“Many hands make light work”. It’s an expression that is embedded in Dutch culture. And this is not different when it comes to quantum technology developments in the Netherlands. With only a population of 17 million people, the country is ranked third for scientific citations in quantum research and has the highest number of quantum based startups per capita in the world. This is a bit surprising, as it’s lacking big research funding or VC investments as those found in other countries, such as the US. However, strategic funding, such as the National Growth Fund that aims to boost the Dutch economy, can still make an impact. Because when making ideal use of the country’s small size, one can use its infrastructure for setting up a quantum ecosystem.
Month:April 2022
Physics World: Silicon spin qubits manufactured on an industrial scale
Researchers in the Netherlands and the US have shown for the first time that qubits – the building blocks of quantum computers – can be mass-produced using standard processes developed for manufacturing conventional integrated circuits. The breakthrough paves the way for developing powerful quantum machines that require thousands or even millions of identical qubits for full-scale operation.
Physics World: Fast electrons accelerate the production of medical isotopes
A new method for producing medical radioisotopes has passed its first milestone, by exposing a target to an electron beam at energy densities several orders of magnitude higher than found at the core of the Sun. This achievement paves the way for alternative radioisotope production methods using electron accelerators that do not require enriched uranium and produce little nuclear waste.