Federal Government presents Milestones and Objectives in four Key Areas of Quantum Technologies –
On 20 May 2026, the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR), acting on behalf of the federal government, presented the first technology roadmaps of the Hightech Agenda Deutschland at a public press conference. These strategic documents were developed in close coordination with the federal states as well as stakeholders from science and industry over a period of several months. For the first time, they provide a concrete planning framework for six key technologies – including Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Quantum Technologies. The roadmaps combine technology policy objectives with concrete milestones, measurable indicators, and clearly designated implementation partners.
The federal government’s primary goal in the field of Quantum Technologies is to establish Germany as a globally leading location for the development and application of these technologies, thereby ensuring long-term technological sovereignty. To this end, concrete applications are to be realized across the entire value chain – from basic research and system integration through to broad use in industry and society. The roadmap for Quantum Technology focuses on four key areas: Quantum Computing, Quantum Sensing, Quantum Communication, and education and training of skilled professionals. In the area of Quantum Communication, the emphasis is particularly on strengthening and expanding the innovation ecosystem. In this context, the perspectives of end users are also to be taken more strongly into account.
To achieve these goals, the federal government defines eight milestones for the period from 2026 to 2030, which are intended to serve as a guide for further development. For 2026, these include the successful commissioning of the second QUBE research satellite as well as the completion of the QuNET initiative. The latter is considered Germany’s research contribution to the European EuroQCI initiative. In 2027, an innovative networking platform for technology transfer in Quantum Communication is scheduled to launch. It is intended to bring together stakeholders across Germany and make better use of existing synergies. For 2028, the roadmap foresees, among other things, a second Grand Challenge to support early-career research groups. At the same time, key components for long-range terrestrial Quantum Communication are to be developed. In this context, the first technology demonstration of a Quantum Repeater is planned for 2028. By 2030, Quantum Information Networks are expected to be established in Germany according to the roadmap. These are to be researched in cooperation with international partners with a view to future use cases, and the resulting findings are to feed into European and national standardization processes.
Further information on the technology roadmaps is available from the federal government online. In addition, the BMFTR is inviting stakeholders to participate and provide feedback. A public online consultation has been opened for a period of six weeks. The responses will directly inform the further development of the roadmaps.
Source references: https://www.bmftr.bund.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/DE/2026/05/htad-tage.html; https://hightech-agenda-deutschland.de/roadmaps/quantentechnologien/
