The jury for the international Quantum Effects 2026 conference and exhibition (Messe Stuttgart) has selected four winning projects for the Quantum Effects Award 2026. Evaluating submissions at Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5) or higher across hardware, software, sensing, and networking, the awards highlight application-oriented technical developments featuring direct industry utility and commercial deployment pathways.
| [ Quantum Effects Award 2026 Category Breakdown & Technical Capabilities ] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Award Category | Winning Entity & System Platform | Core Technical Specifications & Operational Impact |
| • Quantum Computing Hardware | • C12 & Thales • Project: QuantumTrack | • Solves Maximum Weighted Independent Set (MWIS) MHT radar algorithms • Uses carbon nanotube spin-cQED annealing with ~50 ms target latency |
| • Quantum Computing Software | • Fraunhofer FOKUS • Project: Eclipse Qrisp | • Open-source Python quantum programming framework • Hardware-independent abstractions for gate-based quantum compilation |
| • Quantum Sensing | • QSENSATO SRL • Project: CODA | • Compact OPM Diagnostic Array using atomic-photonic chips • Miniaturized laser-written vapor cells for optical magnetometry |
| • Quantum Communication | • PicoQuant GmbH • Project: HydraHarp 500 L | • High-resolution (1 ps), 64+ channel TCSPC time-tagging unit • White Rabbit synchronization for distributed multi-node quantum networks |
The hardware category awarded C12 and Thales for QuantumTrack, which maps Multiple Hypothesis Tracking (MHT) radar data association onto a carbon nanotube spin circuit quantum electrodynamics (spin-cQED) annealing architecture. In the software category, Fraunhofer FOKUS won for Eclipse Qrisp, an open-source framework translating high-level Python constructs (variables, functions, loops) directly into gate-based quantum execution circuits across heterogeneous backends.
In sensing, Italian spinoff QSENSATO SRL was recognized for its Compact OPM Diagnostic Array (CODA), an integrated atomic-photonic chip platform combining laser-written alkali vapor cells for miniaturized optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) and precision metrology. In quantum networking, photonics vendor PicoQuant GmbH won for the HydraHarp 500 L, a multichannel (64+ input channels) Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) time-tagger featuring 1 ps resolution, ultra-short dead time (680 ps), and White Rabbit timing synchronization for distributed QKD networks.
Review the technical paper on arXiv:2604.15213 here, inspect corporate announcements via C12 Newsroom here, and explore award details on the Quantum Effects Award Portal here.
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