Markus Krutzik
Wie Quantensensoren den Sprung aus dem Labor schaffen
Quantum technologies are among the most exciting fields of innovation of our time—with potential ranging from basic research to industrial applications. Increasingly, they also touch on issues of technological security and sovereignty. Their capabilities are particularly evident in quantum sensors: they measure physical quantities with extreme precision, opening up new possibilities in areas where classical measurement methods reach their limits, from navigation and data synchronization to biomedical imaging and diagnostics to non-destructive material testing. In order for them to truly become part of our everyday lives, however, the systems must take a decisive step: they must mature from prototypes into practical solutions—compact, robust, and reliable. The central question is: Which applications can already be addressed—and how close are quantum sensors to actual practical use?
Markus Krutzik and his team at the Ferdinand Braun Institute and Humboldt University of Berlin (HU) are developing compact quantum sensors for applications in metrology, sensor technology, and information processing. One focus is on systems that also function in outer space. After completing his doctorate at HU in 2014, he conducted research at the University of California, Berkeley, and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, among other places. Capital magazine named him one of the “Top 40 under 40 – Young Elite” (2018), and Der Tagesspiegel listed him as one of the “100 Heads of Capital City Science” (2025). Krutzik is also Brain City Berlin Ambassador for Quantum Technologies and co-founded the first quantum technology hub in Berlin. To transfer research results into practical applications, he co-founded a start-up, with another in the pipeline.
The German talks will be simultaneously translated into English.