Dear Mrs. Witte, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us. As a representative of Berlin Partner in the field of business development, could you briefly introduce yourself and your respective roles?
My name is Katharina Witte and I have been with Berlin Partner for Business and Technology GmbH for about three and a half years now as the Innovation Manager of the Optics | Photonics Berlin Brandenburg cluster. As an innovation manager, my work is primarily about technology transfer between science and industry and initiating research and development projects. As a physicist with a doctorate, I find it particularly exciting to work directly at the interface between research and business and to help bring current technologies into concrete application. Due to my scientific background, I am the contact person in our team for the topics "optical analytics" and "microelectronics", and now also quantum technologies, which have recently been added as part of the Berlin Quantum Alliance.
Mrs. Witte, as a scientist, you know the challenges associated with interdisciplinary collaboration. What advantages do you see in working across disciplinary boundaries, and how can these new perspectives lead to innovative solutions?
It is precisely this interdisciplinarity that has always appealed to me the most and still does now as a project manager for innovation. Basic research is enormously important, but it is only with the requirements of the various application areas that new technologies develop their full potential. Thinking outside the box means that research and new findings from science always help to make our society and everyday life that little bit better. In addition, interdisciplinary work helps enormously to broaden one's own horizons.
Optical technologies and microsystems technology are technologies that are in demand worldwide. How is the Berlin-Brandenburg region positioning itself in international competition and how are international collaborations being promoted to further advance these technologies?
The Berlin-Brandenburg region is a hotspot when it comes to internationally recognized research and development in optics, photonics and microelectronics and now also in quantum technologies. The capital region can certainly compete with Silicon Valley and the Tokyo region when it comes to technology development and innovation.
Berlin's universities and research institutions play a particularly important role here, as they have an excellent reputation worldwide. Their scientists are among the academic elite in their respective fields. As a result, know-how from the capital region is also presented and publicized at international conferences.
At the same time, optical technologies have a history of more than 200 years in the region, and this is reflected in a large number of innovative technology companies at the location. Even if the names of big tech giants like Intel or Apple are not to be found here (or perhaps precisely because of this), small and medium-sized companies benefit from Berlin's international appeal and attract international talent. At the same time, companies from the capital region are known for their reliable products and innovative technologies, driving development in photonics and microelectronics worldwide.
Quantum technology has the potential to revolutionize various industries, from communications to data security. Which Berlin Partner initiatives and programs support companies that focus on these promising application areas?
Photonics and microelectronics are key technologies when it comes to the further development of quantum technologies and their transfer into applications. As part of the economic development of the state of Berlin, we see the Cluster Optics | Photonics, above all, the potential that arises for the high-tech industry in the capital region with the developments of quantum technologies. At the same time, we are aware of the great synergy effects that exist with other sectors in Berlin such as the medical sector, the automotive sector, energy technology or the strong IT ecosystem. It helps enormously here that these sectors are also represented under the umbrella of Berlin Partner via the other clusters and sub-topic areas and that we can therefore act across sectors and topics.
Specifically, we support small and medium-sized high-tech companies in particular in positioning themselves in this new technological field of quantum technologies and in networking with other players from science and business. This includes, for example, networking events at which technology developers and users from the capital region can introduce themselves and exchange ideas about their current projects and challenges. We also provide information about suitable funding opportunities in the area of quantum technologies and enabling technologies and support the formation of strong project consortia from science and business with which you can apply for these calls and benefit from public funding. We also support the visibility of ongoing projects and developments in quantum technologies by reporting on success stories from Berlin companies and research institutions on our communication channels and on social media.
With the launch of the Berlin Quantum Alliance, these activities specifically for quantum technologies now have an official framework supported by the Berlin Senate. Berlin Partner focused primarily on business-related activities such as supporting the new funding call “Application-oriented quantum technologies” from the investment bank Berlin IBB to promote research, development and innovation projects or the initiation of a new QT accelerator for (international) startups.
5. How does Berlin Partner engage internationally to support companies in the field of quantum technology and quantum physics and to make it easier for them to access global markets? How does Berlin Partner actively support companies: What specific funding programs and initiatives are offered?
In the past, there have been several initiatives to promote bilateral research and development projects for photonics and microelectronics in a European and non-European context. A prime example is the long-standing partnership with our neighboring country Poland for joint projects in the field of optical technologies and photonics. This has already been expanded to include quantum technologies in recent years.
In the coming years, we would like to initiate further collaborations and develop synergies with both our European neighbors and international partners. Furthermore, the joint presentations organized by Berlin Partner at international conferences and exhibitions help ensure that the high-tech industry from Berlin and Brandenburg is internationally visible and continues to network. In the future, this will also include the field of quantum technologies.
When it comes to the topic of internationalization, there is no getting around the topic of “skilled workers”. This is just as present in quantum technologies as in other technological fields. With the talent service, Berlin Partner supports companies in making international skilled workers aware of the job market in Berlin and in bringing suitable candidates to the capital. In addition to the free job portal, our talent team is also available to answer questions about visa issues or offers free welcome tours through Berlin.
What does support look like for projects that strengthen Berlin as an international hub for technology and innovation? How does Berlin Partner promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between companies, research institutions and other relevant actors?
Berlin is a cosmopolitan city and attracts new talent and companies every day who want to implement their innovative ideas here. Berlin Partner is an excellent first point of contact for entrepreneurs who want to gain a foothold here. Especially when it comes to innovations and companies here in Berlin want to focus on research and development, we also support networking with actors from science.
In order to ensure the transfer of technology from research to companies, it is particularly important that people speak the same language. This is often not so easy when scientists and entrepreneurs meet. And that's exactly where we at Berlin Partner come into play again. I like to compare my work as an innovation manager to that of an interpreter: It's not just about understanding both sides in terms of content, but also about knowing what intentions are being pursued with a project and then presenting them in a way that is understandable for the cooperation partners. Always with the goal in mind of initiating an innovative, meaningful and content-rich project that offers added value for both science and business.
7. What future-oriented projects or initiatives is Berlin Partner planning to further promote the growth and innovative power of the photonics and optics industries in the region?
A hallmark of the optics, photonics and microelectronics industry is that it has an intrinsic motivation to constantly optimize and develop. They are drivers of innovation in almost all areas of our everyday life and we are happy to help communicate technological achievements Made in Berlin to the outside world.
The Berlin Quantum Alliance will be a big project for us in the coming years, with exactly that goal: bringing top research and technologies from the region into application and showing what is possible in the Berlin QT ecosystem. Funding calls like those from IBB help with this.
In the coming years, we are also planning an accelerator specifically for early-stage startups and new companies in the field of quantum technologies. Here we can also draw on a broad network and diverse expertise of our partners.
In addition, in the future, cooperation with the Brandenburg QT community should also be sought. This already works excellently in the field of optics, photonics and microelectronics and is also being strived for in quantum technologies. We have many ideas that we would now like to implement in the context of the BQA and everyone can be excited to see what is to come.