QuantumFrontiers Cluster of Excellence at TU Braunschweig once again recognised in Excellence Strategy

• Of the two Clusters of Excellence at TU Braunschweig, ‘QuantumFrontiers‘ is entering the next phase of the Excellence Strategy.
• TU Braunschweig has established itself as a leading research location in the fields of nanotechnology and quantum physics as well as sustainable aviation in both research projects.
• Future: The work of the clusters forms a strong foundation for the ‘Ecoversity’.

The ‘QuantumFrontiers‘ cluster of excellence at Technische Universität Braunschweig has once again been successful in the selection process for the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal Government and the Länder. The impressive results of the first funding phase and the ambitious plans for forward-looking research convinced the reviewers, and the cluster will receive funding for another seven years. Funding for the second Cluster of Excellence, ‘SE²A – Sustainable and Energy Efficient Aviation,’ will end with the first funding period. Both projects have been supported since 2019 as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. During the seven years of funding, both clusters have secured a leading position in the international research landscape and built up a state-of-the-art infrastructure thanks to their outstanding results.

“Congratulations to the ‘QuantumFrontiers’ team. With funding for another seven years, we can now achieve groundbreaking successes in the quantum technologies of the future,” says TU President Angela Ittel. “Even though ‘SE²A’ is not funded by the Excellence Strategy, our goal remains unchanged: We are continuing our work on climate-friendly aviation with our national and international partners and have the full support of the ministry. Both clusters have promoted the development of strong networks and laid the foundation for our transformation into an ‘Ecoversity’. They show how we are taking responsibility for the global challenges of our time with excellent research and strong networks.”

President Angela Ittel will attend the press conference of the Niedersachsen Ministry of Science and Culture tomorrow, Friday, 23 June, starting at approximately 11 a.m. There, Minister Falko Mohrs and other guests will present the results of the Excellence Strategy and assess them in the context of Niedersachsen as a research location. The event will begin immediately after the regular state press conference (LPK) and will take place in the LPK room of the Niedersachsen State Parliament in Hanover.

QuantumFrontiers: Pushing the boundaries of what can be measured

The central goal of the second funding phase of ‘QuantumFrontiers’ is to carry out measurements at the quantum limit with unprecedented precision – and to advance basic research while opening up more and more applications in quantum technology.

“In ‘QuantumFrontiers’, we are continuously pushing the boundaries of what can be measured. With unprecedented precision, we are sharpening the focus of science and society, from the smallest components of our environment to the deepest reaches of the universe,” says Professor Andreas Waag, cluster spokesperson for TU Braunschweig. “At the LENA Research Centre and the NTC Microelectronics Network at TU Braunschweig in particular, we are researching the key technologies that will enable these basic research successes to be put to practical use – for example in quantum computers or sensors.”

The ‘QuantumFrontiers‘ Cluster of Excellence is developing quantum technologies such as optical clocks and next-generation gravitational wave detectors. These systems are driving the search for unknown forces, dark energy and dark matter. At the same time, the globally unique precision components of these technologies are paving the way for quantum technologies to be used by society on a broad basis. These include, for example, advances in Earth observation and robust, efficient sensors that make it possible to measure changes in the water cycle and other processes relevant to the environment and climate. At TU Braunschweig, the basic technologies required for this, such as the miniaturisation of optical and microelectronic semiconductor chips, are being developed.

The cluster brings together researchers from physics, engineering, computer science, social sciences and education. In addition to TU Braunschweig, the Leibniz University Hannover, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the Laser Centre Hannover, the Centre for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity, the DLR Institute of Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensors, and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) are also involved.

SE²A: A strong foundation for the future of environmentally friendly flying

Since its establishment in 2019, the ‘SE²A‘ Cluster of Excellence has set new standards for sustainable aviation research. Over 100 doctoral students have been able to conduct research on sustainability in an inspiring environment and network across disciplines. The intensive collaboration between the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Leibniz University Hannover and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) under the leadership of Technische Universität Braunschweig has provided decisive impetus, particularly in aviation research and energy systems.

“Of course, we would have liked to see the funding continue,” says cluster spokesperson Professor Jens Friedrichs, “but we look back with great pride on what we have achieved. ‘SE²A’ has brought people, ideas and institutions together – and thus laid the foundation for many future innovations.”

Thanks to the expansion of the local infrastructure and close cooperation with the two other aviation research centres in Europe, Toulouse and Delft, Braunschweig has firmly established itself on the aviation map. The interdisciplinary spirit of SE²A and the network that has been created have laid the groundwork for further groundbreaking research ideas, even beyond the original project period. This is evident in joint research projects such as the recently approved Transregio Special Research Area SynTrac, which focuses on the synthesis of sustainable propulsion technologies, and in jointly established structures such as E²agle – a key component for experimental aviation research – which were created thanks to the work of the cluster.

The future as an ‘Ecoversity’

The research achievements and, above all, the strong networks of the two clusters of excellence form a stable basis for the future of TU Braunschweig as an ‘Ecoversity‘. In the concept awarded by the science promotion programme ‘zukunft.niedersachsen’, all members of the university, from teaching and transfer to administration, are active players in the ‘Ecoversity’ alongside transdisciplinary research. Together with regional, national and international partners in its dynamic scientific ecosystem, TU Braunschweig contributes to the research of solutions to global challenges and thus demonstrates the added value of science for society.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for their great commitment, even though unfortunately only one of the two clusters achieved a positive result,” says TU Vice President for Research Peter Hecker. “In recent years, TU Braunschweig has established itself as a leading research location. I am convinced that with the ‘Ecoversity’ concept, we will further exploit the potential of TU Braunschweig’s cutting-edge research.”

The second funding phase of the ‘QuantumFrontiers’ Cluster of Excellence at TU Braunschweig will begin on 1 January 2026. The funding period is seven years. The Excellence Commission consists of members of an international panel of experts and the ministers responsible for science and research at the federal and state levels. The panel of experts was appointed by the Joint Science Conference of the Federal Government and the States (GWK).