Although quantum technologies have long been part of our daily lives—ranging from laser diodes to the iridescent colors of insects and butterflies—the technology has advanced so significantly over the past 20 years that a technological race is now underway. This race is not merely about securing the largest market share, but also about harnessing the technology with the greatest future potential—two goals that often enough require conflicting courses of action.

To unite economic and technological interests in this field, diverse individuals with different backgrounds must work together successfully.

Patents are one of the oldest economic tools for fostering the further development of technologies. In exchange for providing detailed technical specifications, the patent holder gains the right to prohibit third parties from using that technology for 20 years. That represents 20 years during which a company has the opportunity to become a market leader.

Universities, on the other hand, use patents to safeguard their research. Their aim is to prevent technologies developed with public funds from being used by third parties without compensation. The objective is for third parties to manufacture and market these technologies, given that universities have only a very limited capacity to produce goods themselves; at the same time, however, the aim is to ensure proportionality and to allow the developers to share in the proceeds. 

In the field of quantum technologies, many competing technologies are currently vying for dominance, and it is not yet possible to predict which one will prove to be the most advantageous. Universities, in particular, are conducting vital pioneering work by researching the relevant issues. To bring products resulting from this research to market, the patent-protected technologies can be licensed to companies or to a start-up founded specifically for that purpose.

Two research groups we are supporting are pursuing different paths in this regard: at the University of Ulm, we are assisting with the founding of a start-up in the field of quantum sensing, while at the University of Stuttgart, we are supporting a licensing initiative in the field of quantum computing.

Every university offers consulting services for start-ups. However, the field of quantum technologies brings with it specific challenges. For instance, pitching to investors is a crucial step as a start-up matures. But how do you explain quantum mechanical phenomena—which, moreover, yield probabilities rather than definitive results? And how do you communicate clearly when every research group uses its own terminology?
 

To this end, we drew upon the preliminary scientific work of Ms. Greiner (Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies) in order to help establish a unified, Europe-wide language. 

The subject matter is challenging not only in terms of language but also due to the underlying mathematical concepts, which have no real-world equivalents. We therefore developed a bidirectional explanation bridging quantum technology and business administration. This enables us to convey key insights for their start-up to the scientists, while introducing participating executives to the fundamental principles of quantum technology. (Quantum Innovation & Commercialisation Leadership Series).

It is not only physicists and engineers who venture into new territory when launching a start-up; established companies, too, must enter new fields and grapple with complex technology. Expert advice is crucial for gaining confidence in handling this new technology. Given that quantum technology encompasses various sub-fields, the situation calls for both specialized experts and highly experienced quantum generalists..

That is why, for our workshop series, we draw on guest speakers with a wide range of backgrounds and experience. Find out more about the workshop series (Quantum CXO Workshop Series) and our first event (Link zu LinkedIn).

Last but not least, we would like to introduce our team. To ensure we have the necessary range of perspectives in-house, our team is composed of scientists with diverse backgrounds—spanning everything from MBAs to chemistry. 

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Here you will find further links regarding quantum technology and quantum workshops.