New research alliance Quantifisens in Thuringia

The development of such sensor systems is the goal of the new research alliance: Quantifisens stands for omnifunctional, quantum-inspired fiber sensor systems and describes a novel, holistic approach to solving complex, sensor problems with the help of optical fibers, the relevant measurement technology and innovative self-learning software. With the slogan ‘the sensing [r]evolution’, the alliance aims to initiate a turning point in the evolutionary development of classical sensors and even revolutionize them using quantum technologies.

Regional alliance of 13 partners

A total of eleven companies and two research institutions are members of the regional alliance. The combination of the partners, the majority of which is located in the high-tech optics region of Jena in Thuringia – consisting of highly innovative, agile, small companies and established, production-experienced market participants as well as research institutions – results in efficient connections. With Quantifisens, Thuringia presents itself as a modern, innovative, and dynamic player in the sector of state-of-the-art sensor technology. The project aims to ensure sustainable growth for the companies by maintaining existing jobs and creating new ones.
 
Prof Andreas Tünnermann, director of Fraunhofer IOF, is therefore looking forward to the upcoming research work: “The increasing demands on accuracy and drift stability of sensor systems require a technological leap towards quantum sensor technology in the near future. Quantifisens will make a significant contribution and, with the development of a system-agile platform of fiber-optic technologies, quantum-inspired processes and new software in the targeted depth of added value, will be a unique selling point for the region worldwide.”

Quantifisens is being funded by the BMBF as part of the Regional Entrepreneurial Alliances for Innovation (RUBIN) with approximately twelve million euros. Just under four million of this will flow into research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF.
 
 “In particular, Fraunhofer IOF is contributing its expertise in fiber, laser, and quantum technologies as well as scattering-based metrology and system integration," explains Dr. Thomas Schreiber, responsible spokesman for research issues of the alliance and head of department at the Fraunhofer Institute. “The plan is to develop an omnifunctional fiber technology to improve the sensing properties of fibers and to generate special wavelengths. In addition, these will be realized together with tailored laser systems to improve resolution in distributed fiber sensing as well as novel sources and concepts for quantum imaging fiber sensing endoscopy.”

A further 5.5 million euros of the total budget will be financed proportionally by the participating industrial partners themselves. The partners in the alliance already cover the entire value chain: They include material manufacturers, fiber technologists, coating and structuring experts as well as system integrators. Thanks to its exclusive know-how, the alliance thus has the optimal prerequisites for successfully creating disruptive innovations and to make the sensor technology platform ready for the market.

The Quantifisens alliance includes the following partners: ADVA Optical Networking, Active Fiber Systems, Batix Software, epicinsights c/o SMA Dev., FBGS Technologies (coordinating), Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, Grintech, Heracle, Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies, Lasos Lasertechnik , Luna Innovations Germany, PreciPoint Innovation, Quantum Optics Jena.