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Harnessing Quantum Technologies to Tackle Global Challenges, with a Focus on Microplastics

November 27, 2024 - The Centre for Quantum and Society (CQS), in collaboration with Quantum Delta NL, proudly announces the launch of the Quantum for Good Challenges, accelerating the development of societally beneficial quantum applications ahead of the UN International Year of Quantum.   For the next 4 years CQS will host annual multiple competitions to drive the advancement of quantum applications aimed at addressing major societal challenges.  The first Challenge invites students across The Netherlands to explore and research the possibilities of leveraging quantum sensing to address microplastics pollution—<a href="https://nos.nl/artikel/2546751-geen-akkoord-over-internationaal-plasticverdrag-volgend-jaar-weer-gesprekken">a pressing global issue that nations are discussing as part of the UN environmental agenda</a>.  Microplastics—tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters—may pose significant threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Current detection methods lack sensitivity and struggle with complex or polluted samples, making effective monitoring and mitigation challenging. The Challenge begins with a Hackathon on March 7th, following the launch of the United Nations International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, launching in Paris on February 4th.   Students across The Netherlands will come together for a series of interactive workshops, coaching sessions, site visits, and networking with academics and industry professionals, leading up to a grand finale in May 2025. Teams will compete for prizes of €3,000 for the first-place team, €2,000 for second place, and €1,000 for third place, serving as recognition and potential seed funding for their projects.  “The Quantum for Good Challenge is a call to action for students to explore how quantum technology can be used to address societal challenges, but most of all it will be fun to work on important problems together” said Diederick Croese, director of the Centre for Quantum and Society. “In this challenge we invite them to look into the feasibility and impact of quantum sensing in detecting microplastics, while considering current limitations and potential breakthroughs.” In line with its mission to raise awareness about quantum technologies and their societal impact, the Quantum for Good Challenge will integrate a thorough exploration of the ethical, legal, and social aspects (ELSA) of quantum innovation into the challenge.  Future challenges will extend beyond students to include all kinds of organizations, including startups, fostering continuous growth, research collaboration, and the development of quantum applications for societal good. Registration Students interested in participating can register <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jkb9voPubttJRN8_ObGc0jWX5hz33Q7wc9Gb5ZCKiIs/viewform?edit_requested=true">here</a> until February 28, 2025. Frequently asked questions: Read and download the FAQ here.

faq-q4g-challenge.docx

About the Centre for Quantum and Society (CQS) Launched in 2022 by Quantum Delta NL, the Centre for Quantum and Society is a knowledge and co-creation centre to maximize the potential positive impact of quantum technologies in society and minimize their potential negative impact. With a focus on ethical, legal and societal aspects, it seeks to harness the power of quantum for good. CQS facilitates ground-breaking research, engages in tailored made awareness activities for citizens, policy makers, teams and organizations and develops tools to help them seize quantum opportunities while navigating potential challenges for their sectors, customers, and society. Furthermore, it focuses on foresight projects, to build upon a shared stakeholder vision that shapes governance choices to preserve our core societal values.

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Quantum for Good Challenge Launches Ahead of the UN International Year of Quantum

The conference “Quantum for Good: Setting the Agenda for the International Year of Quantum” took place from 20-21 November in The Hague, Netherlands

The Hague – 26 November 2024The <a href="https://www.unicc.org/">United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)</a>, <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/Pages/default.aspx">the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)</a>, and Quantum Delta NL (QDNL) convened a two-day conference in The Hague to foster dialogue on the transformative potential of quantum technologies in addressing global challenges. The event, supported by the <a href="https://open-quantum-institute.cern/">Open Quantum Institute</a>, the<a href="https://www.sipri.org/"> Stockholm International Peace Research Institute</a>, and the<a href="https://www.denhaag.nl/en/"> Municipality of The Hague</a>, set the stage for collaboration leading to the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) in 2025.Titled “Quantum for Good: Setting the Stage for the IYQ,” the conference underscored the transformative potential of quantum technologies in addressing global challenges while ensuring no one is left behind. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and leading experts. Discussions focused on inclusive policy frameworks, the role of international cooperation, possible applications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and preparations for the IYQ agenda in 2025.Saskia Bruines, Deputy Mayor of The Hague, warmly welcomed participants to the city, followed by opening remarks delivered by Tomas Lamanauskas, ITU Deputy Secretary-General, who emphasized the importance of leveraging quantum technologies for societal benefit. A subsequent opening discussion featured insights from Sameer Chauhan, UNICC Director; Enrica Porcari, Head of Information Technology at CERN; and Pieter de Witte, Board Member of Quantum Delta NL. The speakers highlighted the need for inclusive and equitable advancements in quantum technology to prevent the creation of new societal divides.

