The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has initiated a strategy process within the field of quantum technologies that stressed the importance of this field for economy and science in Germany. This assessment is in accordance with European and international evaluation. In order to implement first results of the strategy process, the BMBF has selected three pilot projects addressing important developments in quantum technologies. The first pilot project “optIclock - optical single ion clock” has started in May 2017.