QUICS

From September 1 to October 31, 2026, QUICS (quantum innovation & computing for SMEs) is inviting companies to submit industrial problems for exploration on current quantum hardware. No in-house quantum expertise or hardware investment is required. In particular, use cases in the field of machine learning, optimization, and simulation of chemistry systems or materials are suitable.

Applicants should fill in a short form, which contains a short description of the problem, its business relevance, and the current solution ansatz. Selected submissions will be developed by the QUICS team from the initial problem statement through to the finished solution. Companies can choose to what extent they will be involved in the developing of their use case. However, a certain amount of guidance (and possibly provision of data) is required for successful implementation. More details about the call are available here.

As quantum computing (QC) transitions from laboratory breakthroughs to industrial tools, the question for many businesses is no longer “if” but “how”. To ensure that German industry and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are equipped for this shift, a new strategic study – the “Quantum Computing Industry Needs Survey”– is officially calling for participants.

This initiative is conducted within the framework of Fraunhofer’s INQUBATOR and the joint GWDG/LUH QUICS quantum computing test and consulting centers. The data gathered will directly influence the development of regional support offers and specialized consulting services.

The Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Datenverarbeitung mbH Göttingen (GWDG) will be exhibiting at the Hannover Messe this year from 20 to 24 April 2026. The focus will be on the QUICS (Quantum Innovation and Computing for SMEs), which will be represented at the Quantum Valley Lower Saxony (QVLS) stand.

Quantum computing for SMEs

QUICS supports small and medium-sized enterprises in tapping into the potential of quantum computing through consultancy, training and risk-free access to high-performance computing (HPC). The project offers a vendor-neutral platform for testing specific industrial use cases on real quantum hardware or digital twins. As a Lower Saxony network of excellence, the partner QVLS (Quantum Valley Lower Saxony) brings together expertise from science and industry to develop the region into a leading hub for quantum technologies.

The new quantum computing testing and consulting centers funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) have successfully launched with an initial joint workshop. The GWDG is involved in this project together with other institutions. The aim of the new centers is to bring quantum computing into industry in a practical way and, in particular, to make it usable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), thereby strengthening the innovative power of German SMEs.

In this blog post, we aim to encourage the use of quantum computing in quantum many-body-physics. This post is published in the context of the QUICS project, which is a joint project of the Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Datenverarbeitung Göttingen, the Leibniz University Hannover, and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) funds QUICS to provide consultation and low-threshold access to different quantum hardware and software for testing practical use cases, especially for small and medium enterprises. For more information contact us at quics-info@gwdg.de.