The Collaborative Research Centre TerraQ (2021 - 2025) brought together a unique combination of physicists, geodesists, sensor developers, and users in geodetic fields, complemented by engineers and fundamental researchers. We are deeply grateful for the support from the DFG and hope they continue to promote and support those interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research initiatives. Our experience indicates that during the initial funding period, it is crucial to provide such initiatives with ample freedom to develop and foster collaboration.

The results from TerraQ research, such as the geodetic use of transportable optical clocks, prototypes of chip-based atom interferometers, and advancements in laser interferometry in space, now serve as a robust foundation for future high-level research and applications in gravimetric Earth observation. TerraQ topics are now prominent at conferences across both fields, attracting significant attention to this novel area of gravimetric Earth observations based on quantum optics and relativity. TerraQ has been an essential milestone in transitioning quantum technologies into practical applications while establishing quantum engineering as a well-established research discipline.

Our research will continue elsewhere as part of other collaborative research projects. For example, in the QuantumFrontiers Cluster of Excellence or the DQ-mat Collaborative Research Center.