Austria’s Quantum Ecosystem – a Hub of Quantum Innovation and Research

Austria has pioneered quantum science and technology since 1926, culminating in the Nobel Prize for Prof. Anton Zeilinger in 2022. Many of the most prominent and important quantum discoveries were made by researchers at one of Austria's leading research institutions, including entanglement, GHZ states, quantum teleportation, trapped-ion quantum computing quantum repeaters, long-distance quantum communication, Efimov states, supersolids, quantum machine learning and many more. Consequently, today's quantum ecosystem in Austria is exceptionally diverse and includes basic science, applied science, translational research, start-ups, research in established companies, networking groups, as well as dedicated programs of public funding agencies.

Basic research as the foundation

The groundwork in science and technology is provided by basic research, in which Austria has long been a global leader. Currently, 68 research groups are working on more groundbreaking discoveries at various institutions in Austria. Overall, the quantum research community includes more than 700 researchers, postdocs and PhD students. That is – compared to the overall size of the country – quite remarkable. These groups are located at six institutions that span the country and include the University of Vienna, the TU Wien, the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Vienna and Innsbruck), the University of Innsbruck (Tyrol), the Johannes Kepler University in Linz (Upper Austria), and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria in Klosterneuburg (Lower Austria). These leading institutions joined forces in the 2023 to create the Cluster of Excellence “Quantum Science Austria” for promoting collaboration in research, training, as well as communication and transfer.

Government Support and Strategic Investments

Besides strongly supporting its academic institutions, the government of Austria has also strategically invested in building an environment conducive to knowledge valorization in quantum science and technology. In 2021, the establishment of a dedicated quantum technology funding initiative was announced, committing 107 million Euros over a period of five years to develop quantum computing, communication, simulation and sensing technologies. This initiative by the Austrian Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) is part of Austria’s broader vision to support the next generation of disruptive technologies. Using funds from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (2021–2027) the implementation was put into the hands of two funding agencies, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). To complete the funding ecosystem FFG and the Austrian Promotional Bank (AWS) subsequently launched a number of targeted funding programs designed to help both startups and established companies in Austria to develop quantum technologies.

The success of Austrian quantum research and development is reflected in the participation of Austrian stakeholders in the European Union’s one billion Euros Quantum Flagship. Austrian institutions play leading roles in several multinational Flagship projects at the forefront of quantum technology development.

As quantum communication technology is entering the mainstream, Austria has joined the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) program in establishing a secure quantum communication network across Europe. This collaboration further solidifies Austria’s role in international quantum partnerships, ensuring it remains a critical player in global quantum development.

In September 2023, the European Chip Act came into force. The package of measures is intended to ensure the EU's security of supply, resilience and technological leadership in the field of semiconductor technologies and applications. The European Chips Act aims to strengthen manufacturing in the EU, promote the European design ecosystem and drive expansion and innovation throughout the value chain. As part of this European strategy Austria invests into new manufacturing facilities, for example in a wafer manufacturing facility for 227 million Euros in Styria. Quantum technologies are included in the Chips Act – Quantum where several so-called pilot lines will be established with Austrian innovation.

Commercialization and Industry Partnerships

Austria's thriving startup ecosystem plays a key role in translating academic research into commercial applications. Austria is taking significant steps toward the commercialization of quantum technologies, being home to a good number of startups focused on quantum technology, such as Alpine Quantum Technologies (AQT), ParityQC, QMware, qtlabs, QUBO, quantum industries, and Quantum Network Design (QND). Looking at these companies’ portfolios, quantum applications are becoming a reality in quantum cryptography, quantum sensors, and quantum computing.

The Austrian government’s funding programs are geared toward helping these companies bridge the gap between academic research and market-ready products. Additionally, Austria’s strong industrial base, particularly in sectors like telecommunications, engineering, and IT, provides fertile ground for collaboration between quantum startups and established companies. This collaboration helps to ensure that Austria remains at the forefront of quantum innovation.

Global Collaboration and Impact

Austria's quantum ecosystem is not isolated. Austrian researchers and institutions are deeply embedded in global networks and thrive on international collaboration with colleagues in the US, Canada, Asia and of course Europe. In the US, these collaborations include leading institutions such as MIT, Harvard University, or Stanford University. Many Austrian researchers spend time abroad, with some of them settling in the US or around the world. Others return to Austria assuring vital scientific exchange across borders. Attracting international talent and prime researchers to Austria is a priority. The country offers a unique blend of a great research environment with a high standard of living and quality of life, from the historic capital and metropolitan area of Vienna to the Alpine mountains of Innsbruck.

Looking Ahead

In the long run and for the future, Austria is focusing on scaling up the commercialization of quantum technologies to ensure to remain at the top of this transformative field. The collaboration between quantum technology companies and academic institutions should be further strengthened, since it offers a wide array of possibilities for win-win situations between basic research and applied technology development. Quantum Science Austria, Photonics Austria, the industry and other stakeholders are working together to create such collaborative and advantageous environments.

As a small country with limited resources but high potential, a collaborative approach is essential, together with a continuous investment in quantum science and technology. Austria’s vision for the future is to continue its presence in the international quantum science community and to remain one of the major, thriving global quantum hubs driving both technological innovation and economic growth in the coming decades.

Quantum Science Austria

University of Innsbruck | Technikerstrasse 25 | 6020 Innsbruck | Austria

+43 512 507-52553 |  quanta@uibk.ac.at | www.quantumscience.at