Quantum Physicist Stephanie Wehner Wins Körber Prize
The awarding of the 2025 Körber Prize to Stephanie Wehner underscores the crucial role fiber optic technology plays in the digital future. The quantum physicist received the one-million-euro award for her groundbreaking work on the quantum internet – and at the heart of this revolution are optical fibers.
Wehner has developed the world’s first operating system for quantum computer networks, QNodeOS, which makes quantum communication accessible for broad application. The special thing about quantum communication: Entangled light particles react instantly if someone tries to intrude on or even just listen to the communication. This absolute eavesdropping security makes quantum networks the most promising solution for the data security of the future.
Quantum Internet Shows the Central Importance of Optical Fibers for the Future of Communication
Without highly specialized optical fibers, this vision would be unattainable. The transmission of quantum states over long distances requires optical fibers with extremely low losses and the highest purity. Every impurity and every bend can destroy the sensitive quantum states. This is where the fundamental importance of precise fiber optics becomes apparent: What is still tolerable in classical data transmission becomes a critical factor in the quantum internet.
Wehner plans to connect two European metropolises over hundreds of kilometers via a quantum communication network by 2030, together with the European Quantum Internet Alliance. This ambitious goal can only be achieved with optical fibers of the highest quality. Fiber optic technology is not just a transmission medium, but an indispensable foundation for the next generation of secure communication.
At FOS Inon Optics, we understand these requirements. Our experience in developing high-precision fiber optics for the most demanding applications from medical technology and aerospace to quantum computing – shows: The future of communication is defined by the quality of the optical fibers. The Körber Prize reminds us that innovation begins with the fundamentals – with perfectly manufactured optical fibers that guide light with the highest precision.
