Saarland University Launches New Center for Quantum Technologies – Informatics to Play a Strategic Role
The leadership team of the new Center for Quantum Technologies, representing the fields of physics, mathematics, and computer science (from left to right): Peter P. Orth, Markus Bläser, Giovanna Morigi, Frank Wilhelm-Mauch, Moritz Weber, Jürgen Eschner, and Christoph Becher. Not pictured: Jonas Haferkamp, who is also part of the leadership team. Photo: UdS/Thorsten Mohr
Saarland University is establishing a new Center for Quantum Technologies (QuTe) with over €53 million in funding from the Saarland state’s Transformation Fund. Supplemented by additional infrastructure investments and expected federal contributions, this represents one of the most significant research initiatives in the region’s history.
Bridging Disciplines – With Informatics at the Core
The center will take a distinctly interdisciplinary approach, uniting expertise in physics, mathematics, engineering, and computer science. A particular focus will be placed on quantum software – a field that remains underdeveloped in Germany. The strong track record of the Saarbrücken informatics community in algorithms, system architecture, complexity theory, and machine learning provides a solid foundation for this direction.
This collaborative spirit is also reflected in the composition of the center’s leadership team: it includes researchers from all four core disciplines, such as Moritz Weber (mathematics) and Markus Bläser (computer science) – a clear sign of the strong and longstanding cooperation between the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University, and within the Saarland Informatics Campus as a whole.
A Collaborative Effort with Leading Partners
The initiative is being developed in close partnership with the renowned Forschungszentrum Jülich, which will establish research groups in Saarbrücken, co-appoint professors, and contribute advanced infrastructure.
Key institutions at the Saarland Informatics Campus – including the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the Max Planck Institute for Informatics – are also involved. Together, the partners aim to build critical mass in quantum engineering and software, driving forward innovation, spin-offs, and patent development.
Opening Up New Horizons for Research and Talent
Beyond cutting-edge research, the center will also establish new engineering-oriented degree programs and provide structured support for early-career scientists. For students and researchers at the Saarland Informatics Campus, this means new opportunities in one of the world’s most dynamic technological frontiers.
Saarland University President Ludger Santen highlights the vision: “We aim to create a globally visible hub for next-generation quantum technologies.” By combining regional strengths in physics and computer science, the initiative is poised to help close a national gap in quantum software development.
Note to Media and the Public:
The project is still in its early phases. An official opening date has not yet been announced. We will continue to provide updates from the Saarland Informatics Campus as the initiative progresses.