Together with Hessian State Minister Kaweh Mansoori and representatives from various Hessian ministries, more than 30 leading figures from politics, business, and research gathered at the second TechQuartier (TQ) Quantum Roundtable Hessen on July 8. The focus was on visions, strategies, and concrete measures to develop Frankfurt and the state of Hesse into a leading innovation hub for quantum technology and artificial intelligence in the financial sector.0
Numerous renowned stakeholders were in attendance – including the Hessian Ministries for Economic Affairs, Digital Strategy, and Science and Research, as well as institutions such as the German Bundesbank, the Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen (WIBank), Deutsche Börse, and leading banks like Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank, and DekaBank.
International players such as Visa and Swift, alongside key digital infrastructure providers and industry associations like eco – Association of the Internet Industry and DE-CIX (Deutscher Commercial Internet Exchange), also contributed their perspectives.
The roundtable was further enriched by representatives from innovative start-ups such as JoS Quantum, technology leaders like NVIDIA, and top-tier research institutions including TU Darmstadt, Goethe University Frankfurt, the Fraunhofer Institute, and ITZBund. AI Factory Rhein-Main, Earlybird Venture Capital, and the Schwarz Group also participated.
The shared goal: To further develop Frankfurt as an innovative and attractive financial hub and turn it into a magnet for technological financial innovation. Achieving this requires contributions, collaboration, and support from the entire ecosystem.
The three priority measures at a glance:
Quantum-secure data infrastructure and the Frankfurt Financial Exchange as a sovereign data platform for the financial sector.
The Sovereign AI Factory Frankfurt Rhein-Main, setting new standards for the development and deployment of artificial intelligence.
The Tech & Data Lab Frankfurt – an initiative within the Financial Centre Strategy housed at TechQuartier, designed to foster synergies for tech innovation within the financial ecosystem by enabling accelerated pilot projects in secure sandbox environments using test data.
The Relevance of Quantum Computing for the Financial Sector
Quantum computing is of central importance to cybersecurity in the financial sector because it represents both a significant threat and a great opportunity for data security.
Financial institutions face the challenge of transitioning their IT infrastructure to post-quantum cryptographic standards. Only then can they defend against future quantum threats and comply with emerging regulatory requirements that already mandate a strategic shift toward quantum-resilient security protocols.
The relevance of quantum computing lies in its disruptive potential: it challenges existing security mechanisms, necessitates technological renewal, and at the same time offers new opportunities to elevate data security. Quantum algorithms can enhance portfolio optimization, risk management, and fraud detection. With quantum computing, the efficiency and precision of financial analytics can be significantly improved and accelerated.
The roundtable series responds to the European Union’s Quantum Europe Strategy and promotes shared market opportunities for start-ups across Europe.
Statements:
Alice Rettig, Managing Director, TechQuartier: “Technological infrastructure, quantum-secure communication, the Frankfurt Financial Exchange, and the sovereign AI Factory form the basis for new business solutions. Value arises from real-world use cases. The ‘Tech & Data Lab’ builds the bridge – between tech infrastructure and practical value creation.”
Stefan Rauscher, Partner, Earlybird-X: “We need capital – not only from VCs. Companies and policymakers must invest if Frankfurt wants to play a leading role in quantum technology.”
Niklas Hegemann, Co-founder and Managing Director, JoS Quantum:
“We must start planning now to build a quantum-secure infrastructure. Now is the time to jointly develop measures, implementation plans, and applications.”
With the TQ Quantum Roundtable Hessen, TechQuartier has established a forward-looking event format that brings together key players from politics, business, and academia at the financial centre Frankfurt. The focus is on current developments, strategic perspectives, and concrete actions in the fields of quantum technology and artificial intelligence.
What’s clear: Frankfurt is taking on a key role in the age of quantum and AI. TechQuartier aims to position Frankfurt as one of Europe’s most innovative and attractive financial hubs – by deliberately building a strong, connected ecosystem for quantum and AI innovation.
Innovation is born through dialogue – through exchange, new perspectives, and collaborative partnerships. That’s the essence of the TQ Quantum Roundtable series. And: TechQuartier is just getting started.