Four startups are tasked to miniaturize quantum technology for defense, security, and civilian use by 2027.

Germany’s cyber agency, Cyberagentur, has awarded contracts to four quantum startups to develop the world’s first mobile quantum computer by 2027. The initiative aims to miniaturize quantum technology for defense, security, and civilian applications and represents a significant step toward practical, deployable quantum computing.

The selected companies — Quantum Brilliance (Australia), ParityQC (Austria), Oxford Ionics (United Kingdom), and NeQxt (Germany) — secured a total funding grant of $39 million, the largest research investment ever issued by Cyberagentur. Each company contributes unique expertise to the ambitious project:

• Quantum Brilliance focuses on miniaturized, room-temperature quantum chips that utilize nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in synthetic diamonds as qubits. These chips, which are compatible with traditional semiconductors, form the basis for mobile quantum technology.

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• ParityQC is working on a scalable quantum architecture and operating system, ParityOS, designed to process larger algorithms with greater efficiency and fewer errors.

• Oxford Ionics plans to create a portable quantum computer named MinIon, using proprietary electronic qubit control technology that relies on electronics rather than lasers. This robust technology can be integrated onto a standard, thumbnail-sized chip using current semiconductor manufacturing techniques.

• NeQxt is integrating its trapped-ion technology into a compact, modular, and scalable mobile system called MaQue.

Competitive landscape

While this German-backed initiative is pioneering the first dedicated mobile quantum computer, several companies and nations are advancing their own miniaturized quantum systems:

• IBM, Google, and D-Wave lead in quantum computing, but their systems remain large and reliant on extreme cooling.

• ColdQuanta (U.S.) is developing portable cold-atom-based quantum processors, positioning itself as a competitor in deployable quantum solutions.

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• IonQ (U.S.) and Pasqal (France) are also making strides in compact quantum architectures, with IonQ exploring ion-trap-based mobile quantum systems.

• China’s National Laboratory for Quantum Information Sciences is heavily investing in secure, field-deployable quantum networks, particularly for military applications.

• The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has funded several quantum research projects aimed at integrating quantum technology into battlefield operations and secure communications.

Applications & future impact

A mobile quantum computer could revolutionize various fields beyond military and security applications:

• Defense & Security: Real-time battlefield analysis, secure encryption, troop movement optimization, and simulation of biological or cyber threats.

• Finance & Banking: Ultra-fast risk assessment, fraud detection, and optimization of financial models.

• Logistics & Supply Chain: Complex route optimization, demand forecasting, and real-time network resilience simulations.

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• Scientific Research: Acceleration of materials science, pharmaceutical development, and climate modeling.

Unlike traditional cloud-based quantum solutions, a self-contained mobile quantum system offers on-site processing, ensuring data security in sensitive or combat environments.

As Germany’s Cyberagentur initiative advances, global competitors are watching closely, with major tech firms and governments investing in next-generation quantum mobility solutions. The race is on to transform quantum computing from a lab-bound experiment into a deployable, real-world tool.

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