Working Together Toward a Quantum Future

Recently, I was pleased to represent the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency and Invest in Holland network with Christian D. Waal at the Quantum.Tech USA conference in Washington D.C. During the conference, I heard a quote from Stephanie Simmons, Chief Quantum Officer at Photonic Inc., that stuck with me: "All human progress has been driven by the commercialization of physics."??

It’s fascinating when you think about it. From human flight and satellites to computers, X-rays and microwaves, our modern world depends on discoveries and applications of physics to everyday life. Today, the commercialization of quantum physics is propelling a new wave of innovation across the globe. My interest in quantum stems from my background in working with big data. Quantum computing offers a different way of performing calculations, which can lead to groundbreaking solutions for certain kinds of complex problems.?

In my conversations with industry experts at the conference, I was pleased to hear that the Netherlands is widely recognized as a leader in the global quantum landscape. As quantum technology and computing advance rapidly, companies are exploring possibilities to integrate quantum solutions across diverse industries, including cybersecurity, high-tech systems, finance, chemicals, life sciences & health and beyond. And there’s no better place to do it than the Netherlands. Let’s explore why.?

The Netherlands: The place to be for quantum innovation?

Overall, the Netherlands offers a highly conducive ecosystem for companies to invest in various aspects of quantum technology. Our country features robust research infrastructure, supportive government policies and a thriving innovation ecosystem.?

In 2021, the Dutch government allocated €615 million (nearly $670 million) to the Quantum Delta NL program to power quantum technology development in the Netherlands. This amounts to the second-highest investment per capita for quantum in the world. With this funding, Quantum Delta NL supports five innovation hubs across a national ecosystem:?Delft, Leiden, Eindhoven, Twente and Amsterdam. Each hub possesses a unique specialty, and all five are located within a 2-hour drive of each other.?

Quantum Delta NL is a well-known name in the quantum community, and for good reason. The program fuels Dutch quantum tech in four key areas that often overlap: R&D, market creation, societal integration and talent development. For example, the €15m QDNL Participations fund launched in 2023 to help researchers turn their technology into venture capital-investable startups while supporting established quantum companies. Last month, Quantum Delta NL’s Centre for Quantum and Society announced the National Quantum Course – a program to involve Dutch society in quantum science while growing our country’s talent pool in the field.?

The House of Quantum is an outstanding example of the rapid growth of the Dutch quantum ecosystem. Starting in Delft and aiming to spread to other hubs, the House of Quantum is building the world’s first national campus for quantum technology. In this approach, every location will provide shared facilities where quantum companies can meet, experiment and collaborate with the brightest minds in the field. The Delft House of Quantum currently offers plug-and-play labs, flexible workstations and tailored office suites. Have your own quantum equipment? Bring it over, plug it in and you’re all set.?

As a result of coordinated efforts and resources, the Netherlands today has the most quantum tech startups per capita in the world. In fact, quantum startup creation is currently accelerating in the Netherlands, contrasting with global trends. The country also ranks among the world’s best in filing quantum tech patent requests. The Netherlands’ numerous tech-focused universities are world-class, with TU Delft producing a large amount of high-quality quantum research publications. ?

Applying quantum for next-generation cybersecurity?

From quantum computing to quantum communication and sensing, the world of quantum technology is moving at an unbelievable pace. But what about real-world applications of quantum? That’s where cross-industry collaboration becomes vital (my NFIA colleague Pieter de Boer recently wrote about this). Strengthening the connection between the cybersecurity and quantum sectors was a primary focus of this year’s Quantum.Tech conference.??

The Netherlands is uniquely equipped to facilitate this connection. We have a vast cybersecurity ecosystem and a well-developed quantum technology cluster – a golden combination to address an increasingly pressing issue.?

Many organizations, from the financial sector to the defense/security community, use cryptography to safeguard information. But cryptographic algorithms can be decrypted with a computer that’s fast enough – a quantum computer, to be precise. As a result, the Dutch government is already preparing for a post-quantum cybersecurity reality. Last year, the Netherlands’ Brainport region demonstrated the first local governmental connection with secure quantum communications, using quantum key distribution techniques with support from TU Eindhoven.?

Quantum for the future of every industry?

Cybersecurity is just one example. The Netherlands is bridging the gap between quantum and a host of other industries. Take semiconductors, for instance. As one of the few countries with a complete semicon value chain, the Netherlands is uniquely positioned to bring together quantum companies with high-tech semicon companies. Delft-based Orange Quantum Systems is the world’s only company specializing in equipment for quantum chip testing. With pioneers like these, the Netherlands makes it possible to develop full-stack quantum computing.?

Similarly, the Dutch ecosystem facilitates connections between quantum innovators and the integrated photonics sector. In the Twente region of the Netherlands, Enschede-based startup QuiX Quantum is Europe’s market leader in photonic quantum computing, recently achieving a breakthrough in developing a quantum photonic processor and receiving global recognition for its innovative hardware.?

Meanwhile, quantum sensing enables a new frontier of ultra-high-precision measurement capabilities. Investing in the development of quantum sensors can lead to breakthroughs in various industries, from precision medicine in the Netherlands’ highly connected life sciences & health ecosystem to more advanced monitoring technology in the innovative Dutch chemicals sector.?

A Dutch gateway to global quantum collaboration?

Planting a flag in the Netherlands means more than just investing in one country. The Netherlands is a gateway to the European market and global collaboration. This rings true for Dutch quantum tech development: QuTech, one of the world’s most important quantum institutes, was founded in 2014 as a collaboration between TU Delft, the Dutch research organization TNO and several international companies.?

Finland-based Bluefors, a world leader in cryogenic systems, chose Delft in 2018 as the location for its R&D operations. The company is now a prominent member of the Dutch quantum community, collaborating with Orange Quantum Systems and participating in the House of Quantum. Last year, Bluefors expanded its Dutch hub with a cutting-edge laboratory for customers to conduct quantum research and development efficiently.?

Whether you’re looking to innovate within the world of quantum or forge new connections between quantum and other industries, the Netherlands is the place to do it. Want to learn more? On June 11-13, the Invest in Holland Quantum team will be at the second edition of Quantum Meets in Amsterdam, hosted by Quantum Delta NL and featuring a unique business expo by the European Quantum Industry Consortium. If you’d like to meet the team at next week’s event or at future Quantum Meets in the Netherlands, get in touch with NFIA. And if you’d like to start a conversation with me here in Atlanta, comment below or send me an email at [email protected].??