What Qutech does

QuTech is a mission-driven research institute established in 2014 as a collaboration between Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), headquartered in Delft, the Netherlands, with 51-100 employees. The institute runs parallel research tracks in diamond spin qubits, silicon spin qubits, superconducting qubits, quantum error correction, quantum cryptography, and cryo-CMOS control electronics, organised into divisions covering Qubit Research, Quantum Computing and Quantum Internet, supported by roughly thirty named labs and engineering teams covering cryogenics, electronics, optical and quantum device engineering.

The institute's flagship operational platform is Quantum Inspire, described as Europe's only freely accessible quantum computer in the cloud, which offers access to multiple processor backends including Starmon-7 (superconducting) and Spin2+ (semiconducting spin) and, as of May 2025, the open-architecture Tuna-5 system developed with QuantWare, Qblox, Orange Quantum Systems and Delft Circuits under the HectoQubit/2 project. Quantum networking capabilities include QNodeOS (the first operating system for quantum networks, launched in March 2025 via the Quantum Internet Alliance), the SquidASM SDK and the Quantum Network Explorer platform.

QuTech does not sell commercial products. Its revenue model rests on public funding through Quantum Delta NL's EUR 615M National Growth Fund programme, industry collaboration fees (notably a dedicated Fujitsu Advanced Computing Lab Delft established in 2024), participation in European flagship initiatives such as the Quantum Internet Alliance and OpenSuperQPlus, and technology transfer through spinoff companies including QuantWare, Qblox, Orange Quantum Systems, Delft Circuits, Q*Bird and FrostByte. Customers in the conventional sense are therefore academic research institutions, government agencies and industry partners rather than product buyers.

Name

Qutech

Legal name

QuTech

Website

https://qutech.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

QuTech is a Dutch research institute, jointly run by TU Delft and TNO, that develops quantum computing and quantum internet technologies and operates Quantum Inspire, Europe's only freely accessible cloud quantum computer platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quantum Computing Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Materials, Qubits & Device Physics Research (HDAGAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spin QPU Systems (Silicon/Quantum Dots/Donors) (HDAGAAAE), QCaaS Platforms & Developer Portals (HDAGAIAB), Quantum Cloud Infrastructure & QPU Hosting (HDAGAIAA), Quantum Software, Compilers, Verification & Benchmarking Research (HDAGAMAF), Quantum Documentation, Education SDKs & Developer Enablement Tools (HDAGACAN)

Keywords

• Quantum computing research
• Quantum internet technology
• Quantum processor development
• Quantum cryptography networks
• Quantum hardware engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Delft

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

QuTech is a mission-driven research institute that conducts fundamental and applied research in quantum computing and quantum internet, developing scalable prototypes of quantum computers (across diamond, silicon, and superconducting qubit platforms) and an inherently secure quantum internet. It operates Quantum Inspire, Europe's only freely accessible public cloud quantum computing platform, and produces spin-off companies that commercialize its technologies.

Product overview

QuTech operates Quantum Inspire as its core cloud platform offering Europe's only freely accessible quantum computer. The platform provides access to multiple quantum processor backends including Starmon-7 (superconducting), Spin2+ (semiconducting spin qubits), and Tuna-5 (open-architecture superconducting with tunable couplers). Supporting products include QNodeOS (quantum network operating system), SquidASM (quantum networking simulator SDK), and Quantum Network Explorer (QNE, application platform for quantum networks). The portfolio spans both quantum computing hardware access and quantum internet/networking research infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quantum Inspire: Europe's only freely accessible quantum computer in the cloud, providing free cloud access to various quantum computing technologies
• FrostByte
• Q*Bird

