Interview | Freeke Heijman, Founding Director of Quantum Delta NL
Freeke Heijman, Founding Director of Quantum Delta NL shares her thoughts on the most important factors to consider in selecting a new Quantum solution partner, the biggest area of focus for Quantum Delta NL within Quantum over the next 12 months and the biggest challenges facing the adoption of Quantum technology in 2021
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What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the adoption of Quantum technology in 2021?
Expectation management. The number of end users, policy makers and investors involved in QT is growing fast, and the funding might even be growing exponentially. This accelerates the development of the technology big time, which is great! But the path of radical innovation comes with uncertainties. The timelines for quantum advantage and concrete applications are still unclear and R&D challenges remain. I think the whole field has a moral duty to communicate openly about this so that new players get a realistic view of the longterm Quantum journey.
What is going to be the biggest area of focus for Quantum Delta NL within Quantum over the next 12 months?
Stimulating the founding and scaling of startups in the Netherlands. There’s a lot of latent entrepreneurship in our Dutch ecosystem and we are putting the instruments in place to activate it. Quantum Delta NL is a public private partnership that will provide easy access pre-seed tickets, to deeptech venture capital, and offer a “Fast Lane” startup support program. Our ambition is to have 100 startups in the Netherlands by 2027.
What are the most important factors you consider in selecting a new Quantum solution partner?
The opportunity to learn about different hardware platforms. There’s no clear winner yet, so in this phase I think it’s better to stay flexible and try parallel pathways.
Top tips: What is the best single piece of advice you can give to an enterprise looking to start their Quantum journey?
Take the journey one step at the time. First, get familiar with the technology and applications by entering a program of a provider or an academic institution. Second, set up in-house expertise to explore the opportunities. Third, develop your own business strategy towards adopting QT.
What is your biggest professional achievement to date?
Quantum professionals and scientists from the entire Dutch quantum ecosystem united in Quantum Delta NL, worked together to formulate a national strategy AND have already started executing it. Our national strategy covers the entire ecosystem: education, research, entrepreneurship and research infrastructures.
What are you most looking forward to at the Quantum.Tech digital event?
The speaker line up is great: I am looking forward to hear all the updates from the major QT players around the world. Especially looking forward to the keynote of Prof. Yoshihisa Yamamoto - he is a very respected and old-time friend, the Dutch quantum community has deep and historic relations with Japan. In 2019 he visited Delft with a group of around 10 Japanese colleagues for a scientific conference, and later this year we are planning a mission to Japan – if travel allows of course!