NCCR SPIN Annual Meeting 2025: Community, Creativity, and Collaboration in Pontresina
From June 18 to 20, 2025, the NCCR SPIN community gathered in the Swiss alpine village of Pontresina for its annual meeting. This event represents both a scientific cornerstone of the network and a celebration of creativity, exchange, and collaboration. Hosted at the Kongresszentrum Rondo, this year’s meeting brought together researchers from across all institutions of the NCCR to share their results in the various research areas of spin-based quantum computing.
Scientific Exchange and Collaboration
The scientific programme spanned three days and featured a diverse range of presentations, with updates from across the research areas as well as interdisciplinary sessions connecting theory, experiment, and materials development.
The core scientific topics were:
· Qubit Technology and Architecture:
Sessions explored theoretical and architectural aspects of spin qubits, including SiMOS and Ge/Si heterostructures, focusing on coherence, control, and scalability.
· Material Science and Device Engineering:
Advances in materials (e.g. planar germanium, Co nanomagnets, cryo-CMOS) and interface optimization for enhanced qubit performance.
· Quantum Algorithms:
Talks covered two- and three-qubit gates, high-fidelity operations, and applications of variational and quantum-inspired algorithms.
· Theory and Novel Concepts:
Presentations included quantum noise magnetometry, reservoir computing, and topology-based qubit encoding strategies.
A highlight was the poster session, where over 35 posters were presented by doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, generating active discussion and valuable feedback in an open and informal setting.
Innovation at the Forefront
A particular emphasis was placed this year on innovation and technology transfer. A series of innovation pitches from start-up projects emerging from the NCCR opened a dynamic session on the first day. Simone Frasca introduced QanovaTech; Daniel Jetter showcased SQUID; Hung-Chi Han pitched Rhonexum; and Christian Schönenberger presented Y-Quantum. The session culminated with the innovation keynote delivered by Dr. Tristan Meunier, co-founder and CTO of Quobly. The talk was followed by a fireside chat, which offered a forum for exchanging ideas around bridging academia and industry. These sessions underscore the growing interest within the NCCR in entrepreneurial thinking and application-oriented research.
Community and Creativity
Beyond the scientific presentation, the 2025 meeting was enriched by several initiatives that reflected the community spirit of NCCR SPIN.
The Art & Science Contest returned with impressive participation in two categories:
Scientific: Object of Study: “Quantum Confinement of a Rainbow” by Jibin N Sunil won the public vote, while “Angel Loop” by Luigi Ruggiero was awarded the jury prize.
People, Places of Science & Scientific Art: “My God, Help Me Survive This Cryogenic Bond!” by Artemii Efimov won the public vote, while the jury recognized “Bonding Tension” by Elena Acinapura.
A special jury mention was given to Lisa Sommer for “DOTKAST: Rustic Box. Blocked by Pauli.”
A particularly memorable moment came with the “Pauli Operations: A Quantum Dance Tutorial” performance, a captivating collaboration between science and the performing arts which premiered at the Annual Meeting. The piece, choreographed and danced by Ilan Bouquet in collaboration with Artemiy Burov, Anatoliy Lotkov, Haripriya Pettugani and professional dancer Ilaria Rabagliati, brought abstract quantum circuitry concepts to life through movement, offering a refreshing and thought-provoking perspective on the interplay between research and artistic expression. The piece emerged within the framework of the Canvas Outreach Grant, a program by NCCR SPIN designed to empower young researchers to develop their own outreach projects.
The meeting also featured the lighthearted and team-based activity “Save the Cat: A Quantum Quest”, which challenged participants to solve puzzles while walking through quantum physics history, and through the venue. The teams and individuals who finished the game demonstrated both creativity and perseverance, reflecting the playful and collaborative energy that defines the NCCR SPIN community. Audience members responded with sustained applause, followed by an engaging Q&A with the performers. Many praised the originality of the concept and the emotional resonance of seeing quantum processes brought to life through dance.
Excellent Paper Awards
At this year’s Annual Meeting, two outstanding publications were honored with the Excellent Paper Award, recognizing significant contributions to the field of spin-based quantum computing.
1. Strong hole-photon coupling in planar Ge for probing charge degree and strongly correlated states
Franco De Palma, Fabian Oppliger, Wonjin Jang, Stefano Bosco, Marián Janík, Stefano Calcaterra, Georgios Katsaros, Giovanni Isella, Daniel Loss & Pasquale Scarlino
Published in Nature Communications
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54520-7
2. Impact of interface traps on charge noise and low-density transport properties in Ge/SiGe heterostructures
Leonardo Massai, Bence Hetényi, Matthias Mergenthaler, Felix J. Schupp, Lisa Sommer, Stephan Paredes, Stephen W. Bedell, Patrick Harvey-Collard, Gian Salis, Andreas Fuhrer & Nico W. Hendrickx
Published in Communications Materials
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43246-024-00563-8
Time Outdoors
A hike in the stunning Engadin surroundings provided space for informal discussion and connection, allowing researchers to exchange ideas while enjoying the natural beauty of the Alps. These moments served as a reminder that some of the best conversations in science happen outside the lab.
A Meeting to Remember
The 2025 Annual Meeting in Pontresina offered not only a snapshot of the scientific progress made across the network, but also a celebration of the many ways in which research, creativity, and community come together within NCCR SPIN. With new collaborations sparked, ideas shared, and talents celebrated, the meeting reaffirmed the vibrancy and depth of this growing research network.
