Organisation

From roadmaps to divisions

In 2020, QuTech changed its internal structure from a matrix-based organization to divisions, in order to strengthen alignment between engineering and research. The divisions are managed by a Division Management Team, consisting of (at least) a Research Lead, usually employed by TU Delft, and an Engineering Lead, usually employed by TNO. Division Coordinators support the management teams by coordinating operational and financial planning within the division. The new structure better enables QuTech to act and steer initiatives as a single organization. It enables stronger integration of research and applied engineering, and improves innovation management in ways that ensure a positive societal impact, including use cases and spinouts. See our introduction video of the divisions.

Demonstrator Boards

QuTech invests significantly in demonstrators, in order to showcase, share and test its research and engineering results with the general public. Our demonstrator projects and pre-spinout projects are supervised by a Division Demonstrator Board, comprising the members of the Division Management Team and the Director Business Development. Demonstrator projects are run in the computing and internet divisions.

A new Director Research

In September 2020, our new Division Management Teams started. At the same time, Ronald Hanson handed over the Director Research seat to Lieven Vandersypen. Ronald returned to his research, while continuing in his role as lead of the National Agenda Quantum Technology. Read more.

Housing and building renovation

We are preparing for the construction of a new building on the South Campus of TU Delft, where we will move to in a few years’ time. For the coming five years, we need to ensure that our current accommodation is renovated and expanded to meet the growing demands of our high tech optical and cryogenic labs. In 2020, we have expanded into a new wing of the Applied Sciences building where we are now housed.

Branding

QuTech took on a completely new look in 2020. Our branding and websites have changed to mirror the research and engineering ambitions of our institute.

People and recruitment

As a growing institute, we never underestimate the importance of personnel management. We were lucky to recruit a new HR team in 2020, in support of our ambition to recruit and retain talent from around the world. Diversity and inclusion are important themes for an institute as diverse as ours, with two different mother organizations. We have organized diversity trainings, started female scientist lunches, and encouraged all supervisors to make diversity a topic of discussion.

The personnel council that started in 2019 has fully taken on their role in representing the voice of QuTech on important issues such as the new internal structure and the QuTech budget.

It was very satisfying to see such positive results from our employment monitoring: staff rated working at QuTech with a score of 8,6.

COVID-19 all around

The coronavirus took its toll on people across QuTech. Many of our students and staff have been working from home, behind their screens all around the world. What are usually such vibrant QuTech halls were empty for the majority of 2020. We were able to keep our labs open with the great help of our technicians and engineers, and were able to stay in touch thanks to online meetings and social events, as well as our own internal QuTech update. Every one of us is longing for more live meetings and face-to-face interactions.

In 2020, additional (office) space was added to accommodate the growth of QuTech. After renovation of a part of the current building, in the first half of 2020, a significant floor area was made available to QuTech.