Update

nebumind is chosen to head ESA’s new INSPIRE Project on smart manufacturing

23/06/2025

How can quality control in aerospace be made more efficient, faster and more cost-effective – without compromising on safety? The answer may lie in quantum physics: ESA has commissioned quantum computer manufacturer planqc, software company nebumind, and aerospace specialist MT Aerospace to use quantum-inspired technology to detect critical defects in rocket components during production – setting new standards for Industry 4.0.  

At the heart of the project is the analysis of image and sensor data from a particularly safety-critical manufacturing process: so-called shot peen forming. In this process, the dome segments of rocket tanks are reshaped by blasting them with small metal spheres. Detecting defects at an early stage is essential. Ideally, quality assurance could be integrated directly into the production process – automated, precise, and in real time.  

But this is where current systems reach their limits. Despite significant investment in digitalization, quality assurance – particularly for highly complex aerospace components – often remains a bottleneck. The enormous volumes of data generated during modern manufacturing processes – from optical systems, sensors, or machine data – can often not be processed or analyzed in real time. The risk: relevant anomalies are detected too late. The result: defective areas lead to high costs because they can no longer be repaired.  

Quantum-Inspired Algorithms Deliver Key Advantages  

This is where the new ESA project comes in. While nebumind’s software platform captures, synchronizes, fuses, and structures high-frequency production data, planqc is developing a new generation of quantum-inspired image analysis algorithms based on it. These so-called tensor networks originate from quantum physics and are particularly well-suited for recognizing complex patterns in large datasets – while dramatically reducing computational effort. The project is also supported by innovative partners and suppliers: InfraTec, Amiquam, and engineering firm Springs. The process and its optimization are managed by MT Aerospace.  

“With tensor networks, we’re bringing methods from quantum physics into industry – right now, and without needing quantum hardware,” says Dr. Martin Kiffner, Head of Algorithms at planqc. “What we’re developing with nebumind and MT Aerospace on behalf of ESA is not only intended to make rocket production faster, more precise, and more resource-efficient. The technology can also be transferred to other industries with high quality standards – such as aerospace, automotive, or medical technology. This project shows that quantum technology is already delivering real industrial value today.”  

Testing Under Real Production Conditions at MT Aerospace  

The new analysis methods are being tested under real production conditions for Ariane 6 components at MT Aerospace and gradually integrated into nebumind’s anomaly dashboard. The goal is the automated evaluation of optical image data and eddy current sensor data, providing real-time feedback on potential defects – long before a component leaves the production line. “This allows us to design our manufacturing processes for the future and advance our digitalization efforts to strengthen our global market position,” says Johannes Hegels, Team Lead for Manufacturing Processes at MT Aerospace.  

“Industries such as aerospace and mechanical engineering are under increasing pressure: processes are becoming more complex, quality requirements are rising – yet there is a lack of systems that can keep up with the massive data volumes generated during manufacturing,” says Franz Engel, CEO and Co-Founder of nebumind. “This is exactly where we come in: we integrate data from diverse machines and sensors, make it usable – and, together with planqc and MT Aerospace, create an analysis platform that can keep pace with the dynamics of production. Together, we’re taking industry to the next level.”  

AMiquam contributes its extensive expertise in compliant non-destructive inspection (NDI) to the project in order to accelerate the approval of in-situ procedures while ensuring continuity with existing inspection practices. The company’s sensors are deployed precisely at locations previously identified as potentially defect-prone using optical techniques. There, they perform compliant eddy current inspections, minimize false positives, precisely assess defect geometries, and enable a streamlined, fully automated inspection process. The resulting data is seamlessly integrated into the tensor network – a robust architecture designed to significantly enhance the efficiency of in-situ quality assurance. 

The ESA project is not only technologically groundbreaking – it is also a model for successful European innovation collaboration: when start-ups, mid-sized companies and established industrial players bring future technologies to market maturity together, genuine innovation advantages emerge. The fact that this is happening in the highly regulated aerospace sector shows: quantum technology is not just a promise for the future – it is already delivering real industrial benefits today.  

About planqc
planqc develops quantum computers based on neutral atoms – the fastest path to scalable quantum processors for industrial applications. Founded in April 2022 in Garching near Munich by Alexander Glätzle, Sebastian Blatt, and Johannes Zeiher, planqc is the first spin-off of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics within the Munich Quantum Valley initiative. The company builds on a close partnership with the Max Planck Institute and decades of top-level research in neutral-atom quantum technology. In its Series A funding round, planqc raised €50 million, led by CATRON Holding and the DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF). Other investors include Bayern Kapital, the Max Planck Foundation, UVC Partners, Speedinvest, and support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). www.planqc.eu  

About MT Aerospace AG  

MT Aerospace is a leading international aerospace company. More than 500 employees develop, manufacture and test components for institutional and commercial launch vehicle programs, for aircraft, satellites and for applications in the automotive and defense industries. Thanks to globally unique manufacturing technologies, MT Aerospace produces high-performance products that combine maximum performance with minimum weight. With many years of expertise in the fields of additive manufacturing, metalworking, CFRP and hydrogen technology, MT Aerospace is ideally positioned to realize sustainable solutions for the future.