Quantum Year 2025: How Fraunhofer IIS is unlocking the quantum frontier

It’s been a hundred years since pioneers like Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr revolutionized our understanding of the world through the formulation of quantum mechanics. This first quantum revolution laid the groundwork for technologies such as lasers and transistors – now indispensable in modern life.

Today, we stand at the threshold of the second quantum revolution: the targeted use of the particularly mysterious properties of the quantum world for practical applications. But how do you turn complex quantum effects into manageable tools for industry? This is precisely where the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS steps in. Without highly integrated control electronics, intelligent algorithms, and deep system-level expertise, the enormous potential of quantum risks remaining confined to the laboratory. Fraunhofer IIS’s mission is clear: to deliver the key technologies for the quantum world, driven by two central areas of focus.

Focus Area 1: Quantum Computing – The Computing Revolution

Many of the most pressing problems of our time are simply too complex for today’s supercomputers. Quantum computers hold the promise of overcoming these limitations. The strength of Fraunhofer IIS lies in its ability to look beyond individual components, having the entire system in view – from hardware to algorithms to practical applications.

At the hardware level, a functional quantum computer requires one thing above all: the fundamental computing units: so-called qubits.. That’s why Fraunhofer IIS is collaborating on the development of a 400-qubit quantum computer prototype. Researchers at IIS focus not only on increasing the number of qubits but also on ensuring the high quality of qubit control. It’s this interplay of quantity and quality that truly enables the computational revolution.

To harness the growing power of quantum computing, Fraunhofer IIS is building a vital bridge between hardware and application – driven by quantum algorithms. Researchers are developing cutting-edge techniques to translate complex problems into a language that quantum computers can process effectively. 

One promising area of application under exploration at Fraunhofer IIS is industrial imaging: quantum algorithms could significantly accelerate reconstruction in computed tomography (CT), allowing for faster and more precise defect detection directly on the production line.

The technology’s vast potential extends to pharmaceuticals and materials science as well. By expediting the simulation of complex molecules, quantum computing could dramatically speed up the development of new drugs and advanced materials. In parallel, Fraunhofer IIS is exploring how advanced artificial intelligence methods can boost quantum computing performance – allowing economically relevant challenges to be tackled earlier and more effectively.

Focus Area 2: Quantum Communication – Data Security of the Future

A powerful quantum computer could destabilize the very foundations of our digital security, making widely used encryption methods like RSA obsolete. This would leave secure internet connections and digital signatures instantly vulnerable.

Quantum communication provides a solution: a physical shield whose security is rooted in the fundamental laws of quantum physics. To transition this technology from the lab to real-world applications, an Application Center has been established at the Dresden branch of Adaptive Systems Development. Here, microelectronic circuits are designed to implement quantum communication systems in a flexible and cost-effective manner.

The economic impact of this technology is profound, particularly in safeguarding critical infrastructure and intellectual property – and a cornerstone for ensuring digital sovereignty in the future.

The Quantum Year and Beyond: Shaping Tomorrow’s Reality

The second quantum revolution demands partners who can bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world application. With deep expertise in both quantum computing and quantum communication, Fraunhofer IIS stands at the forefront of this transformation. More than offering insights, it delivers the technologies and tools that turn quantum potential into tangible, industry-ready solutions.