Collaboration, community & commercialisation
Quantum technologies are complex – so complex that no single research group or organization can realize, on its own, the promise of quantum computing or quantum internet. Collaboration is essential for innovation. Leaders from academia, engineering and industry are looking to work together to exploit quantum technology’s potential. As part of QuTech’s mission, such collaboration is a key strategy for reaching our goals, and 2020 saw us working hard to nourish and strengthen our community of collaborators.
Partnerships to accelerate development
QuTech is continuously building collaborations with industrial players and fellow research institutes, in order to achieve our mission. The following new collaborations were initiated during 2020:
- KPN, SURF, OPNT and QuTech launched a collaboration designed to make significant progress in building a first-ever quantum network connecting the Randstad (the main metropolitan region in The Netherlands). The project will focus on connecting different quantum processors, which are a significant distance apart, over a Dutch network. Read more.
- Fujitsu and QuTech signed a collaboration to combine efforts in a multi-year research project. The aim of the project is to develop the building blocks for a modular quantum computer, based on diamond spin qubits. By joining forces, both parties seek to stay at the forefront of quantum technology. Read more.
- Fraunhofer ILT in Aachen and QuTech signed a collaboration to build an efficient frequency converter for quantum communication, as a subsystem in our quantum internet nodes. Read more.
QuTech entrepreneurs: spin-offs,
spin-outs and patents
QuTech’s mission implies close cooperation between science, engineering and business. Business development is therefore an activity of growing importance within QuTech. 2020 was a year of further expanding the ecosystem around us, and collaborating with a growing number of partners. The following events indicate our fast development curve:
- We further increased our alertness to intellectual property. A joint IP-Board and an IP-process were introduced between QuTech and its mother organizations TU Delft and TNO, with the goal of managing the entire IP portfolio relevant to QuTech’s mission. We attracted an Intellectual Property Coordinator to accelerate awareness, and to support individual scientists and engineers as well as the IP-Board. All of this led to a growing number of Invention Disclosure Forms, and a clear focus on some specific target areas for IP production.
- Spinout Orange Quantum Systems was launched in 2020. They support R&D labs with custom characterization and calibration software, and develop customized full-stack setups for R&D into quantum computing.
- As described above, several new industrial partnerships were set up.
Quantum Delft: a flourishing ecosystem for innovation
Quantum Delft is a vibrant and innovative community where top-quality scientists, engineers, students and entrepreneurs work together at the frontier of quantum technology. The goal of the initiative is to support the growing number of companies that are spinning out of QuTech or engaging from elsewhere to establish a lab or office in Delft. Delft is also the physical heart of Quantum Delta NL, the national initiative that combines all quantum efforts in the Netherlands.
The following highlights show that Quantum Delft – together with the national initiative – is turning into a flourishing ecosystem, with increasing numbers of people wanting to invest and become involved:
- Bluefors settled in Delft in mid-2020, and spinout Orange Quantum Systems was officially launched. Approximately five spinoffs are in the pre-incubation phase, from QuTech and also other parts of the university.
- QuTech spin-off Qblox received an investment of proof-of-concept fund UNIIQ. At the end of 2019, Qblox secured $6M in seed funding from the European Innovation Council – Horizon 2020. They are among the top 1% of applications: only 38 startup companies secured funding, out of a total of 4,223. All startups together requested over €15B.
- A plan for a new ‘House of Quantum’ on the south part of the TU Delft Campus is now in place. This new building will be designed for co-creation, and will be a home for the Quantum Delta NL ecosystem and companies in Delft. The building is planned for 2024. In the meantime, we are looking for temporary housing to facilitate the growth of the Quantum Delft companies.
- Quantum Delta NL was officially founded on 23 September 2020. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy granted Quantum Delta NL €23.5M as initial funding to execute three priorities of the National Agenda Quantum Technology: an upgrade of Quantum Inspire; building national quantum networks; and growing the startup ecosystem, including a ‘House of Quantum’. This comprehensive implementation plan has been established with very significant input from Delft, and was submitted to the National Growth Fund.
“2020 was a year of extremes: the challenges COVID-19 imposed on ecosystem development on the one hand, and the tremendous progress we made with Quantum Delta NL on the other hand. I think there’s a correlation between the two: working remotely contributed to focus during work on our Quantum Delta NL plan. But in 2021 we will need to catch up with each other so that physical proximity can allow serendipity to take its course!”
Freeke Heijman
Founding director Quantum Delft and Quantum Delta NL
Highlighted event:
Inside Quantum Technology Europe
At the end of October, QuTech and 3DR Holdings jointly organized Europe’s largest online quantum technology event: Inside Quantum Technology Europe. This was an exciting conference at the interface of technology and business. The event offered comprehensive insights into the commercial future of all areas of quantum technology, presenting both opportunities available today and future applications for businesses and governments.
Kees Eijkel
About IQT
“The online edition of IQT Europe was very successful, with more than 600 attendees. The biggest emerging theme of the event could be summed up with this short question: ‘Are we there yet?’ Did you miss IQT 2020? In October 2021, you will get another opportunity!”