From lab to market: co-develop your quantum future with TNO

TNO provides a state-of-the-art, open-access technological infrastructure designed to support the entire development lifecycle of quantum hardware and software, serving as an extension of your internal R&D. Our primary facilities and expertise domains include:

• State-of-the-art cleanroom fabrication: device manufacturing is carried out in our ISO-class 5 cleanrooms at the Van Leeuwenhoek Laboratory (VLL, offering 3,000 m2 cleanroom space and 6,000 m2 lab/office space) and the Else Kooi Laboratory (EKL, equipped for batch processing and MEMS/active CMOS devices) in Delft.
• The Quantum Information Technology Testing (QITT) Facility: Europe's first open quantum testing lab, QITT provides SMEs, startups, and corporates with easy access to deep cryogenic characterisation and metrology. It features two Bluefors dilution fridges operating at cryogenic temperatures with 1-axis 2T magnets, a 1K ICE Oxford fridge, and a suite of cryo- and room-temperature probe stations.
• Low-Temperature Characterisation Setup (LTCS): Optimized for color centers and quantum chip characterisation, our LTCS provides base temperatures below 1 Kelvin, up to 1 Tesla magnetic fields in all directions, and microwave control up to 12.5 GHz, supported by automated measurement control to ensure rapid testing cycles.
• Quantum Sensing Testbed & Labs: We develop, validate, and build compaction-ready prototypes alongside our partners, leveraging specialised equipment such as quantum scanning probe microscopes, compact vectorial magnetometers, and wide-field magnetometers.
• Quantum Communications & Cryptography Lab (QUTE): Our QUTE lab includes automated PIC characterization tools, a room-temperature setup, and a dedicated QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) test and evaluation lab to benchmark components for land- and space-based quantum communication.

Protecting your commercial advantage is a core pillar of TNO’s partnership model. As an independent RTO established by Dutch law, we are free from direct private interests and focus entirely on creating societal and economic value for our partners:

• Structured confidentiality: all R&D projects are conducted in a secure environment with clear, contractually locked confidentiality agreements and strict data protection protocols.
• Tailored IP arrangements: we establish flexible, custom IP frameworks. Your proprietary background IP remains completely yours. Any foreground IP developed during our projects is structured with clear ownership, exclusive licensing, or transfer models to align with your business strategy.
• A name you can trust: since 1932, TNO has acted as the trusted link between academic research and commercial market readiness. Our long track record ensures that your R&D is protected against competitive leaks and meets the highest European security and compliance standards.

Yes. TNO utilizes a feedback-driven development cycle that continuously cycles through Modeling, Fabrication, and Characterisation to optimise superconducting and semiconductor-based quantum devices:

• Modeling and simulation: we run electromagnetic simulations using Ansys HFSS (stand-alone or with Qiskit Metal), PathWave ADS, and CST Studio Suite. For superconducting circuits, we implement Josephson-Junction simulators such as Inductex (for parameter extraction) and JoSim (for circuit simulations).
• In-depth superconducting characterization: at QITT, we offer specialized measurement expertise including S-parameter measurements (with cryogenic SOLT calibration), thermal/quantum noise measurements (with reference noise sources), and measurements using parametric amplifiers.
• Qubit diagnostics: we can thoroughly diagnose transmon qubits - measuring transition frequencies. Our automated testing frameworks can characterize up to 20 individually-driven transmons and tune flux-controlled CZ gates for nearest-neighbor pairs.
• Fabrication support: our process engineers provide wet/dry etching, deposition (PVD, CVD, PECVD, ALD), and optical and electron-beam lithography to quickly realize simulated chip designs.

We believe that quantum processors can only scale if they are supported by robust classical-quantum integration, software stacks, and control architectures. TNO is one of the few organizations globally working on the end-to-end full-stack integration of future quantum systems:

• Classical control hardware & software: we engineer cryogenic input/output cabling, automated chip tuning frameworks, and software packages to address scalability bottlenecks, such as controlling millions of qubits without massive heat generation or cable clutter.
• Quantum compilers & full-stack architecture: TNO develops control frameworks, compilers, and system architectures. TNO initiated and co-founded Quantum Inspire, Europe's first publicly available online quantum computing platform, which recently introduced the new open-architecture superconducting quantum processor Tuna-17.
• Applied cryptography & algorithms: through TNO's ICT, Strategy & Policy (ISP) unit, we help large organizations run quantum algorithm analyses, conduct cybersecurity risk assessments, and plan seamless migrations to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).
• Sovereign European consortia: TNO co-leads the landmark European pilot line and testing initiatives Qu-Test and Qu-Pilot to secure the continent's quantum supply chains. We also actively contribute to major systems-level scaling consortia, such as HectoQubit/2 to build a 100-superconducting-qubit cloud platform.