We can make quantum a massive force for good, ensuring this technology does not drive the creation of a new divide. Let’s build partnerships and encourage the development of practical, scalable quantum-based solutions.

Day one concluded with dynamic panel discussions exploring the potential of quantum technologies and the essential preconditions for their successful implementation. The second day featured thematic workshops on critical areas such as cybersecurity, food security, peace and disarmament, trade and development, education, water, energy, and regional priorities for Africa. These sessions charted milestones to be achieved by the end of 2025, culminating in tangible outcomes to be presented at a follow-up conference.

Now is the time to envision scenarios where quantum technologies are used for the greater good. At UNICC, we firmly believe that this conversation needs to start now, and the UN family has a key role to play in it. The conference has demonstrated the enormous enthusiasm around quantum technologies with the eager participation of diplomats, scholars, civil society champions, international experts, UN agencies, and the private sector.

In September 2024, <a target="_blank" href="https://quantumdelta.nl/news/new-quantum-for-good-partnership-initiative-between-unicc-and-quantum-delta-nl">UNICC and Quantum Delta NL established a partnership</a> to jointly explore the transformative potential of quantum technologies within the United Nations system, paving the way for the organization of the ‘Quantum for Good’ conference. Therefore, this event also served as a platform to highlight the potential of future quantum-based solutions in advancing global goals, emphasizing the importance of fostering collaboration among UN entities, quantum innovators, and civil society, as well as strengthening connections between quantum experts, scientists, and the SDGs.

This partnership offers a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with UNICC and create tangible results for, with, and across UN agencies. Together, we aim to explore the value of quantum applications for the UN family, unlocking quantum technology’s potential to tackle global challenges and drive meaningful, equitable progress.

In June 2024,<a href="https://quantum2025.org/en/"> the UN General Assembly officially declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum through a resolution co-sponsored by over 70 countries</a>. As preparations continue for this significant milestone, this conference stands as a testament to the shared vision of harnessing quantum technologies to address the most pressing global challenges.For more information, please contact:   At UNICC: <a target="_blank" href="mailto:communications@unicc.org">communications@unicc.org</a>At Quantum Delta NL: Diederick Croese, <a target="_blank" href="mailto:diederick.croese@quantumdelta.nl">diederick.croese@quantumdelta.nl</a>

UNICC, ITU, and Quantum Delta NL to Advance the Quantum for Good Dialogue

THE BELOW IS A PRESS STATEMENT BY ORANGE QUANTUM SYSTEMSDutch quantum technology company <a href="https://orangeqs.com/">Orange Quantum Systems</a> [OrangeQS] has today launched the OrangeQS Max, which is designed to accelerate the development of quantum computers by making it possible to test new, more powerful quantum chips with a fraction of the R&amp;D resources that are normally required for such testing.Increasing the quality and quantity of qubits on a quantum chip is the key bottleneck in the development of more powerful quantum computers. Faster, more efficient testing of chips allows for a faster journey from development to commercial production for these chips.OrangeQS Max is a full-stack test system that can characterize quantum chips with 100+ qubits and tunable couplers via an automated approach, available at the press of a button.Testing equipment no longer needs to be operated by a quantum physicist, freeing up valuable experts to focus on the design of better quantum chips and quantum computers. This way of working is new to the quantum industry, where quantum chip fabs usually design, build, and maintain their own bespoke equipment.

Developed in collaboration with IQM

OrangeQS has worked with quantum computer manufacturer IQM to ensure the OrangeQS Max meets the needs of today’s commercial chip testing processes to support the operation of IQM’s quantum processor fabrication line. The product is factory acceptance tested on an IQM’s chip and will be shipped to IQM.OrangeQS Max is available now, with configurations that can be tailored to the needs of each customer.

