Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (Fraunhofer IAF) to lead the development of a spin-photon, diamond-based quantum supercomputer demonstrator

Quantum Brilliance, a German-Australian manufacturer of innovative quantum supercomputing hardware, is the commercialization partner in a $17.5 million research project funded by the German government to develop a compact, scalable quantum supercomputer demonstrator with spin-photon qubits leveraging synthetic diamonds.

Led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF, the goal of the three-year project is to develop a demonstrator that delivers low error rates and reliable operation at cryogenic temperatures so it can be used adjacent to classical computer systems. Researchers believe the quantum processor will be able to calculate the results of highly complex quantum chemical reactions in the future, among other applications.

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Spinning – Spin-Photon-based Quantum Computer based on Diamond project will include the participation of 28 experts from science and industry. As a commercialization partner, Quantum Brilliance will be providing input regarding the economics of producing the system and the broad, practical applications that will benefit from its development.

"The aim of our work is, among other things, to ensure reliable operation of such an innovative quantum computer and to create a peripheral system to make computing power available to a broad group of users, for example via cloud computing," said Prof. Rüdiger Quay, Ph.D., project coordinator and managing director of Fraunhofer IAF.

To develop the quantum processor with spin qubits made of synthetic diamonds, nitrogen atoms (NV centers) are specifically implanted in the diamond lattice. These act as computer nodes between quantum properties transmitted by light, laying the foundation for later scaling. The first demonstrator model is planned to deliver up to 10 qubits, a later model with 100 qubits or more while offering maximum connectivity and configuration. 

"We are delighted to be part of this exciting BMBF-funded project led by Fraunhofer IAF. Quantum computing is one of the key industries of the future – with a potential that is second to none,” said Mark Mattingley-Scott, European Head of Quantum Brilliance. “With its research landscape, local industry, and the support of the public sector, Germany has the perfect conditions to be a leader in this promising industry.”

In addition to Quantum Brilliance, six universities, two non-profit research institutions, four industrial companies, and fourteen associated partners are working on the project under the direction of Fraunhofer IAF. All participants are highly active in the field of pre-competitive hardware, firmware, and software development and include:

• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF (Coordinator)
• Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB
• Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
• University of Konstanz
• Heidelberg University
• Technical University of Munich
• University of Ulm
• Diamond Materials GmbH, Freiburg im Breisgau
• NVision Imaging Technologies GmbH, Ulm
• Qinu GmbH, Karlsruhe
• University of Stuttgart
• Quantum Brilliance GmbH, Stuttgart
• Swabian Instruments GmbH, Stuttgart