ERC Consolidator Grant for Robert König

Robert König, professor for the theory of complex quantum systems at TUM, receives one of the prestigious Consolidator Grants from the European Research Council (ERC) for his project "Enhanced quantum information processing targeting the near term". This is the 3rd ERC Consolidator Grant at our Department.

The ERC Consolidator Grants

The ERC awards Consolidator Grants in different categories. Researchers with 7 to 12 years of experience since completion of their PhD can apply for the award. The ERC funds the projects with up to 2 million Euros each.

Professor Robert König is one of 327 winners of the annual ERC Consolidator Grant competition. The award supports scientists who want to consolidate their independence by building a research team and continue a successful career in Europe.

The funding is part of the research and innovation program Horizon 2020, allowing winners to conduct research at universities and research centers in 23 countries. Germany (50), the United Kingdom (50) and France (34) receive most grants.

The project EQUIPTNT

Progress in the fabrication, control and readout of quantum systems consisting of a small number of qubits has catapulted quantum computation from a primarily theoretical pursuit into the lab.

With the growing availability of small and relatively noise-free devices and the imminent arrival of larger next-generation equipment, new theoretical questions are being asked about the potential of quantum computation. In particular, one may ask if quantum computing devices may yield computational benefits even in the presence of noise or constraints on their size or geometrical layout of qubits.

The project EQUIPTNT will characterize the computational capabilities of near-term quantum devices by studying their potential to yield disruptive boosts in information processing power. It will investigate and design new quantum algorithms adapted to limited hardware: the aim here is to provide computational advances while maximizing noise-tolerance without placing excessive demands on experimental capabilities.

EQUIPTNT will establish new theoretical and algorithmic methods to address the question of “best use” for a given finite set of resources. Its interdisciplinary approach will yield novel principles for the design, simulation and validation of quantum information processing protocols. Corresponding results will have direct application to near-term quantum devices.