Trumpf spinoff Q.ANT partners with PlanQK to develop quantum photonics

09 Aug 2023

PlanQK project aims to simplify quantum computing by providing an “app store” of quantum applications.

Q.ANT, a startup launched out of engineering giant Trumpf, has announced a collaboration with PlanQK as an associate partner. The partnership aims to strengthen the quantum computing community by leveraging Q.ANT’s expertise in photonic quantum technology.

PlanQK, which is described as “a platform and ecosystem for quantum applications”, is a development project supported by public funds from Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate since 2019. Comprising a membership of over 100 companies, scientific institutions, public administration and associations, PlanQK aims to simplify quantum computing by providing an easily accessible app store with community-powered quantum applications.

Q.ANT’s contribution to the PlanQK community includes sharing their extensive knowledge in photonic quantum computing and making their in-house developed and manufactured quantum computer chips available to the PlanQK ecosystem.

Dr. Mathias Petri, Co-founder and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Anaqor, the consortium leader of the PlanQK project, expresses optimism about the partnership: “With Q.ANT we have been able to inspire a strategically very important partner for PlanQK. Our ecosystem can benefit enormously from this partnership, especially with regard to the use of technology that is already available today and ensuring technological sovereignty in Germany and Europe.”

‘Revolutionary photonics’

Q.ANT specializes in what it calls “revolutionary photonics solutions”, designed to enable the practical application of quantum technology in sensor and quantum computing. By joining forces with PlanQK, Q.ANT says it is taking a significant step towards advancing the widespread industrial use of quantum computing across industries.

Dr. Michael Förtsch, founder and CEO of Q.ANT, commented, “We at Q.ANT are looking forward to contributing to PlanQK and pushing quantum technology in computing and sensing. Only by close cooperation of experts and companies in the field, like in PlanQK, we can advance and make Germany and Europe a stronghold in these crucial, disruptive technologies.”

Based in Stuttgart, Germany, Q.ANT was founded in 2018 as part of the Trumpf Group. With its four product lines Photonic Quantum Computing, Particle Metrology, Atomic Gyroscopes and Magnetic Sensing, Q.ANT is a partner for a wide variety of industries and fields of application.

Anaqor is a software-focused quantum start up based in Berlin and Stuttgart. In 2019, Anaqor initiated PlanQK – the first community-powered quantum platform and ecosystem supported by the German government and trusted to date by more than 100 organizations.