Quantum Future Award 2022

Quantum Future Award - Oustanding Ideas for Quantum Technology

Mr. Uday Chandrashekara – Master graduate of the Abbe School of Photonics and now researcher at Fraunhofer IOF – was awarded for his master thesis.
Quantum Future Award 2022
Image: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
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Published: | By: VDI Technologiezentrum, translation by Luca Hager.

The Quantum Future Award 2022 for outstanding master’s and doctoral theses in the field of applied quantum technology was presented by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) at the end of November.

The finalists of the Quantum Future Award 2022 (from left to right): Michael Marthaler (Jury), Christiane Koch (Jury), Kirill Spasibko (2. place, PhD), Robin Allert (2. place, Master), Chiara Lindner (1. place, PhD), Uday Chandrashekara (1. place, Master & Audience Award), Ina Schieferdecker (Jury and Host)

The finalists of the Quantum Future Award 2022 (from left to right): Michael Marthaler (Jury), Christiane Koch (Jury), Kirill Spasibko (2. place, PhD), Robin Allert (2. place, Master), Chiara Lindner (1. place, PhD), Uday Chandrashekara (1. place, Master & Audience Award), Ina Schieferdecker (Jury and Host)

Image: VDI Technologiezentrum

Quantum technology are among the most promising technology of the future. There is, however, still much research ahead before quantum computers can be introduced to various fields of application. The Quantum Future Award External linkwas founded in 2018 by the BMBF in order to promote talented young researchers and their ideas, approaches and innovations. This yearly award – part of the junior program Quantum FutureExternal link – honors the best master and doctoral theses in the field of applied quantum technologyExternal link. This year’s ten finalists were invited to Berlin on 25th of November to present their works in three-minute-long pitches to convince the panel of experts from the ministry, science and economy.

Quantum Future Award 2022 goes to Mr. Uday Chandrashekara

Mr. Uday Chandrashekara was awarded first place for his master's thesis on "Polarization Based Quantum Bit Error Rate Optimization For Quantum Communication". The young up-and-coming scientist is thus one of the team of researchers who successfully exchanged quantum keys via free beam on a 1.7-kilometer test link between the Fraunhofer Institute on the Beutenberg Campus and the Jena public utilities ("Stadtwerke Jena"). Chandrashekara's investigations have already been applied on the test link. Robin Allert from the Technical University Munich was awarded second place for his thesis on "Quantum sensors in diamonds for lab-on-a-chip applications". The award winners receive study trips worth 6,000 euros (1st place) and 4,000 euros (2nd place).

The award in the doctoral theses category went to Chiara Lindner, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, for her work on "Nonlinear interferometers based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion for Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy". Kirill Spasibko, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, placed second with his thesis on "Spectral and statistical properties of high-gain parametric down-conversion”.

Audience Award for ASP Master graduate Mr. Uday Chandrashekara

The online and offline audience was able to vote for the best pitch at the award ceremony. The young scientist Uday Chandrashekara not only convinced the expert panel but also the audience. The 2022 audience award, thus, went to the young graduate from the ASP and comes with an advanced training on scientific communication. After the ceremony the finalists, award winners, panelists as well as the hosts of the BMBF joined in a collegial get-together.

Recording of the Quantum Future Award 2022

The event was recorded and can be watched here. External link