Quantum technology centre established at Technical University of Denmark
Quantum technology is on the threshold of large-scale industrial utilisation—not least in sensors and computing—and the Greater Copenhagen area is one of the world’s leading areas for developing quantum technology.
By virtue of DTU’s significant research, education, and innovation activities in this field, DTU plays a significant role in, for example, developing technologies aimed at making quantum technology usable by companies and authorities.
“Danish companies are becoming increasingly aware of the opportunities offered by this field. Several are getting so far that they are approaching what is called ‘quantum ready’. We’re now supporting this development by creating a new joint gateway to DTU’s overall quantum research,” says DTU Provost Rasmus Larsen.
Old research, new development
The theory of quantum mechanics was developed at the Niels Bohr Institute and other research centres from the 1920s and onwards. From the beginning, efforts have been put into utilising quantum technology and—especially since the 1980s—there has been much focus on developing a quantum computer.
In quantum technological devices and computers, quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement are exploited—enabling the creation of several solutions—including for encryption of communications and for calculations that not even today’s most powerful supercomputers can handle.
Within the past five to ten years, the technology has reached a stage where it can find direct application in sensor technology, communication, and simulation of molecules and other quantum systems. This summer, for example, the Danish Business Authority mapped the strong potential of quantum technology for the Danish business sector (in Danish).
Special role for DTU
Many researchers from DTU work with quantum technology daily with very different approaches, and more than a third of all DTU’s departments and centres are involved in quantum research in one way or another. The new quantum centre will function as a joint gateway to the University’s competencies in this field.
“At DTU, we have a special role to play, firstly because our researchers cover the entire spectrum from basic research to Danish companies being able to implement DTU technology, for example, for encryption of their business-sensitive data. Secondly, because DTU has research and innovation infrastructure that can be made available to researchers and companies, and thirdly because DTU educates the engineers required to support a quantum ecosystem in Copenhagen,” says DTU Provost Rasmus Larsen.
There are already extensive collaborations with businesses, authorities, and other universities, and the ambition is to make DTU’s research even more accessible to support the development of new quantum technologies to a level where they can gain a greater foothold in society.
The centre is a continuation and expansion of the existing Quantum DTU. It will be anchored administratively at DTU Nanolab, which has cleanroom laboratories where new quantum technologies can be developed and produced. The centre’s administration is expected to be finally in place by the end of the year.