Winner with the best technology transfer
Photo: Planqc's founding team: Dr. Johannes Zeiher, Dr. Sebastian Blatt and Dr. Alexander Glätzle
In this year's final for the Deutscher Gründerpreis (German Founder's Award), all three finalists — Planqc, Reverion (fuel cells) and TimeTeller (medical AI) — brought concepts for successful technology transfer to the competition.
Planqc's victory meant that quantum computers received the most attention this time.
Planqc was founded in 2021 by a team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. The start-up is the first spin-off of the Munich Quantum Valley initiative. In addition to the founders, the start-up was supported by other scientific advisors from the Max Planck Institute and other universities, as well as economics professor and investor Ann-Kristin Achleitner and entrepreneur Markus Wagner.
Planqc's central approach is based on research at the MPQ and an innovative technology that stores quantum information in neutral atoms. These atoms are captured in optical lattices formed by crossed laser beams. This makes it comparatively easy to combine many qubits into a quantum processor.
A major advantage of Planqc's technology is that its quantum computers can be operated at room temperature, drawing power directly from the mains supply. Unlike the extremely cooled developments of large tech companies, the start-up's computer will operate at room temperature, making it significantly more energy-efficient.
In collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Leibniz Rechenzentrum (Leibniz Supercomputing Centre), Planqc intends to develop and miniaturise the first freely programmable quantum computers by 2027.
Development to date
Planqc first began at the gate Start-up centre in Garching near Munich, before moving into its own premises in a former DIY store in Garching at the end of 2024. The young company now has around 100 employees on 1,400 square metres of lab and office space and now is developing and building its first quantum computers
The Deutscher Gründerpreis (German Founder Award)
The German Founder Award is one of the most prestigious business awards in Germany. Established by ZDF, Porsche, Sparkasse and the FAZ, it is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
