Prof. Dr. Fei Ding from the Institute of Solid State Physics at LUH and board member of the Laboratory of Nano and Quantum Engineering (LNQE) is delighted to have received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) in the “Proof of Concept” (PoC) program. The scientist, who is currently conducting research at LUH with one of the coveted and highly endowed ERC Consolidator Grants, will receive this additional award to advance the commercial or societal potential of his ongoing ERC project. The funding amount is 150,000 euros. This funding complements his ongoing ERC Consolidator Grant project and is the third award from the ERC in his scientific career.
ERC PoC funding is aimed exclusively at scientists who have already received one of the four main ERC funding lines (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy Grant). It supports the further development of findings from existing ERC projects with the aim of enabling the leap from basic research to practical application.
For Prof. Dr. Fei Ding, this is the third consecutive ERC grant in a short space of time (total funding of around 4.62 million euros) - a strong example of Leibniz University Hannover's international expertise in the field of quantum technologies:
- ERC Starting Grant “QD-NOMS” (2016): Development of high-quality semiconductor single-photon sources and entangled photon two-sources as a basis for future quantum devices
- ERC Consolidator Grant “MiNet” (2022): Investigation of synchronization problems between nodes in quantum communication networks and construction of stable network architectures
- ERC Proof of Concept “ComPQT” (2025): Integration of previously developed technologies into a “plug-and-play” capable quantum network terminal system and transfer of laboratory technology into real network environments
The current MiNet project is dedicated to the question of how precise time-frequency synchronization of all components is possible in a large-scale, complex quantum network. In close cooperation with the LUH and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), a network based on optical atomic clocks is being set up via telecommunication fibers. This makes it possible to transmit highly stable time and frequency signals from Hanover to Braunschweig - a decisive step towards controlled multi-particle entanglement in a network context.
The PoC project “ComPQT” aims to explore the application potential of these research results in an economic and social environment. Plans include the development of a demonstrator, market analyses, the creation of a business plan and the involvement of potential industrial partners, user groups and stakeholders.
LUH Online Spotlight 22.07.2025