About Orange Quantum Systems:

OrangeQS builds test equipment to test quantum chips. The Dutch company was founded in 2020 as a QuTech spin-off. Located in Delft, the Netherlands, the team has grown to 27 full-time employees and has been delivering software and equipment for R&amp;D into quantum chips for three years. OrangeQS has top advisors with experience at ASML, NXP and QuTech, as well as David DiVincenzo, a distinguished scientist in the field of quantum information. Together with an EIC Accelerator grant and a VC-backed investment round, this allows OrangeQS to deliver test equipment to the emerging global quantum industry. Find out more at <a href="https://orangeqs.com">https://orangeqs.com</a>

OrangeQS launches OrangeQS Max to accelerate the development of the next generation of quantum computers

THIS IS A PRESS STATEMENT FROM Q*BIRDQ*Bird is excited to share their recent achievement in securing quantum communications. Q*Bird, in collaboration with SURF and Quantum Delta NL, has successfully installed a multi-user, multipoint-to-multipoint Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network in the Utrecht region. This achievement sets a new benchmark for secure communications, addressing the critical need for advanced data protection in the research and education sector.

What is QKD?

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a cutting-edge method of securing information using quantum particles, or qubits, to create encryption keys. These keys are inherently secure because any attempt to intercept them leaves a detectable trace, alerting the network to potential breaches. This makes QKD one of the most effective tools for protecting sensitive information.At the heart of the QKD network lies a centralized hub that connects quantum links between various nodes. Importantly, this hub is designed to be intrinsically secure on its own, meaning it cannot learn anything about the encryption keys. Due to quantum entanglement, no sensitive information is ever present at the Hub. The QKD technology ensures the keys stay protected, even if the hub is compromised. Delivering a unique combination of security and efficiency.

How the QKD Network Works

SURF is beginning its journey towards a quantum Internet by deploying a quantum key distribution testbed network. The QKD network, now operational in the Utrecht region, connects three key locations: a data center, a university building, and SURF headquarters. The network uses quantum links to transmit qubits over fiber distances of 1.9, 7.1, and 11 kilometers to a centralized hub. This hub-and-spoke design allows all communication to route through the hub, simplifying scalability and making it easier to expand.

The Centralized Hub: A Secure and Scalable Solution

The centralized hub is the cornerstone of this QKD network. It enables secure communication between nodes by linking quantum connections across the network. The hub leverages both QKD technological and optical routing technology to facilitate the distribution of encryption keys, all while ensuring its own security.This innovative design offers a scalable, secure, and efficient solution for multi-point communications, laying the groundwork for a quantum-secure future.

Toward a Quantum-Safe Europe

This project is part of the European Quantum Communications Infrastructure (Euro QCI) program, a European effort to establish secure quantum networks.As the capabilities of quantum computing grow, traditional encryption methods are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Q*Bird’s QKD network provides a proactive solution, ensuring secure communications in the face of these emerging challenges.By driving advancements in quantum-secure networking, Q*Bird, in collaboration with SURF and Quantum Delta NL, takes a significant step toward a quantum-secure future, building resilient communication networks prepared to thrive in the quantum era, as a fundament for the future Digital Infrastructure of the Netherlands. SURF is proud to announce the deployment of this Quantum Key Distribution testbed network, specially designed for our members to experiment with.Read more on: <a href="https://www.surf.nl/en/article/how-quantum-key-distribution-improves-security-call-">https://www.surf.nl/en/article/how-quantum-key-distribution-improves-security-call-</a>

Q*Bird and SURF Launch Quantum Network in Utrecht to Boost Security

THE BELOW IS A PRESS STATEMENT BY QUTECHAn international research team led by QuTech has demonstrated a network connection between quantum processors over metropolitan distances. Their result marks a key advance from early research networks in the lab towards a future quantum internet. The team developed fully independently operating nodes and integrated these with deployed optical internet fibre, enabling a 25 km quantum link. The researchers published their findings in Science Advances.The internet allows people to share information (bits) globally. A future quantum internet will enable sharing quantum information (qubits) over a new type of network. Such qubits can not only take the values 0 or 1, but also superpositions of those (0 and 1 at the same time). In addition, qubits can be entangled, which means they share a quantum connection enabling instant correlations, no matter the distance.Researchers around the globe are working to build quantum networks that make use of these features to offer fundamentally new communication and computing capabilities, in coexistence with the current internet. For example, qubits can generate secure encryption keys for safely sharing financial or medical data. Quantum links can also connect distant quantum computers, enhancing their power and allowing access with full privacy for users.

Moving out of the lab

An international team led by Ronald Hanson at QuTech—a collaboration between the TU Delft and TNO—was able to connect two small quantum computers between the Dutch cities of Delft and The Hague. “The distance over which we create quantum entanglement in this project, via 25 km of deployed underground fiber, is a record for quantum processors,” says Hanson. “This is the first time such quantum processors in different cities are connected.”A few years ago the team reported <a href="https://qutech.nl/2022/05/25/teleport-quantum-information-across-network/">the first multi-node quantum network</a> inside the lab. “We were faced with new major challenges in going from these lab experiments to realizing a quantum link between cities. We had to design a flexible system that lets the nodes work independently over long distances, we needed to mitigate the impact of photon loss on the connection speed, and we had to ensure reliable confirmation each time the entanglement link was successfully created. Without these innovations, such a large distance would not have been possible.”

