Interreg Project Quantum Valley Upper Rhine – UpQuantVal

Fraunhofer ITWM Is Part of a Strong Center for Quantum Research

Press Release / July 24, 2025

Quantum sciences have made great strides in recent years. Technologies such as quantum sensing and quantum computing in particular will radically change the future. To establish a strong European center for quantum sciences, the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM is also participating in the»UpQuantVal« project. It is co-financed by the European Union through Interreg, the program for European territorial cooperation.

An international consortium is behind the Interreg project »UpQuantVal,« which is led by the European Center for Quantum Sciences at the University of Strasbourg and the CNRS (Institute for Physics and Chemistry of Materials – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg). A total of 19 partners from Germany, France, and Switzerland are working together to advance quantum sciences. The project has a budget of €5.1 million, of which €2.3 million comes from EU funds and co-financing from the partner institutions. The project will run for three years.

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Industry: Quantum Innovations for Practical Applications

»Quantum computing is a very broad, interdisciplinary field, which means we need a variety of skills,« says Dr. Pascal Halffmann, research coordinator for quantum computing at Fraunhofer ITWM. That is why the consortium brings together leading players who pool their expertise to further tap the potential of quantum sciences and develop innovative solutions for industry. »Our institute contributes its experience in application-oriented quantum computing research to the project and develops forward-looking, practical implementations,« summarizes Halffmann. Fraunhofer ITWM also brings its experience with the infrastructure available to date to the consortium.

The collaboration will focus on market analyses and assessing the market readiness of quantum technologies that will serve as a basis for future research projects in the field of quantum computing. By closely linking research and industry, »UpQuantVal« aims to help strengthen Europe's role in the development of quantum solutions and further boost innovation in this promising field.

Target Groups and Synergies: A Broad Network for Quantum Sciences

The »UpQuantVal« project promotes cooperation between innovation stakeholders from three countries and is aimed at both research and innovation organizations active in quantum sciences and technologies and companies that develop and apply quantum technologies. Several industry partners are already part of the consortium, and other companies, whether start-ups or industrial groups, are welcome to contribute their specific use cases.

Regional authorities and decision-makers are also involved in the activities.

© Fraunhofer ITWM / iStockphoto
UpQuantVal: Ein starkes Zentrum für Quantenforschung in der Oberrheinregion

»UpQuantVal« as a Competitive Factor for the Upper Rhine Region

Through appropriate infrastructure, training strategies, and technology transfer measures, »UpQuantVal« aims to position the Upper Rhine region as a competitive and attractive quantum innovation location in the heart of Europe. The practical application of quantum computing technologies is particularly important. »In financial mathematics and optimization, we focus on algorithms, especially those from quantum machine learning and quantum optimization, which we test with specific use cases,« says Dr. Pascal Halffmann.

Beyond its scientific and technological impact, the project aims to create new jobs, promote the development of expertise in the region, and strengthen a sustainable network between researchers, companies, and public institutions. Cross-border training courses, the exchange of expertise, and long-term communication and cooperation strategies are planned to ensure the sustainability of this initiative.

Our Partners

Academic Partners and Research Institutions

University of Strasbourg (France)
University of Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany)
University of Basel (Switzerland)
Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (Germany)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – Institute of Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Strasbourg (France)
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany)
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH (Germany)
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering ITWM (Germany)
Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Strasbourg (France)

Private Partners (Companies and Start-Ups)

QPerfect (France)
Qnami (Switzerland)
Basel Precision Instruments GmbH (Switzerland)
SICK AG (Germany)

Public and Regional Authorities

Canton of Basel-Stadt (Switzerland)
Canton of Basel-Landschaft (Switzerland)
Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)
Agency for Innovation & International Location Promotion Grand Est (France)

Associations and Other Organizations

Women in Tech (Switzerland)
Quantum Basel (Switzerland)

© Nicolas Busser
Kunstinstallation eines Quantencomputers

Press Release

Interreg Project Quantum Valley Upper Rhine – UpQuantVal

Fraunhofer ITWM Is Part of a Strong Center for Quantum Research

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Industry: Quantum Innovations for Practical Applications

More Information

Target Groups and Synergies: A Broad Network for Quantum Sciences

»UpQuantVal« as a Competitive Factor for the Upper Rhine Region

Our Partners

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Contact Press / Media

Dr. Pascal Halffmann

Contact Press / Media

M.A. Eva Fröhlich