US Consul General visits Paderborn University: A look into the future!

US Consul General visits Paderborn University: A look into the future!

On Friday, March 14, 2025, Preeti V. Shah, Consul General of the US Consulate General in Düsseldorf, visited the University of Paderborn. The future university president Prof. Dr. Matthias Bauer warmly welcomed the Consul General and led her through an extensive program that highlighted the university's key research activities in the areas of quantum research, artificial intelligence (AI) and high performance computing (HPC). The tour through Building X, which is home to the Paderborn Center for Parallel Computing (PC2) and where the supercomputer “Noctua” is operated, was particularly interesting.

This visit was Consul General Shah's first to the University of Paderborn since she took office in August 2024. Shah was impressed by the university's excellent research and commitment. She particularly emphasized the need to strengthen the exchange between science and international cooperation. The US Consulate General's district extends throughout North Rhine-Westphalia, and Shah has worked in the United States diplomatic service since 2004. Before her station in Düsseldorf, she served in countries such as Nicaragua, Turkey, Afghanistan, Mexico and Indonesia.

Innovations in quantum research

At the University of Paderborn, high-performance computing is not only experienced, but also actively used to analyze quantum photonics experiments. A team of scientists has developed new software to enable tomographic reconstruction of data from a quantum detector capable of measuring individual photons. These research results were recently published in the specialist magazine “Quantum Science and Technology”.

Upscaled photon detectors are playing an increasingly important role in quantum research. Their exact characterization is crucial for effective measurements. The study shows that large amounts of data can be analyzed without neglecting the quantum mechanical structure. Classic approaches cannot keep up when analyzing such data.

Scientists at the University of Paderborn, such as doctoral student Schapeler from the “Mesoscopic Quantum Optics” working group under Prof. Dr. Tim Bartley, have managed to develop tailor-made open source algorithms that can perform quantum tomography on megascale photonic quantum detectors. This enabled them to perform calculations in a matter of minutes, significantly faster than before. This work is considered a significant step in the field of high-performance computing for experimental quantum photonics. University of Paderborn reports that...

Political support for quantum technologies

The political framework for such innovative technologies is becoming increasingly consolidated. In April 2023, the traffic light government in Germany decided on a comprehensive “action concept for quantum technologies”. By 2026, around three billion euros should be made available to put quantum technologies into use and advance development in this key technology. The Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck emphasizes that the national security relevance of quantum technology should not be underestimated. Applications are expected first in industry and logistics, followed by chemical simulations and quantum cryptography.

Germany aims to create quantum advantages with European hardware solutions by 2032. The development of quantum computers has already made significant progress: Hartmut Neven from Google announced a leap in performance in quantum computing with the new “Willow” chip. In addition, the most powerful quantum computer in Europe, “Euro-Q-Exa”, was announced at the Leibniz Computing Center in Bavaria with funding of 13.5 million euros.

These developments underline the University of Paderborn's role as a hub for research and innovation in the field of quantum research and high-performance computing, supported by political initiative and international collaboration. Paderborn Center for Parallel Computing reports that... As quantum research continues to evolve, the university remains a key player in this dynamic discipline. Research and teaching reports that...