Stephanie Wehner Wins €1M Körber Prize for Quantum Networking Breakthroughs
German-born physicist and computer scientist Stephanie Wehner, currently at Delft University of Technology, has been honoured with the prestigious 2025 Körber European Science Prize. The €1 million award recognises her groundbreaking work in quantum networking, which aims to connect machines via entangled particles for secure communication and advanced computing. Quantum networks utilise qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously (superposition) and are entangled, offering unparalleled security and computational power.
Europe is at the forefront of quantum networking research, aiming to connect cities via entangled particles for secure communication and advanced computing. Quantum networks utilise qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously (superposition) and are entangled, offering unparalleled security and computational power.
Wehner's work is pivotal in scaling quantum technology, moving beyond hardware breakthroughs towards interoperability standards. Her group has developed QNodeOS, an operating system that simplifies programming quantum networks, enabling engineers to work without delving into complex physics. The Quantum Internet Alliance, led by Wehner, is taking a phased approach, starting with city-level testbeds and targeting intercity connections by 2030.
Quantum links provide cryptographic protections, synchronise clocks and sensors, and offer economic advantages to regions that adopt standardised tech stacks. QNodeOS, designed as the first quantum network operating system, provides API-like commands and manages scarce quantum resources. Europe's strategic focus on quantum networking aims to set standards and foster ecosystems for future investments and products.
Stephanie Wehner's Körber Prize win underscores Europe's commitment to quantum networking. With QNodeOS and the Quantum Internet Alliance, Europe is poised to lead in this transformative technology, with the first inter-city quantum network connection expected around 2026.
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