valley Lower Saxony (QVLS) initiative, aiming to establish German technological sovereignty in quantum hardware.
By focusing on “on-premise” quantum solutions, the cluster addresses the industrial demand for secure, local quantum-classical hybrid systems. The move from theoretical research to market-ready systems is intended to provide German medium-sized businesses and startups with a competitive edge in the emerging quantum economy, specifically in high-precision metrology and scalable computation.
For more information on the QVLS-iLabs roadmap and partner network, consult the official QUDORA announcement here and the cluster website at qvls.de.
March 7, 2026
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