Austria's quantum processor starts into space - a technological triumph!

Austria's quantum processor starts into space - a technological triumph!

Wien, Österreich - On June 20, 2025, the Austrian research community will celebrate significant technological progress: a photonic quantum processor, developed under the direction of Philip Walther from the University of Vienna, is launched. This step represents a milestone in quantum technology and shows Austria's top position in this innovative field. The Federal Minister of Women, Science and Research, Eva-Maria Holzleitner, described the upcoming start as a triumph of public research and emphasizes the importance of such technologies for the future. The quantum processor, which was designed to withstand extreme conditions in space, enables direct and energy -efficient data processing outside of earth.

The quantum computer starts on June 20, 2025 from 11 p.m. Central European time and will be broadcast live. Innovation Minister Peter Hanke emphasizes the need to support key technologies in which Austria is already a leader. The nationwide Quantum Austria funding program, which will provide a total of 107 million euros by 2026, is proof of this focus. In the last tender, around 6 million euros for innovative projects, including the Space project, were acquired, which illustrates the commitment to quantum sciences.

progress in quantum computing research

In addition to the development of quantum processor, progress in quantum computing research is also made in Austria. The company Alpine Quantum Technologies GmbH (AQT), a spin-off from the University of Innsbruck and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, is working on the development of its own quantum computer. AQT was founded a year and a half ago and currently has six employees. Within the next two years, the company plans to create a prototype that should be the size of two conventional 19-inch server racks.

The development of the quantum computer is based on the technology of the ion traps, which was proposed and further developed by Peter Zoller and Ignacio Cirac in Innsbruck. This technology enables identical atoms to manipulate and ensures the complete entanglement of the quBITs. AQT can currently be demonstrably entirely entangled and pursues a cautious approach by dispensing with unrealistic promises. Nevertheless, error correction in quantum computing development is a significant challenge that will have to be solved in the next few years.

The research landscape in Austria is therefore actively positioned at the head of global developments in quantum science. While Google already demonstrated with super-conducting circuits "Quantum Supremacy", AQT is pursuing a robust technology development and could play an important role in the international quantum competition in the future. However, the big challenge of developing a scalable and flawless quantum calculation remains.

Overall, the start of the quantum processor and the work of companies such as AQT shows how Austria once again acts as a pioneer in quantum research. The coming years will be crucial to exploit the full potential of these technologies and set worldwide standards. Further information on the developments is also available from ORF and ÖAW