Icon status for quantum technology
The Dutch government has given the research into quantum technology (QuTech) the status of National Icon. Minister of Economic Affairs, Henk Kamp, announced this today during the Innovation Conference in the Ridderzaal, in the presence of King Willem-Alexander. The research into the quantum computer under the leadership of FOM board member and workgroup leader Leo Kouwenhoven (Delft) is one of the four projects for which the government expects a large societal and economic impact. It therefore wants to provide extra support for these.
Turning point
"We are at a turning point in history", responds Kouwenhoven. "The concept of the quantum computer has been around for more than thirty years, but until recently it was pure theory. The science and technology are now so far advanced that the question is no longer if but when we can build one. And of course who will do that. The Netherlands can play a major role in this, and the status of National Icon is a major boost for us in this respect."
QuTech
QuTech is an intensive collaboration between quantum researchers, electronics experts and various companies, including multinationals such as Microsoft, but also Dutch high-tech companies and start-ups. The aim of QuTech is the development of the quantum computer and a 'quantum internet'. The quantum computer makes use of the special characteristics of materials at the nanoscale and can solve calculation problems that are far too complex for current computers. That will make it possible, for example, to discover materials with special properties that can be used in more efficient batteries or for medicines. Furthermore, with a network of quantum computers, information can be sent via 'quantum teleportation', as a result of which the information cannot be intercepted by third parties.
FOM and quantum technology
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 existed until this year and its goal was to design extensive quantum systems to study the behaviour of entangled multi-particle states. In 2013, the Minister of Economic Affairs announced the setting up of setting up of QuTech. The current FOM Industrial Partnership Programme has recently been renewed with a substantial investment form FOM/NWO.
Four icons
The Dutch government has designated four National Icons. In the category R&D breakthrough technology that is QuTech and the research into cultured stem cells. In the category Industrial innovation, the hybrid potato received the status and in the category Inventor the 'Bioneedle'.
Further information:
About quantum computing physics@FOM
The lecture of Leo Kouwenhoven at Physics@FOM Veldhoven 2013
About QuTech
About the National Icons