Sponsorship running into the millions on the path to excellence

IIn the first round of the strategy for excellence, quantum technology researchers from Ulm and Stuttgart have already been able to make a convincing impression and have made a full application for a cluster of excellence. At the end of September the decision on this application will be announced. The Carl Zeiss Foundation has already selected the research project “TQuant“, in which findings from quantum science are put into practice, for sponsorship running into the millions.  

In the next six years the foundation will be funding the activities of the interdisciplinary research group, which is already pooled in the joint, cross-location center IQST, with a sum of up to eight million Euros. The physicists, engineers, life scientists as well as mathematicians and experts from other specialist disciplines want to use the laws of quantum mechanics for innovative biomedical applications. In concrete terms they are working on optimizing imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and developing high-performance sensors.    

The three partners, the Universities of Ulm and Stuttgart as well as the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (Stuttgart), are already leading in quantum technology.

Minister Theresia Bauer, chairperson of the foundation administration of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, had this to say about it, “This development is to be continued and sustainably strengthened through our funding”. 

Both locations have an excellent infrastructure in which internationally renowned researchers work. Research buildings for quantum-biosciences that are exactly aligned to meet the needs of the researchers are being built or are already operational in both university cities.

“The funding decision by the foundation further strengthens us in our research project. The combination of quantum technology with biomedicine is unique and will lead to innovative applications for research and diagnostics”, said Professor Joachim Ankerhold, Vice President of the University of Ulm for Research and Information Technology, who together with Professor Tilman Pfau from the University of Stuttgart is a Director of IQST. Professor Jörg Wrachtrup from the University of Stuttgart and Spokesperson for the TQuant project emphasized, “The generous funding by the Carl Zeiss Foundation will allow us to transfer the new possibilities of quantum sensor technologies to the field of medical application and research.“

The Carl Zeiss Foundation funds scientific projects primarily from the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. It finances its funding activities from the dividend payments from both foundation companies Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG. By funding the project “TQuant“ the Carl Zeiss Foundation wants to further strengthen the excellence of the project and thus increase the chances of a successful application in the excellence strategy.