OrQa - Umbrella project for Germany’s quantum communication ecosystem

OrQa strengthens Germany’s quantum communication innovation ecosystem and accelerates the transfer of research results into practical applications. The umbrella project connects science, industry, future users, public authorities, standardisation bodies and other relevant stakeholders. Acting as a platform, catalyst and neutral moderator, OrQa pools expertise, identifies barriers to transfer and supports the integration of quantum communication technologies into existing and future communication networks.

The project focuses on community building, the joint examination of key scientific and technical challenges, and practical transfer through testbeds and services. Nine thematic competence groups and cross-cutting missions provide the main structure for collaboration. Supporting analyses of technologies, markets, trends, value chains and application perspectives create a sound evidence base for strategic decisions and recommendations.

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Background

Germany has excellent scientific capabilities and strong research networks in quantum communication. To turn these strengths into competitive applications, products and services, research organisations, industry and future users need to collaborate more closely. Important barriers remain, including interfaces and network integration, standardisation and certification, security assessment, access to test facilities, value chains and the systematic inclusion of user requirements.

OrQa builds on the structures and insights developed by the Umbrella Project Quantum Communication Germany (SQuaD) and by other national and European initiatives. It broadens the perspective beyond quantum key distribution to future forms of quantum communication, including entanglement distribution, the networking of quantum computers and distributed quantum sensing. Classical communication infrastructures, post-quantum cryptography and hybrid security concepts are also taken into account.

OBJECTIVE

Fraunhofer ISI supports OrQa through analyses of technological, economic and societal developments in quantum communication. A key focus is on continuous monitoring activities, including publication and patent analyses, market and strategy analyses, as well as the observation of funding activities, relevant actors and technological trends. In addition, Fraunhofer ISI examines application perspectives, transfer conditions and needs for action. The findings feed into the activities of the umbrella project and its competence groups and are published in the form of short reports and blog posts.

RESULTS

Results produced during the project will be published online on an ongoing basis and added to this page.

Previous work and results from the predecessor project SQuaD are available on the Fraunhofer ISI SQuaD project page.

Duration

10/2026 – 12/2030

Client

German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)

Funding Reference: 16KIS2791

Project team Fraunhofer ISI

Dr. Thomas Schmaltz
Dr. Lukas Weymann
Chie Endo
Dr. Saeideh Shirinzadeh

Network coordination

Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, Jena

Partners

Physikalisch-technische Bundesanstalt PTB
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF
DLR – Institute of Communications and Navigation
Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, HHI
Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI
Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Saarland University
Dresden University of Technology
Technical University of Munich
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light as an associated partner
TUM Chair of Theoretical Information Technology as an associated partner

Project