Delft University of Technology, FOM and NWO sign agreement with high-tech spin-off Single Quantum BV
Delft University of Technology, the FOM Foundation and NWO signed an agreement on 16 October with spin-off company Single Quantum BV. The parties have agreed upon how they will market their joint fundamental knowledge about superconducting light sensors. The agreement establishes that the company will receive permission for using the research facilities and equipment (for example design drawings and software) and for the exchange of knowledge. In return for this Single Quantum will pay a remuneration. Furthermore Single Quantum will receive a start-up loan from FOM.
Detecting single photons
The spin-off company Single Quantum develops and produces single photon detectors. These are light sensors so sensitive that they can measure a single light particle (photon). The technology is based on light-sensitive chips that contain superconducting nanowires. PhD research by Dr Sander Dorenbos led to a doubling of the sensitivity of these detectors. The research was done under the supervision of Dr Val Zwiller, senior researcher in the Delft FOM focus group 'Solid State Quantum Information Processing (QIP)', and was funded by a Vidi grant from NWO and co-funding from FOM.
Future perspective
With the help of a STW Valorisation Grant Phase 1 (funded by FOM) the scientists successfully constructed a prototype of a commercial detector system with user-friendly helium cooling at the end of 2011. The company has since sold such a system to a Japanese research group and a second system is now being built for a research group in Australia. The company is currently focusing on the scientific market but foresees uses for the single photon detector in industrial and medical applications.
More about Single Quantum
Sander Dorenbos (who has now gained his PhD) works full-time for Single Quantum just like its director, Floor van de Pavert, who is responsible for the business side. Val Zwiller acts as a scientific adviser to the company. Single Quantum is a member of the incubator centre YES!Delft and in June 2012 it made it to the last ten finalists of the business plan competition New Venture. For further information please see www.singlequantum.com.
Start-up policy FOM
In 2011, FOM decided to further develop its start-up policy to encourage start-up companies. The policy has two concrete measures: FOM provides a start-up loan or FOM participates in a start-up business via shares. Single Quantum is one of the companies that started in 2012 under the new FOM policy and it has received a loan.
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Note for editors
For further information please contact:
Single Quantum BV, Floor van de Pavert, +31 6 4244 3230
Delft University of Technology: Audrey Bink, +31 15 278 9850
FOM: Anita van Stel, +31 30 600 1222