Foreword:
QuTech in 2020
Entirely Entangled
On behalf of all colleagues at QuTech, we are pleased to present the annual report for 2020. It’s been a year of scientific and organizational highlights, but also a year of empty corridors and online meetings that required us to re-invent ourselves – a challenging ride for everyone. We are particularly proud of our QuTech staff, who have been able to keep the institute working at speed and on target, in such difficult times. We have celebrated a lot of research progress, pushing theoretical and experimental envelopes, as reflected by many high-impact publications. This report gives a brief overview of our organization, including research and engineering; collaboration and community building; education and outreach; and people and prizes.
At QuTech, we work on a radically new technology with world-changing potential. Our mission is to develop scalable prototypes of a quantum computer and an inherently safe quantum internet, based on the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics. To achieve these ambitious goals, we bring together scientists, engineers and industry, in an inspiring environment. We are jointly creating the quantum future, because we believe that quantum technology can be a game changer in many social and economic sectors, including health, agriculture, climate and safety.
Key developments in the last year include:
- The virtual launch of Europe’s first public quantum computing platform, Quantum Inspire, by Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven and European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel. Quantum Inspire makes the quantum computer accessible to everyone and is Europe’s first. It is also unique in offering both a superconducting and a semiconductor spin qubit processor. This is the first computer in the world to use a quantum processor made of scalable ‘spin qubits’.
- NetSquid, a specialized simulator for quantum networks, has been made freely available for non-commercial users. The software is the first of its kind to model timing effects using discrete events and allows researchers around the world to predict accurately the performance of quantum networks and modular quantum computing systems.
- With our national partners, we took up the initiative to build a National Agenda for Quantum Technology (in 2019) that puts The Netherlands in an excellent position to maintain technology leadership and to promote economic footprint as a result. A first subsidy was granted in February 2020 to make a fast start and maintain momentum. Further decision-making will follow in 2021.
- Novel collaborations include a strategic partnership with Fujitsu on quantum computing technology; a collaboration with KPN, SURF and OPNT for building a quantum network; and a European collaborative project focused on semiconductor spin qubits (QLSI).
- New spinouts include the birth of Orange Quantum Systems and QuantWare, with five new initiatives in the pipeline.
- Our IP process and policy now includes the establishment of an IP Board and process, designed to manage the Quantum IP portfolio on quantum technology for TU Delft and TNO, and to create a firm basis for the further commercialization of the technology base.
- We have presented our new brand, including logo and website, and a new format for our internal newsletter, strongly contributing to feeling together while working apart.
- To further enhance our efforts towards realizing a quantum internet, we’ve attracted two new principal investigators. Johannes Borregaard started in 2020 and works on theory and protocols for quantum networking. Christian Andersen will start in 2021 with his work on novel qubits based on superconducting and superconducting/semiconductor platforms.
- As of September, we have a new Director Research. Lieven Vandersypen has officially taken up the torch from Ronald Hanson.
- We've started working according to a new internal structure. Where there were Roadmaps before, we now have three Divisions, each headed by a Division Research Lead and a Division Engineering Lead. Within the Divisions, the research and (applied) engineering efforts of TNO and TU Delft are further integrated and aligned with the QuTech mission.
We hope you will enjoy reading this annual report.
Lieven Vandersypen
Director Research
Kees Eijkel
Director of Business Development
Charlotte van Hees
Director of Operations
Board of Directors, QuTech
In my lab, we are currently betting on silicon and germanium as the quantum materials for the future quantum computer. In 2019, we showed for the first time that silicon qubits can be operated even at temperatures above one Kelvin. This opens perspectives for quantum integrated circuits that host both qubits and control circuitry. With germanium, we showed that we can execute full two-qubit logic. This was a fascinating result, even more so because we had only been working on it for about two years. What fascinates me most is that we have to be creative at all levels, from fabrication to design, from experiment to analysis. I simply love to solve these puzzles, in particular when other people say that they can’t be done. I’m not someone to take “no” for an answer.
At the same time, I think that being a parent has helped me to put things in perspective and become more flexible. When I come home after work, it is typically rush hour and I instantly have to switch to an entirely different mode. When my kids are in bed, I typically have fresh ideas and can continue to solve the puzzle.
- Menno Veldhorst