EU Quantum Flagship
The Quantum Flagship is the major research initiative of the EU for the development of quantum-based technologies. During its first phase (2018–2022), ETH Zurich researchers, including Quantum Center members, participated in five of the projects.
The external page Quantum Flagship is one of the most ambitious research initiatives ever funded by the European Commission. Over a ten-year period, it brings together Europe's leading researchers in quantum technologies, major industry players and policy makers in a joint initiative of unprecedented scale. The aim is to consolidate and expand European scientific leadership in this field of research and to take quantum physics research out of the lab and into commercial applications, in particular in the fields of computing, secure data transmission and sensor technology.
Coordinated by the European Commission, the Quantum Flagship started in 2018 and is currently in its second phase (2022–2025). In its external page rump-up phase (2018–2022), universities and companies in Switzerland where involved in eleven of the 24 selected projects. Research groups from ETH Zurich, including members of the Quantum Center, participated in five of the projects, in the areas of quantum computing (AQTION and OpenSuperQ), quantum simulations (Qombs) and quantum sensing and metrology (ASTERIQS and MetaboliQs).
As a result of Switzerland's current status as a non-associated third country in the Horizon Europe programme, scientists in Switzerland are currently excluded from this initiative.
ETH participation in the first funding phase
AQTION's (An ion-trap quantum computer for Europe) aim was to develop and exploit a robust, compact ion-trap quantum computer based on scalable quantum hardware and widespread industry standards. Coordinated by the University of Innsbruck, the consortium consists of six academic and three industrial partners.
Swiss partner: ETH Zurich, Prof. Jonathan Home, also Founding Co-Director of the Quantum Center
external page AQTION project website
OpenSuperQ's (An Open Superconducting Quantum Computer) aim was to design, build and operate a quantum information processing system of up to 100 qubits and to sustainably make it available at a central site for external users. Ten partners from science and industry from five countries are involved in the project, which is coordinated by FZ Jülich.
Swiss partners: ETH Zurich, Prof. Andreas Wallraff, also Founding-Director of the Quantum Center, as well as Zurich Instruments
external page OpenSuperQ project website
Qombs (Quantum simulation and entanglement engineering in quantum cascade laser frequency combs) aimed to create a quantum simulator platform made of ultracold atoms for engineering quantum cascade laser frequency combs. Coordinated by CNR Istituto Nazionale di Ottica in Florence, the project brings together ten partners from four countries. The consortium consists of one-half of academic institutions and one-half of industrial partners.
Swiss partners: ETH Zurich, Prof. Jérôme Faist, also member of the Quantum Center, as well as Alpes Lasers and IRsweep
external page Qombs project website
ASTERIQS (Advancing Science and Technology through diamond Quantum Sensing) aimed to develop precise sensors made from diamonds, including atom-like defects such as nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres, to measure quantities including magnetic field, electric field, temperature and pressure, and to investigate the structure of single molecules or spintronics devices. Coordinated by Thales, the consortium brings together 23 partners from eight countries including industrial companies, SMEs and research institutions.
Swiss partners: ETH Zurich, Prof. Christian Degen, also member of the Quantum Center, as well as the University of Basel
external page ASTERIQS project website
MetaboliQs (Detecting heart metabolism on a molecular level) objective was to leverage room-temperature diamond quantum dynamics to enable safe multimodal cardiac imaging that can help better diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Coordinated by Fraunhofer IAF, the project consists of four academic and three industry partners from four countries.
Swiss partner: ETH Zurich, Prof. Sebastian Kozerke
external page MetaboliQs project website