Lukas Burgholzer Receives Bavaria's 2026 Hightech Young Talent Award
Research, Awards |
Bavaria’s Minister of Science and the Arts, Markus Blume, presented the Young Talent Award to Lukas Burgholzer, a postdoctoral researcher at Professor Robert Wille’s Chair of Design Automation, during a ceremony in Munich. The prize is endowed with €30,000 and recognizes outstanding research achievements with high innovation potential and promising prospects for practical application.
Key Technologies for the Next Generation of Quantum Computers
Quantum computers are considered one of the most important technologies of the future. While significant progress is being made worldwide in the development of powerful hardware, the software tools needed to fully harness their potential are often still lacking.
This is where Lukas Burgholzer’s research comes in. He applies established methods from classical Electronic Design Automation to the quantum realm and develops new data structures and algorithms for the simulation, compilation and verification of quantum circuits. The goal is to make the entire quantum software stack – from the algorithm to execution on the hardware – efficient, scalable and reliable.
A distinctive feature of his work is the systematic transfer of research results into open-source software. As the architect and lead developer of the Munich Quantum Toolkit (MQT), Burgholzer has played a key role in establishing what is now an internationally recognized reference tool for the development of quantum applications.
International Recognition for Pioneering Research
The selection committee described Lukas Burgholzer as a leading international researcher in the field of design automation for quantum computing. It highlighted his deep theoretical understanding, his excellent software engineering expertise and his outstanding commitment to open-source solutions.
Together with renowned researchers and software engineers, Burgholzer also founded the Munich Quantum Software Company (MQSC), a spin-off from the innovation ecosystem of TUM and Munich Quantum Valley. Through MQSC, the team translates research advances in quantum software into professional tools and solutions for industry and high-performance computing centers.
Furthermore, as technical director of the Munich Quantum Software Stack (MQSS), he plays a key role in Munich Quantum Valley. There, he is driving the integration of quantum computers into high-performance computing centers, thereby strengthening Bavaria’s position as a high-tech hub.
From Research to Application: The Hightech Young Talent Award
The Hightech Young Talent Award is part of the Hightech Awards of the Bavarian Minister-President and honors researchers at universities, research institutions and startups in Bavaria who are working on forward-looking solutions for the economy and society. Selection criteria include the quality of the research, its innovation potential, the prospects for translating research findings into practical applications and the relevance and future-oriented nature of the results.