‘Like keeping the moon at a constant distance’

To tackle the challenge of photon loss, the team established the quantum connection using a photon-efficient protocol that required very precise stabilization of the connecting fiber link. Co-author Arian Stolk explains using an analog: “The link needed to be stable well within the wavelength of the photons (smaller than a micrometer) over 25 kilometers of optical fiber. That challenge compares to keeping the distance between the Earth and the moon constant with an accuracy of only a few millimeters. Through a combination of research insights and applied engineering, we were able to solve this puzzle.”“In this work, we demonstrate successful entanglement between two quantum network nodes containing diamond spin qubits. The independently operated nodes are connected through a midpoint station via optical fiber. We were able to reliably deliver a pre-specified entangled state between the nodes.”

Collaboration between academia and industry

Co-author Kian van der Enden explains how indispensable the broad expertise of the team was for the success of the project: “Fraunhofer ILT developed a critical component for this demonstration, a new type of quantum frequency converter. OPNT delivered state-of-the-art timing hardware, Element6 provided high-quality qubit chip substrates and Toptica developed high-stability lasers. Finally, Dutch telecom provider KPN provided the fiber infrastructure as well as the locations of the nodes, the midpoint, and the node in The Hague.”

Solid foundation for European quantum internet

This result is an important milestone that addresses key scaling challenges for future quantum networks. Jesse Robbers, Director of Industry and digital Infrastructure of Quantum Delta NL, which co-funded the research, adds: “We continue to show leadership in the development of the future foundation of our Digital Infrastructure and how to make it applicable, which is the core of the national and European strategy.”The architecture and methods are directly applicable to other qubit platforms, including the next-generation scalable qubits that the team is currently developing. The successful use of deployed, conventional internet infrastructure sets the stage for a new phase on the road towards a quantum internet. Hanson: “This work marks the crucial step out of the research lab into the field, enabling exploration of first quantum processor networks at metropolitan scale.”Publication detailsStolk &amp; Van der Enden, et al. (2024) ‘<a href="http://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adp6442">Metropolitan-scale heralded entanglement of solid-state qubits’</a>, Science Advances, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp6442

A rudimentary quantum network link between Dutch cities

The Quantum Delta NL Foundation (QDNL) is committed to advancing quantum technology and fostering its ecosystem. A core aspect of our mission is to support start-up companies within the quantum domain by providing the essential resources they need to succeed.As the quantum ecosystem grows, start-ups are increasingly in need of scalable cleanroom facilities (ISO 5 or 6) equipped with shared processing and testing equipment. These facilities are crucial for developing quantum products, such as quantum chips, to meet evolving industry standards and keep pace with rapid technological advancements. However, the high capital costs associated with building and maintaining cleanroom infrastructure present a significant challenge for start-ups and mid-size companies, which often lack the necessary financial resources to undertake such investments independently.To address this gap, QDNL plans to establish a new facility that will provide the technical space and infrastructure needed to support the development of cleanrooms. This facility will be equipped with essential utilities, including installed gas and water lines, waste disposal capabilities, and the necessary technical support. However, the cleanrooms themselves must be designed, constructed, maintained, and exploited by an external company. The facility aims to support the fast-turnaround production of chips and other quantum applications, helping start-ups successfully navigate the &quot;valley of death.&quot;The cleanrooms will have to be accessible to small and mid-size companies, enabling them to install proprietary equipment and scale their operations without the burden of heavy capital investment. Therefore, the cleanrooms should offer secure, customizable environments for companies, allowing for greater process control and protection of intellectual property. A dedicated team of specialists, provided by the cleanroom developers, must be available to support company operations and ensure the smooth functioning of the cleanrooms.QDNL invites companies with the expertise to design, construct, operate and commercially exploit cleanroom facilities within this provided technical space to submit their proposals. We seek partners with a proven track record in cleanroom management and the manufacturing processes involved in complex quantum technologies. Additionally, interested parties should demonstrate a compelling business case supported by committed users.Financial support from the Growth Fund budget is available to facilitate the realization of this facility. Companies interested in this opportunity are encouraged to express their interest by September 22, 2024.

Request for interest to realise a commercial cleanroom facility in Delft

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