Innovation prize for quantum technologies to be presented in Stuttgart
The 2025 Quantum Effects Award winners have been chosen: Three German companies and an enterprise from the Netherlands will receive awards on 7 Oct 2025 at the international trade fair Quantum Effects in Stuttgart. With the prize, Messe Stuttgart recognises pioneering developments in the fields of quantum computing, quantum sensors and quantum communication.
23 submissions from start-ups, companies and research institutions were received for this year’s competition. Out of these, the high-calibre jury chose the four winning projects – a clear indication for the changing dynamics and innovative power in the European quantum environment. The Award is one of the highlights of the trade fair and honours solutions that connect the traditional and the quantum worlds, facilitate new services and open up cross-sector prospects. Awards are given to projects with a high degree of innovation at an advanced stage of development (TRL = 5) and clear future potential.
This year’s winners demonstrate impressively that quantum technologies are no longer a mere vision but can take the leap to concrete applications already. Reaching from water protection and resource conservation to industrial optimisation and secure communication, they address decisive challenges of our time,” says Dr Daniel Stadler, Spokesperson for Quantum Technologies at OptecNet Deutschland e. V. and CEO of EIN Quantum NRW.
The 2025 Quantum Effects Award Jury
A distinguished jury from science and industry chose the award winners:
Dr Daniel Stadler, CEO of EIN Quantum NRW (Chair)
Henrik Hahn, Chief Digital Officer, Evonik Industries AG
Prof Dr Manfred Bayer, Rector of the Dortmund Technical University
Prof Dr Joachim Ankerhold, Ulm University, Spokesperson of Quantum BW
Dr Katrin Kobe, CEO, Bosch Quantum Sensing
The 2025 Quantum Effects Award Winners
Category Quantum Computing Hardware – QuantWare B.V. (Netherlands)
The QuantWare company impressed with their Contralto-A – QPU for Quantum Error Correction, the largest commercially available QPU specifically designed for quantum error correction. With its architecture, the system enables practical surface code implementations and forms an important building block for fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Category Quantum Computing Software & Algorithms – Aqarios GmbH (Germany)
The Munich-based start-up Aqarios is recognised for their Luna platform. Luna provides an integrated end-to-end solution for optimisation tasks connecting classic procedures and quantum based algorithms. It helps companies from industries such as logistics, energy and finance to solve complex problems more efficiently and sustainably than ever before.
Category Quantum Sensors – Nomad Atomics GmbH (Germany)
With ATOMAQUA , Nomad Atomics has developed a novel method that enables non-invasive and highly accurate measurements in groundwater. The mobile quantum gravimeter contributes to better monitoring and more sustainable use of water resources – a milestone in view of global challenges such as water scarcity and climate change.
Category Quantum Communication & Networks – duotec GmbH (Germany)
The East Westphalian company duotec GmbH receives the award for its Industrial QKD Sensor, the world’s first near-series sensor for quantum key distribution (QKD). The system is robust, compact and suitable for industrial environments – a decisive step toward secure quantum communication.
Prize-giving ceremony on the Green Stage
The festive award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 7 Oct 2025 from 12:30 to 13:30 during the official opening of the Quantum Effects trade fair at Messe Stuttgart, Hall C2, Green Stage. The prizes will be presented by Dr Volkmar Denner (Spokesperson of QuantumBW), Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism in Baden-Württemberg) and Heiner Sieger (Editor in Chief of Digital Business).
About Quantum Effects
Stuttgart’s Quantum Effects is now considered the world’s leading annual exhibition and conference for application-oriented quantum technologies. It is organised annually in close cooperation with international partners and takes place on the Stuttgart Exhibition Center – concurrently with hy-fcell, the international exhibition and conference for hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The next event will run from 7–8 Oct 2025.
Further information at: www.quantum-effects.com
