DLD Video
Quantum Leap in European Collaboration
What is the current state of quantum computing in Europe, and how can the continent stay competitive in this key technology? This DLD20 panel, moderated by Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, brought together Ignacio Cirac (Max Planck Insititute of Quantum Optics), Sebastian Luber Infineon Technologies, Ian Walmsley (Imperial College London), Torsten Siebert (Frauenhofer-Gesellschaft) and Wolfgang Hübschle (Invest in Bavaria).
“Europe is well off with the science and has contributed to the discoveries and development of the field”, Ignacio Cirac believes. “So it’s in a good starting position.” Ian Walmsely agrees but also warns that “Europe needs to be coherent about saying, ‘We want to be leaders in Quantum, we want to build a European Quantum Super Computer.’” Torsten Siebert agreed with this perspective and emphasized the existing strong economic and political commitment of Quantum competitors, such as the US and China. He added, “we need to be clear about what motivates us with this technology (…) we need to find that and move forward.”
Torsten Siebert
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Torsten Siebert is the central coordinator for the Quantum Technologies Program^ of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The program encompasses the interdisciplinary research activities of over 16 Fraunhofer-Institutes and spans the fields of quantum imaging, sensors, communication and computing technologies.
Wolfgang Hübschle
Invest in Bavaria
Dr. Wolfgang Hübschle has many years of experience in location marketing and economic promotion services. Since 2013 he has been the executive director of Invest in Bavaria, the Business Promotion Agency of the Free State of Bavaria. Prior to that he was the representative of the State of Bavaria in New York and in charge of handling the acquisition of American companies.
Ian Walmsley
Imperial College London
Professor Ian Walmsley FRS is Provost of Imperial College London, where he is also Chair in Experimental Physics. One of the world’s foremost authorities on quantum optics, Professor Walmsley is Director of the UK’s Networked Quantum Information Technologies Hub (NQIT). He has written about the need for global collaboration in the race to develop a commercially viable quantum computer.
Sebastian Luber
Infineon Technologies AG
As Director Technology & Innovation, Sebastian Luber acts as technology scout and speaker of the Infineon Technologies team on second-generation quantum technologies. After graduated from the TU Munich in experimental physics, he worked as research assistant at the Walter Schottky Institute in Munich and at Fujitsu Laboratories in Japan.
Ignacio Cirac
Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics
Internationally renowned physicist Ignacio Cirac is the Head of Theory Division at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching near Munich. With his colleague Peter Zoller, he made the first proposals for building quantum computers, quantum simulators, and quantum repeaters using atoms, ions, photons and other physical systems.
Laura Citron
London & Partners
Laura Citron is CEO of London & Partners, the international promotional agency for London. She leads the organisation to grow London’s global reputation and to attract business, tourists, students, events and talent to London. Laura has spent her career at the intersection of business, policy and communications. Prior to London & Partners, she was Managing Director of the Government & Public Sector Practice at WPP.