On April 26, 2023, the German federal government published its “Action Plan for Quantum Technologies” (Handlungskonzept Quantentechnologien), committing a total of approximately €3 billion ($3.3 billion) to quantum technology development through 2026. The BMBF would receive €1.37 billion, with an additional €800 million allocated to state-funded research institutes, according to the Quantum Business Network.
Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger stated that Germany wanted “to secure a place at the top of the world in quantum technologies and our technological sovereignty.” The plan set targets for a quantum computer with at least 100 qubits by 2026, with scaling to 500 qubits in the medium term.
Five goals guided the action plan: securing Germany’s innovative power and technological sovereignty, working toward marketable products, addressing societal challenges in climate, energy, health, and security, strengthening European collaborations, and building a quantum ecosystem spanning research and industry. The plan served as the strategic framework for federal quantum research funding through 2026.