FU Berlin Among Europe's Top Quantum Performers

Freie Universität Berlin has cemented its place among Europe's leading quantum research institutions. In the latest funding round of the QuantERA network, the university secured three approved projects, tying with the University of Ulm for the highest number of grants awarded to any German institution. Out of 287 proposals submitted from across Europe, only 39 made it through. FU Berlin's share: more than €860,000 in funding. The university shared this in a press release issued on June 15, 2026.

The projects are led by two quantum physicists from FU Berlin: Prof. Christiane Koch and Prof. Jens Eisert. Koch's research focuses on heat and energy management in superconducting circuits, as well as feedback-based quantum optimization and control. As she explains, superconducting circuits are among the most promising architectures for future quantum computers, but there is a catch: the computing operations run at temperatures close to absolute zero, and they generate heat that warms up the quantum chips. Finding efficient ways to remove that heat is a key prerequisite for building larger, more powerful systems.

Eisert leads the third project, which tackles quantum error correction. Quantum computers are highly sensitive to outside interference, and any unwanted environmental influence can wipe out their computational advantages. His team is exploring new approaches at the intersection of physics and mathematics to make quantum technologies more robust against exactly these disruptions.

QuantERA is the largest European initiative for cooperation in quantum technologies, connecting researchers across borders with support from the European Commission.