We recognize that growing quantum enterprises need rapid response times, flexible deal structures, and minimal bureaucracy. TNO engages with startups and scale-ups through several tailored collaboration tracks:

• TNO Fast Track: A highly focused, demand-driven program designed to connect startups with our experts to overcome technical bottlenecks. Startups can schedule an intake, consult scientists, or book an on-site "Expert Session XL" for pragmatic, multi-disciplinary brainstorming. In 2025 alone, we successfully completed 182 Fast Track projects.
• Strategic R&D Co-Investment: TNO proactively co-develops technology alongside startup partners. For example, TNO Ventures directly invested in the quantum startup Equal1, which relocated its R&D activities to Delft's House of Quantum to leverage TNO's nanofabrication expertise and silicon spin qubit technology co-developed with TU Delft.
• Ecosystem spinoff track: we actively support a network of spinoff companies arising from our QuTech and Delft ecosystems, including pioneers such as Orange Quantum Systems (customized testing equipment), Q*Bird (quantum secure networking), and FrostByte (cryo-electronics).

The Quantum Application Lab (QAL) is a dedicated open-innovation centre co-founded by TNO alongside leading scientific and HPC institutions (including CWI, eScience Center, SURF, Quantum Inspire, and University of Amsterdam). QAL bridges the gap between academic quantum algorithm research and practical business applications for computational challenges in optimization, simulation, and machine learning. Through QAL, TNO offers three flexible, structured engagement models to guide your quantum journey:

• Strategic exploration: A high-level impact analysis to evaluate how quantum computing could affect your specific industry (e.g., pharma, finance, energy, logistics) and map out realistic adoption timelines.
• Use case selection & roadmap development: An in-depth audit of your computational workflows to identify, rank, and select high-potential quantum speedup opportunities.
• Application development & implementation: Focused co-development of custom quantum algorithms, classical benchmarking against supercomputers (via SURF), and proof-of-concept testing on actual hardware platforms (such as Quantum Inspire) or advanced simulators.

Yes. Over half of TNO's industrial R&D projects involve international enterprise clients, European consortia, or foreign scale-ups. You do not need to be a Dutch entity to access our world-class cleanrooms, characterisation testbeds, or domain experts.

• Cross-border contract R&D: International enterprises can commission direct contract research or joint development projects under strict international IP, confidentiality, and data protection structures.
• Leading European consortia: TNO co-leads Europe-wide open-access quantum initiatives such as Qu-Test and Qu-Pilot under the EU Quantum Flagship, allowing international European partners to access standardized testing protocols and nanofabrication pilot lines.
• Soft-Landing & co-location: International deep-tech scale-ups looking to establish a presence in the European quantum hub can leverage TNO Ventures and our proximity to House of Quantum in Delft. A prime example is Irish quantum startup Equal1, which partnered with TNO, received investment via TNO’s private holding, and relocated part of its R&D activities to Delft to co-develop silicon spin qubit architectures with TNO engineers.

With the rise of quantum computing capabilities, classical encryption standards (such as RSA and ECC) face eventual vulnerability to "store-now, decrypt-later" attacks. TNO's specialized Applied Cryptography & Quantum Applications team, comprising over 40 cryptographic and algorithm specialists, helps enterprises and government institutions prepare for seamless quantum-safe migration:

• Quantum risk & impact assessments: We audit your data assets, legacy security protocols, and third-party supply chains to determine your vulnerability timeline against quantum decryption risks.
• PQC migration frameworks: TNO assists in implementing NIST-standardized Post-Quantum Cryptography algorithms, conducting performance benchmarking on your existing IT architecture, and ensuring cryptographic agility.
• Hybrid quantum security & QKD: For ultra-high-security environments, TNO tests and evaluates Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) hardware and integrated photonic circuits (PICs) in our dedicated QUTE testing lab to combine hardware-based quantum physics security with post-quantum software encryption.