insider brief
- The Finnish Research Council on January 11 awarded €13 million to the newly launched Finnish Quantum Flagship Project.
- Lead organizations include Aalto University (coordinator), the Finnish VTT Technology Research Center, the University of Helsinki, the University of Jyväskylä, the University of Tampere, the University of Oulu, and the CSC-IT Science Center.
- This figure only represents funding for the first five years of the eight-year project.
- Image: Finland’s Quantum Flagship received its first funding from the Finnish Research Council in January 2024. (Credit) Mikko Raskinen/Aalto University.Story: Aalto
Press Release — A major wave of new funding is now being earmarked for quantum research, education and technology development in Finland. The Finnish Research Council on January 11 awarded €13 million to the newly launched Finnish Quantum Flagship (FQF) project.
The initial flagship plan is expected to be funded in roughly equal amounts by the various member organizations that make up the flagship. These amounts represent his funding for the first five years of an eight-year project. FQF plans to launch the master plan in March 2024.
The FQF consists of the following host organizations: Aalto University (coordinator), Finnish VTT Technology Research Center, University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä, University of Tampere, University of Oulu, and CSC-IT Science Center.
“With funding in hand, FQF now has the resources needed to expand interdisciplinary quantum expertise and apply it beyond the scientific community. This is important. Finland is a pioneer in quantum technology Cooperation between countries is known as flexible. Although global competition is increasing, the spirit of cooperation between Finland’s universities, research institutes, government agencies and industrial partners sets us apart from other countries. The launch of this flagship product will be a catalyst to strengthen Finland’s excellence in education, research and industrial development in quantum technology,” said the FQF Director. peter lilgerosProfessor of Physics at Aalto University.
The timeline of this flagship is planned from 2024 to 2031 and represents a multifaceted advancement of Finland’s quantum ecosystem. In addition to sponsoring cross-collaboration among FQF’s dozens of research groups, the newly awarded funding will address an enduring problem in the field and a key focus area for FQF: attracting and training international talent. , will be used for maintenance.
Additionally, the funding will be used to launch new research activities and industrial initiatives, as well as to raise awareness of quantum technologies in Finnish society through open access educational programs and training.
While codifying a quantum-ready Finland is at the forefront of FQF objectives, establishing networks between other Nordic countries is also a top priority. FQF members are conducting ongoing landscape analysis with members from Sweden, Denmark and Norway as part of the Nordic Quantum international collaboration. This group aims to identify areas of fruitful cooperation in research and development of quantum technologies between the Nordic countries.
Extensive European cooperation and bilateral relations with countries such as the United States have also been underway for several years and are based on public declarations.
FQF is hosted within InstituteQ, Finland’s quantum research institute, which serves as an umbrella collaborative in quantum science and technology. In 2021 he founded VTT’s InstituteQ between Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, which supports the promotion of research at the highest level, the introduction of new technologies, the development of new commercial opportunities and the development of national training programs. .