Minister Kamp announces setting up of QuTech Institute
This afternoon the Minister for Economic Affairs, Henk Kamp, announced that Delft University of Technology will work on the construction of a next generation computer: the quantum computer. This announcement was made during the annual innovation conference in the Ridderzaal of the Dutch Parliament building in The Hague. To realise this step, academia, industry and the government will jointly set up the 'QuTech' Institute. Under the leadership of FOM focus group leader professor Leo Kouwenhoven from Delft University of Technology, QuTech must form the bridge between scientific research on the development of the quantum computer and the Dutch high-tech industry. The Netherlands is one of the first countries in the world where such a large-scale initiative is being set up.
QuTech
"QuTech is an exemplary result of collaboration in the area of innovation. The best researchers are working together with the most innovative entrepreneurs and the government to further develop a revolutionary technique into new products", says Minister Kamp. "This can lead to new products and services relevant to society's needs such as predicting the effect of medicines. And of course to more income and jobs in the Netherlands." The next generation computer must become a reality in 15 years time. For this new computer use is made of the special properties of small particles, so-called quantum bits. These small particles can deliver an enormous calculating power that will make new applications possible. For example, with a quantum computer it will be possible to calculate the effect of medicines per individual patient and it will be easier to calculate and predict the properties of certain materials and soil layers.
Support from FOM
Kouwenhoven's research group at Delft University of Technology belongs to the world's top in the area of nanophysics. In the spring of 2012 his group's discovery of the Majorana fermions attracted considerable scientific and public interest. Since the 1980s, his research group has received considerable support from Delft University of Technology, NWO and FOM. For example, FOM has made sizeable investments in tenured scientific and technical staff, equipment and infrastructure and NWO has made substantial contributions as well. An important example is the setting up of the FOM focus group 'Solid state quantum information processing' in 2004 under the leadership of Leo Kouwenhoven. This FOM focus group's goal is to design extensive quantum systems to study the behaviour of entangled multi-particle states.
Collaborating partners
For the realisation of QuTech, Delft University of Technology will make an annual contribution of five million euros, and the government together with TNO will make an annual contribution of about four millions euros. NWO, including FOM, and industry (for example Microsoft) will make a contribution as well. Over the next few months the plans for QuTech will be elaborated in greater detail.
Dutch Knowledge and Innovation Contract 2014-2015 signed
Prior to the innovation conference, the Dutch Knowledge and Innovation Contract 2014-2015 between Dutch companies, public knowledge institutions and government bodies was signed at the Binnenhof (Dutch Parliament buildings). This is an agreement about investments in knowledge and innovation in the nine top sectors for the period 2014-2015. A total of 20 parties signed for the collaboration. Based on the new innovation contracts, researchers, entrepreneurs and government bodies in the top sectors, such as High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM) and Energy, will realise concrete research projects. The Innovation Contract also details how the funding for the Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography, a partnership between NWO, FOM, the University of Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam and the company ASML will be arranged.
Further information
For further information about QuTech please see:
http://www.tudelft.nl/nl/actueel/laatste-nieuws/artikel/detail/nederlandse-overheid-geeft-startsein-voor-race-naar-quantumcomputer/
For further information about FOM research in the area of quantum computers please see these links:
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For further information about the Innovation Contracts please see:
www.nwo.nl
www.htsm.nl
http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ez/nieuws/2013/10/02/nederland-investeert-in-computer-van-de-toekomst.html