Organization
Governance
QuTech is not a legal entity, but a collaboration between TU Delft and TNO which is governed by the “Samenwerkingsovereenkomst QuTech”. The governance structure of QuTech is divided into three parts: Research, Operations, and Business Development, each led by a director, who together form the QuTech Board of Directors (‘Directie’). The Research Director acts as primus inter pares. The QuTech Board of Directors reports directly to the TU Delft Executive Board. The TU Delft Executive Board consults the Executive Board of TNO where appropriate, for example on decisions with financial consequences. The Research Director and Operations Director are employed by TU Delft, the Business Development Director is employed by TNO. The three directors lead QuTech in consultation with the roadmap leaders.
In October 2019, to match its growth and strengthen its position, QuTech was turned into a separate organizational unit, and repositioned as a research institute within TU Delft, directly reporting to the TU Delft Executive Board. Previously, QuTech was organizationally a part of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (TNW). The change will increase QuTech’s visibility and operational effectiveness. This realignment process was reviewed and approved by TU Delft’s Supervisory Board, Student Council, Works Council, General Assembly of Councils, and TNW personnel committee. The Executive Board of TNO was closely involved. QuTech as well as the aforementioned bodies carefully reviewed any possible consequences for personnel, grants, contracts, funding, mandates, etc.
After the transition into a separate unit within TU Delft, QuTech formed its own personnel committee of eight staff members, who formally started in January 2020.
Operations themes
Important further themes in QuTech’s operations were the hiring of a marketing and communications team that will enforce QuTech’s branding in the international quantum field; a tenure track policy to support the specific career track for group leaders in QuTech; improvement of procedures and lines of responsibility towards working safely in the labs; and the discussion and training on diversity as a strength in the work place, including organizing lunches for female scientists.
“I am excited to be part of QuTech, an inspiring organization! Together with the team, we will work on sharpening the external positioning of QuTech and developing a powerful and recognizable brand identity.”
Leonie Hussaarts
Manager Marketing & Communications
By the numbers
In December 2019, QuTech personnel comprised 306 individuals, adding up to a total of 224 FTE (remunerated and non-remunerated), compared to 210 FTE in 2018. This number is expected to increase to about 250 FTE in 2020. Below we illustrate the composition of the QuTech community, using pie charts based on FTEs. Compared to last year, we see an increase of the research and engineering support staff group. This results from our efforts to hire more software engineers for our demonstrator projects.
Gender
15%
85%
Male
Female
Nationality
27%
42%
31%
Dutch
European
Other
Age structure
70%
20%
6%
4%
< 35
35 - 44
45 - 54
> 54
Temporary /
Permanent contract
15%
85%
Temporary
Permanent
Staff categories
76%
12%
12%
Research
staff
Engineering
support staff
General
support staff
Labs and office
spaces (m2)
Offices
Cryo labs
Optics labs
Number of experimental setups
Dry fridges
Wet fridges
Optics labs
The need for additional (office) space to accommodate the growth of QuTech was discussed and accepted by TU Delft. After renovation of a part of the current building in the first half of 2020 a significant floor area will be made available to QuTech.