SQuaD Consortium meets in Hanover for Internal Exchange:
At the beginning of December 2025, the Steering Committee of the umbrella project for Quantum Communication in Germany (Schirmprojekt Quantenkommunikation Deutschland, SQuaD) met for a two-day in-person meeting at the Institut für Festkörperphysik at Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH). As the project enters its final phase after almost three and a half years, the consortium partners used the opportunity to reflect on their results and discuss perspectives for the future support of Quantum Communication in Germany and Europe.
In addition to planning for 2026, the main focus of the meeting was a critical analysis of the completed project phase and the progress achieved. The partners reviewed, among other aspects, strengthened collaboration between research and industry, the development of tools and methods to support technology transfer, contributions to standardization and certification efforts, and SQuaD’s role in positioning Germany within the international Quantum Communication Landscape. Complementing this retrospective, the consortium also conducted a self-critical assessment to derive best practices, key insights and recommendations for potential follow-up activities. Discussions centred particularly on ecosystem needs, remaining gaps, and opportunities for a possible continuation phase to ensure that the progress achieved can be sustainably consolidated. Further topics included updating the Monitoring Report, based on a survey conducted by the Universität des Saarlandes (UdS), as well as preparing the final document Perspectives and Use of Results, scheduled for publication next year. Strengthening collaboration with other Quantum Networks and industry-led projects within the Innovation Hub for Quantum Communication was also on the agenda, with extensive discussion of potential future joint activities.
The meeting was hosted by the research group “Quanten-Engineering an niederdimensionalen Halbleitern” led by Prof. Fei Ding. The roughly 20 participants had the opportunity to visit LUH’s laboratories and gain insights into ongoing research activities on Quantum Networks and Quantum Dots. A joint dinner offered a relaxed setting to reflect on the past three project years and look ahead to future developments.
Overall, the SQuaD meeting proved to be an insightful and inspiring event that generated valuable impulses for the strategic advancement of the ecosystem, future collaboration, and the sustainable strengthening of the European Quantum Communication Landscape.
Photos: Impressions of the SQuaD meeting.
Source reference: https://qbn.world/successful-completion-of-the-squad-project-reflecting-on‑3–5‑years-of-strengthening-germanys-quantum-communication-ecosystem/