2018 Q-campus Background study IN SUPPORT OF “BUILDING A Q-CAMPUS - REALISING A QUANTUM ECOSYSTEM IN DELFT” Reading guide 3 1. Sketch of Quantum Technology 4 Quantum Technology - a paradigm shift 4 Quantum Computing 7 Quantum Simulators 10 Quantum Communication and Quantum Internet 10 Quantum Software 11 Quantum Sensing and Metrology 12 2. Industry Expectations 13 The Universal Quantum Computing Value Chain 13 Dynamics of the value chain for Universal Quantum Computers and Quatum Communication 14 Business models 16 Expectations 16 Investments 18 Applications of Quantum Technology in industry 21 3. Dutch Quantum Ecosystem Overview 23 Knowledge Development 23 Talent 26 Financing 28 Networks 30 Leadership 32 Services and infrastructure 33 Demand 33 4. Quantum Start-up Incubation 36 Start-ups in a campus environment 36 Start-up incubation 37 Start-up incubation at Q-campus 38 Sources 39 5. Campus environment case studies 41 Q-campus Background study Background study 1 WaterCampus Leeuwarden 41 Leiden Bio Science Park 46 Chemelot 48 High Tech Campus Eindhoven 50 Sources 51 Appendices 52 Appendix A1: Qubit Roadmaps 52 Appendix A2: Progress in number of qubits 53 Appendix A3: Method used for selection within EU funding data 54 Appendix A4: Selected Dutch QT related master programmes 55 Q-campus Background study Background study 2 Reading guide This document is meant as a background study for the report “Building a Q-Campus - Realising a Quantum ecosystem in Delft”. It provides: ● necessary knowledge to interpret the progress in quantum technologies (1. Sketch of Quantum Technology), ● the industry expectations and the expected value chain of these technologies (2. Industry expectations), ● and an in depth analysis of the Dutch quantum technology ecosystem and its readiness for further investment (3. Dutch quantum ecosystem overview). These chapters make up the groundwork for the investment decisions and business case laid out in the “Building a Q-Campus” report. Additionally, an expert opinion is provided on start-up incubation with regards to quantum technology (4. Quantum start-up incubation). An overview of other campus environments in the Netherlands serves as the basis for the campus design in the final report and the relevant research has been added here (5. Campus environment case studies). Q-campus Background study Background study 3 1. Sketch of Quantum Technology Quantum Technology - a paradigm shift Since their invention, conventional computers store data in transistors that function as on/off switches called bits. A multitude of bits on a computer processor form a memory which can be accessed by programmes to perform a calculation. Computer processes have become increasingly more powerful as chip costs have decreased according to the famous Moore's law, which predicts that the cost and size per transistor halves roughly every 18 months. However, in recent years it appears Moore's law is becoming more difficult to achieve. The size of the transistor is getting so small that Moore's Law is likely to reach a limit1. As the limits of bit-based processors come into view, a new potential to process information presents itself in quantum mechanics. Engineering / Control ing Software / Theory Sensing / Metrology Simulation Comput Communication Education / Training Basic Science Quantum Technology Figure 1: Structure of the Quantum Technology field as presented in the Quantum Technology Flagship report by the European Commission High Level Steering Committee (28-06-2017) Exploiting the quantum mechanical principles of ‘superposition’ and ‘entanglement’ it is possible to build quantum bits (qubits). A qubit that can be in two states at the same time and the states of multiple bits can be manipulated simultaneously. This allows for an enormous growth in processing information compared to classical computers, as two qubits can be in four states and three qubits can be in eight states, leading to an exponentially large system. Taking advantage of these principles, a quantum computer would therefore be able to solve certain problems that would be impossible with classical computers. The ability to harness superposition and entanglement characteristics thus becomes the basis for the development of Quantum Technology. Within the field of Quantum Technology, four application areas were defined in the Quantum Technology Flagship project2. Next to quantum computing, quantum communication and internet and quantum sensing techniques are important in the coming years. For all four areas, development of software and hardware are crucial ingredients. This factbook 1 Morgan Stanley (2017) Quantum computing – weird science or the next computing revolution?, New York, Morgan Stanley Research. 