Press Release November 05, 2025
The TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen is investing a seven-figure amount in SaxonQ GmbH. With this investment, TGFS is providing a targeted boost for SaxonQ’s next development phase, strengthening a local deep-tech company in its development and scaling stage. In parallel, SaxonQ is preparing a larger funding round to miniaturize its technology down to chip size and to develop the necessary production technologies, such as single-ion implantation.
“Our technology significantly lowers the barriers to entry for the use of quantum hardware and can become a real game changer for applications in AI, logistics, or medical research. The first systems are already in productive use – for example, at the Fraunhofer IWU and the German Aerospace Center. And the scientific ecosystem here in Leipzig, the birthplace of quantum mechanics, could not be better suited to advance quantum technologies with some of the brightest minds”, explains Prof. Marius Grundmann.
Dr. Frank Schlichting adds: “Quantum computing is already a reality. We were likely the first company to demonstrate real applications – from quantum chemistry to image processing – live at Hannover Messe. The TGFS investment reflects strong trust in our team and roadmap. Our goal is the first chip-sized quantum computer – scalable and versatile for broad industrial use. TGFS and SaxonQ share a common vision of quantum computing as a key technology reaching far beyond Saxony. That’s why we were able to close the investment quickly, pragmatically, and with clear focus.”
TGFS Technology Start-up Fund Saxony is investing in SaxonQ GmbH, a Leipzig-based deep-tech start-up developing mobile quantum computers based on diamond chips using NV technology. SaxonQ was founded in 2021 by Prof. Dr. Marius Grundmann and Prof. Dr. Jan Meijer from Leipzig University. Today, the company is managed by Prof. Dr. Marius Grundmann and Dr. Frank Schlichting, an experienced industry executive with extensive management responsibility in IT, semiconductors, automotive, and energy sectors. The combination of scientific excellence, managerial experience, and already-delivered quantum computer products demonstrates that SaxonQ is well positioned to drive the industrial application of quantum computing in a rapidly growing market.
SaxonQ develops and manufactures compact, mobile quantum computers that operate at room temperature – a unique differentiator. Conventional quantum computers require extreme cooling down to -273°C, ultra-stable laboratory environments, and highly specialized infrastructure. This results in high investment and operating costs, limited mobility, and complicated integration into existing process chains. Moreover, instability, vibration sensitivity, and complex calibration procedures have so far hindered reliable use in real production or application environments. SaxonQ addresses these challenges with its advanced NV technology, in which the qubits – the quantum computing units – are stably embedded in diamond chips. The system operates at room temperature without the need for cooling and delivers robust performance even outside the lab. The compact, mobile unit – which will be further miniaturized in the coming years – can already be operated in any office via a standard power outlet.
“With SaxonQ, we are deliberately investing in a key technology that further strengthens Saxony as an innovation region",emphasizes Sören Schuster, Managing Director of TGFS. "That’s exactly what we’re building on: we see tremendous potential in further development – from new architectural approaches to the expansion of production capacities – to drive applications in AI, energy, logistics, and medicine from Saxony and beyond.”
With this investment, TGFS provides a targeted boost for SaxonQ’s next stage of development and strengthens a local deep-tech company in its scale-up phase. In parallel, SaxonQ is preparing a larger funding round to further advance technology development and miniaturization, integrate the quantum processors on a single chip, and develop the underlying production technologies such as single-ion implantation. The goal is to accelerate the industrial application of quantum computing in Saxony and secure the region’s innovation advantage. The active use of SaxonQ’s technology and recent awards underscore the company’s strong position for future growth.
Photo: Paul Michalke, TGFS, Dr. Frank Schlichting, SaxonQ
Media contact
Axel Kunz | axel.kunz@saxonq.com | +49 179 32 33 718
About SaxonQ
The Leipzig-based start-up SaxonQ – founded in 2021 – develops and manufactures mobile, industry-ready quantum computers, moving away from today’s room-filling installations toward compact and flexible units. SaxonQ was founded with the vision of transferring quantum computing from research into industrial applications, thereby making access to powerful quantum hardware and software in Europe significantly easier and more sustainable. The key lies in a proven process from semiconductor technology: the qubits – the computing units of a quantum computer – are generated on a diamond chip only a few millimeters in size. Unlike conventional quantum systems, these processors operate without cooling or complex infrastructure and are highly resistant to interference. The system is already being used by major customers and targets entirely new applications for quantum computing – for example in artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, or, in a few years, even in smartphones.
About TGFS
The TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen The TGFS Technology Start-up Fund Saxony provides equity capital to technology-oriented founders during the seed and start-up phases. The fund was first established in 2008 by the Free State of Saxony (including ERDF funds) together with Saxon financial institutions and has since supported more than 100 start-ups. In 2023, TGFS launched its third fund generation. The fund focuses on young, innovative, and technology-driven companies based in Saxony, active in sectors such as ICT, semiconductor and microsystems technology, medical technology, life sciences, environmental and energy technology, and new media.
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