Products and services

• Quantum Inspire Europe's only freely accessible quantum computer in the cloud. A full-stack testbed platform providing free cloud access to multiple quantum computing technologies including Starmon-7 (7-qubit superconducting) and Spin2+ (6-dot semiconducting spin) backends. Integrates with Qiskit and PennyLane SDKs and SURF supercomputer for hybrid classical-quantum computing. Targets academic researchers, students, and industry developers experimenting with quantum hardware.
• QNodeOS First operating system designed for quantum networks, enabling programmable quantum applications to run across multiple hardware platforms by removing the barrier between networking hardware and software. Developed by Quantum Internet Alliance researchers. Targeted at quantum network researchers and developers.
• SquidASM Software Development Kit developed by Quantum Internet Alliance partner QuTech specifically for simulating quantum networking applications. Provides a selection of quantum primitives enabling participants to integrate existing elements or devise advanced protocols. Targeted at quantum networking researchers and developers.
• Quantum Network Explorer (QNE) Platform co-developed by Quantum Internet Alliance for quantum networking research and application development. Features the QNE Community Application Library for sharing quantum network applications. Targeted at quantum network researchers, developers, and educators.
• Tuna-5 Quantum Computer Open-architecture superconducting quantum computer with 5 qubits featuring tunable qubit couplers, modular control electronics, Python-based SDK, and integration of components from QuantWare, Qblox, and Orange Quantum Systems. Released via Quantum Inspire. Built under the HectoQubit/2 project. Targeted at quantum computing researchers and algorithm developers.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TU DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTU Delft is QuTech's founding academic partner. QuTech was established as a collaboration between TU Delft and TNO, with TU Delft providing academic infrastructure, researchers, and educational capabilities. The partnership forms the institutional backbone of QuTech's research activities.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNO is QuTech's founding applied research partner alongside TU Delft. TNO contributes expertise in applied scientific research and helps bridge the gap between fundamental quantum research and practical applications.
• FujitsumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFujitsu collaborates with QuTech on diamond-spin quantum computing research. This partnership combines Fujitsu's technology development capabilities with QuTech's academic research expertise in nitrogen-vacancy center quantum computing.
• Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQIA is a European flagship initiative for developing the quantum internet. QuTech participates in QIA to advance quantum network technologies including quantum repeaters, entanglement distribution, and quantum key distribution.
• Fraunhofer ILTmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on European quantum network development. Fraunhofer ILT contributes laser and photonics expertise to quantum communication infrastructure projects involving QuTech.
• QuantWareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuantWare is a QuTech spinoff company developing superconducting quantum processors. The relationship involves technology transfer from QuTech research to commercial quantum hardware products.
• QbloxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQblox is a QuTech spinoff developing quantum control systems and electronics. The company commercializes cryogenic control technologies developed at QuTech.
• Orange Quantum SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrange Quantum Systems is a QuTech spinoff focusing on quantum measurement and control systems. The company emerged from QuTech's research on quantum electronics.
• Delft CircuitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelft Circuits is a QuTech spinoff developing cryogenic microwave components for quantum computing. Technology transfer from QuTech enables commercial production of specialized quantum hardware components.
• Q*BirdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ*Bird is a QuTech spinoff focused on quantum communication and network technologies. The company commercializes quantum cryptography and secure communication solutions developed at QuTech.
• FrostByteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrostByte is a QuTech spinoff company that emerged from the institute's research activities. The specific commercial focus is part of QuTech's technology transfer ecosystem.

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• QuEra Computing: Neutral-atom quantum computing company spun out of Harvard/MIT research. Comparable as a research-originated quantum spinoff with a focused technology track, similar in maturity and stage to several QuTech spinoffs.

Direct peers

• Chicago Quantum Exchange: US multi-institutional quantum research consortium anchored by University of Chicago, Argonne, and Fermilab. Comparable to QuTech as a research-first consortium with industry partnerships, government funding, and a strong talent-development mandate.
• IQM Quantum Computers: European full-stack superconducting quantum computer company that emerged from Finnish academic research (Aalto University/VTT). Highly comparable to QuTech's superconducting track and Quantum Inspire platform, with a similar research-to-commercialization heritage.
• Niels Bohr Institute (Quantum Optics section): Leading Nordic quantum research hub (University of Copenhagen) with strengths in spin qubits and quantum communication. Comparable to QuTech as a European academic quantum research center producing top-tier research and contributing to the Quantum Internet Alliance.
• Pasqal: French neutral-atom quantum computing company with strong academic lineage (Institut d'Optique, CNRS). Comparable to QuTech as a European deep-tech quantum player combining research excellence with commercialization through public funding and industry partnerships.
• National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC): UK government-backed quantum computing research facility with a mandate to accelerate development and adoption. Comparable as a national-scale publicly funded quantum R&D hub similar to QuTech's position within the Dutch ecosystem.
• RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing: Japan's flagship national quantum computing research center pursuing multiple modalities including superconducting and neutral-atom approaches. Closely parallel to QuTech's mission-driven, government-funded research institute model.

Others

• Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT: German applied research institute and active QuTech partner on photonics for quantum networks. Comparable as a European applied-research partner operating in adjacent quantum technology areas, particularly QKD and quantum communication infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Quantinuum: Honeywell/Cambridge Quantum merger building trapped-ion quantum computers with an integrated software stack. Comparable as a research-intensive commercial quantum player, though significantly larger and with broader modality focus than QuTech.
• IBM Quantum: Industry leader in superconducting quantum computing with the largest cloud-deployed quantum fleet. Comparable to QuTech as a research-driven quantum program with cloud access (IBM Quantum Network vs. Quantum Inspire), but vastly larger in scale and capital.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyvzLcVB0NWPTsxOkMcoDJg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qutech
• Instagraminstagram.com/qutechnews
• Xx.com/qutech_news

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Qutech