2 High Level Steering Committee (2017) Quantum Technologies Flagship Final Report Q-campus Background study Background study 4 distinguishes between ‘Quantum Computing’ and broader underlying ‘Quantum Technology’. Where the primary focus will be on Quantum Computing, it also explores themes of the consequences of other applications of Quantum Technology. European Quantum Technology Roadmap The Quantum Technology Flagship project defines goals within the four fields of Quantum Technology. In Figure 1 the goals are specified per field. This Flagship project represents a strategic investment aimed at enabling Europe to lead quantum technologies, building on its scientific research, on an established and growing interest from major industries, and on ecosystems of high-tech SMEs. The High-Level Steering Committee of the project has determined milestones which entail the quantum technology field containing every roadmap for the next 10 years3. 3 High Level Steering Committee (2017) Quantum Technologies Flagship Final Report Q-campus Background study Background study 5 Quantum Computing •3 years: demonstrations will be shown of quantum processors with more than 50 qubits. The most important features to reach for platforms is quantum supremacy with an architecture where unit cells can be scaled and mass manufactured. Experimental devices will be ready for >50 qubits for quantum simulations. •6 years: logical qubits will outperform physical qubits and infrastructure of hundreds of qubits will be developed. The first field tests in data centres will be deployed. More algorithms and applications are developed. Quantum supremacy will be established in solving important problems in science. Demonstrations of quantum optimisations are ready. •10 years: demonstrations of fault tolerant implementations of relevant algorithm should arise in architectures of scale. Technology will be ready to deploy 100's of qubits which can be operated by users at data centres or other non-research parties. Quantum simulators beyond supercomputer capability are used to solve modelling problems in material science and AI. Quantum Simulation •3 years: experimental devices with certified quantum advantage on the scale of more than 50 (processor) or 500 (lattices) individual coupled quantum systems; •6 years: quantum advantage in solving important problems in science (e.g. quantum magnetism) and demonstration of quantum optimisation (e.g. via quantum annealing); •10 years: prototype quantum simulators solving problems beyond supercomputer capability, including in quantum chemistry, the design of new materials, and optimisation problems such as in the context of artificial intelligence. Quantum Communication •3 years: development and certification of Quantum Key Distribution devices and systems, addressing high-speed, high-TRL, low deployment costs, novel protocols and applications for network operation, as well as the development of systems and protocols for quantum repeaters, quantum memories and long-distance communication; •6 years: cost-effective and scalable devices and systems for intercity and intra-city networks demonstrating end-user-inspired applications, as well as demonstration of scalable solutions for quantum networks connecting devices and systems, e.g. quantum sensors or processors; •10 years: development of autonomous metro-area, long distance (>1000km) and entanglement-based networks, a "quantum Internet", as well as protocols exploiting the novel properties that quantum communication offers. Quantum Sensing and Metrology •3 years: quantum sensors, imaging systems and quantum standards that employ single qubit coherence and outperform classical counterparts (resolution, stability) demonstrated in laboratory environment; •6 years: integrated quantum sensors, imaging systems and metrology standards at the prototype level, with first commercial products brought to the market, as well as laboratory demonstrations of entanglement enhanced technologies in sensing; •10 years: transition from prototypes to commercially available devices. Figure 1: EU roadmap goals for Quantum Technology (taken from High-Level Steering Committee (2017) Quantum Technologies Flagship Final Report, image: Birch) Q-campus Background study Background study 6 Quantum Computing The most promising and game-changing application of Quantum Technology is Quantum Computing. It encompasses a variety of different technologies in and of itself. The main challenge in building quantum computers is decoherence, the fact that quantum particles change state too fast to observe and use in calculations.4 Below we will describe the two main developments of quantum computing. Task specific Quantum Computers In the field of ‘quantum annealers’, devices are built with qubits for solving specific problems by modelling the