Your Challenge:
Measuring with Entanglement

How precisely can we measure the world?

Many technological developments depend on reliably detecting the smallest changes: from navigation and medical imaging to quality control in industry, the range of applications is vast. Yet the accuracy of today’s sensors cannot be improved indefinitely. Classical sensing technology is subject to a fundamental physical limit known as the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL).

Quantum sensing opens up the possibility of overcoming this limit. In particular, the use of entanglement and other non-classical quantum correlations can enable measurements that cannot be achieved with conventional methods.

Such quantum sensors have already been demonstrated in the laboratory. The crucial step, however, is still missing: translating the quantum advantage into a robust, application-ready technology.

Higher measurement accuracy alone does not make a market-ready product. A quantum sensor must also perform under real-world conditions – reliably, reproducibly, and with a relevant advantage over today’s available solutions. Size, robustness, stability, cost, and energy consumption can be just as decisive as measurement accuracy.

This is exactly where the Measuring with Entanglement Challenge comes in.

The Challenge runs for a total of 25 months. Teams participating in this Challenge will be fully committed to the task. SPRIND therefore provides intensive and tailored support. This includes funding of up to €545,000 in Stage 1, up to €1,050,000 in Stage 2, and up to €1,680,000 in the final Stage 3 of the Challenge.

In addition to financial support, SPRIND provides teams with individual advice, networking opportunities, and coaching. To enable teams to focus entirely on their innovations, funding is provided quickly and with minimal bureaucracy. Following a pre-selection, a jury will make the final decision on admission to the Challenge. Stage 1 will start on 23 November 2026 with up to 10 teams. The objective of this stage is to demonstrate the quantum advantage and define the application use case.

After four months, the jury will decide, based on the interim evaluation, which up to eight teams will continue in the Challenge for a further eleven months and develop an application-optimised sensor design.

At the end of Stage 2, another selection session will take place. Up to four teams will have the opportunity in Stage 3 to build prototypes over a further ten months and validate them in real-world use.

The selection sessions generally take place in person at the SPRIND offices in Leipzig. In-person participation is mandatory. Teams should be incorporated by the start of Stage 1. Alternatively, they must credibly demonstrate their intention to establish a company and must be incorporated no later than the start of Stage 2.

Detailed information can be found in the call for submission and the participation agreement.

The application period runs until November 9, 2026, at 12:00 (CET). All applications submitted by this deadline will be considered.

Learn more about the SPRIND Challenge and get your questions answered during our upcoming webinar on October 12. Follow our LinkedIn channel for regular updates.