The annual meeting in Eichstätt has come to feel a bit like the family’s annual vacation at their summer home, as several participants noted. People look forward to it; the locations and ways are familiar – and discussions go on from morning till night. And so, this year’s three days in Eichstätt were once again packed with a program of scientific lectures, poster presentations, and lively conversations that continued intensively outside the lecture hall during breaks as well. The program covered the full diversity of the MQV ecosystem and provided deep insights into the past year’s MQV research, as well as the new structures and initial successes of MQV gGmbH. The event’s closed setting was particularly encouraging for openly addressing and discussing even critical questions. The MQV’s great strength in constructively connecting researchers from across the entire spectrum of quantum computing development was once again evident.
Despite all the scientific seriousness, the spirit of community was not overlooked thanks to two new activities in Eichstätt. On Wednesday morning, several researchers met for a group “fun run” along the Altmühl River. They ran about five kilometers along fog-shrouded paths as the first rays of sunlight broke – a great start to another long day at the Altes Stadttheater. On Wednesday evening, participants were able to take on a whole new challenge and test their knowledge across a wide range of categories during a pub quiz. Divided into randomly assigned teams – networking practically included – they puzzled their way through anecdotes from Eichstätt, the basics of quantum mechanics, and current events in sports and pop culture. Great ambition and lots of laughter filled the evening until, after six rounds, the winning team was determined in an extremely close race. As is customary in a pub quiz, not only the first-place team but also the team that came in second-to-last received a (consolation) prize.