The project will be led by Eucor – The European Campus. In addition to the five Eucor universities in Germany, France and Switzerland (Universities of Basel, Freiburg, Haute-Alsace and Strasbourg as well as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), the Universities of Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Poznán (Poland) are also involved. The project will run for five years and totals over 12 million euros.

“Quantum science and technology is an interdisciplinary field that explores and harnesses the rules of physics, chemistry, materials science and computer science,” says Prof. Guido Pupillo from the University of Strasbourg, scientific director of the programme. “At Gen-Q, we use this variety of perspectives to work on advanced quantum technologies, such as quantum computing and quantum sensing. To this end, we will attract a large cohort of young talented researchers from all over the world to all Gen-Q European partner institutions. This programme is thus of high importance for our institutions, regions, countries and Europe.”

Interdisciplinary, intersectoral, international

The programme focuses on four key areas: (1) overcoming noise in quantum devices; (2) scaling up complexity in so-called qubits and sensors; (3) developing quantum hardware and (4) developing quantum software and hybrid computing. The young scientists will choose between the participating institutions for their doctorate and will also cooperate with various industrial partners in the region.

“The aim of Gen-Q is to contribute to overcoming the future challenges in European quantum science and technology and, at the same time, to train the young academic generation required to meet these challenges,” says Prof. Andrea Schenker-Wicki, Rector at the University of Basel and President of Eucor – The European Campus. The joint programme builds on many years of cooperation between the participating scientists. The project also strengthens the network's strategic focus on “Quantum Science and Technologies”.