Quantum computers are not faster classical computers—they enable entirely new methods of computation. For example, in the development of new drugs, they could solve problems that today's computers fail to solve.
The advantages of quantum computers therefore lie not in higher processor speeds, but in the fact that they enable completely new computing methods that are fundamentally inaccessible to classical computers. This allows for new computing algorithms that can solve very large problems more efficiently and thus more quickly.
This means that for standard calculations, which a classical computer can also solve well, it will probably never be worthwhile to use a quantum computer. But in the development of new drugs, for example, we could benefit from the computing power. Similar to the early days of transistors, it is still difficult to predict what possibilities powerful quantum computers will open up for us in the future.
You come from Switzerland, but Berlin is your research home. How do you experience the Berlin research landscape?
Compared to Zurich, Berlin is of course much bigger. There are many free offers specifically for doctoral students. For example, I have already taken part in a writing course, a three-day PhD retreat, and next week I am doing a workshop on 3D modeling.