Qutech’s Public-Private Initiative Leading the Effort to Bootstrap Quantum Industry
(Bits-Chips.nl) The Qutech initiative is leading the effort to bootstrap a quantum industry in the Dutch delta. This informative and lengthy article provides detailed insight into Qutech and its goals.
Ronald Hanson, the scientific director of the Dutch quantum research center Qutech in Delft is interviewed in this excellent description of the effort. “Already at this early stage, we have many disciplines working together, both scientists and engineers. Making progress in one particular area depends on progress being made in all others as well. It’s not a step-by-step evolution of isolated technologies.”
Qutech is one of the few places in the world where such a concerted effort is taking place. Google and IBM are the most well-known organizations building complete quantum computers, along with some lesser-known companies, while most research groups focus on a single problem or a few at most. But Qutech is neither a company nor a research group. It’s a public-private collaboration trying to leverage its efforts into establishing a quantum industry in the Dutch delta.
Roughly three types of companies are potential Qutech partners. First, perhaps surprisingly, there are the end users – the companies that could take advantage of quantum technology.
The second kind of company that fits in well in the nascent Dutch quantum delta is one that’s involved in the quantum business itself. Qutech is the reason Finnish company Bluefors decided to open an R&D office on the TU Delft campus, where Qutech resides. Bluefors designs cryogenic systems for quantum computers.
The third and final type of ‘Qutech company’ may be considered both a potential user and a technology supplier. Many high tech companies will be able to take advantage of quantum computing once it reaches a certain performance level, enhancing their toolkit for innovation.
Hanson commented on the largest problem: “Apart from getting companies involved, the biggest bottleneck is talent. Quantum technology needs a lot of qualified people, but there simply aren’t that many of them around. There’s a reasonably steady supply of young researchers, but experienced talent is hard to come by. That’s definitely going to be our biggest problem in the coming years.”
QuTech of Delft University to Co-Produce IQT Conference in NYC with 3DR Holdings April 2-3, 2020
