Airbus joins the Quantum Technology & Application Consortium

Berlin, 16.12.2024 – The Quantum Technology & Application Consortium (QUTAC) is gaining a new member: Joining the thirteen existing members, aerospace company Airbus will participate in the consortium for the industrial utilization of quantum computing.

Leading aerospace company strengthens quantum computing consortium

“I am delighted to welcome Airbus to the group of QUTAC companies. As the world’s leading aerospace company, Airbus symbolizes the strength of European cooperation and innovation like no other,” explains QUTAC representative Dr. Reinhard Ploss: “Airbus is very active in the field of quantum technologies. By winning the company for our consortium, we can further strengthen our role as a pioneer in the industrial application of quantum technologies. At the same time, we are once again underlining the high relevance that quantum computing applications will have for the competitiveness of Germany and Europe. A warm welcome to the Airbus team!”

Towards decarbonized aviation with quantum computers

For several years Airbus has been investigating the many possible applications of quantum computers for the aerospace industry, partly with the aim of advancing the sector’s long-term decarbonization. The use cases contributed by Airbus to QUTAC range from the improved modelling of fuel cells for hydrogen-based aircrafts to the optimization of loading processes and the improved aerodynamic design of new aircrafts.

Together with the other QUTAC members, Airbus will work towards the development of an independent quantum computing ecosystem. In addition, the company will develop quantum computing algorithms for industrial applications as part of the QUTAC working groups. Airbus is particularly involved in the areas of optimization and quantum machine learning as well as in the application-oriented analysis of quantum computing hardware.

About QUTAC
The Quantum Technology and Application Consortium (QUTAC) is where some of the largest German business and industry players join forces to bring quantum computing up to large-scale industrial application levels. QUTAC’s twelve existing members are Airbus, BASF, BMW Group, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bosch, Deutsche Telekom AG, Infineon, Lufthansa Industry Solutions, Merck, Munich Re, SAP, Siemens, TRUMPF and Volkswagen. Through a raft of joint development projects, QUTAC members are making decisive progress towards the first practical applications for quantum computing, both in their own industries and cross-sectorally. The aims of the consortium are to identify, develop, test, and share applications for quantum computing and to identify funding needs.