How TNO’s Ines Corveira Rodrigues shapes tomorrow's quantum world

273 Degrees below zero

Ines’ mission seems deceptively simple: create superconducting hardware that enables quantum computers to tackle problems classical ones would take years to crack. The reality? These circuits must operate at just a few millikelvin: nearly 273 degrees Celcius below zero. That is colder than deep space. At these extreme temperatures, materials like aluminum and niobium become superconducting, allowing electricity to flow without resistance.

From years to seconds

Once technical hurdles are overcome, quantum computing could be transformative. ‘Large-scale quantum computers will have far more computational power than anything we have today,’ Ines explains. ‘They could solve problems in seconds that currently take years—like discovering new medicines, modeling climate systems, or designing advanced materials.’

Beyond computing

While quantum computing grabs headlines, Ines’ work reaches further. Superconducting circuits could revolutionize radar systems, medical imaging, and quantum sensing. ‘With quantum circuits, you do not need massive antennas that scale with wavelength,’ she says. ‘You can replace them with tiny circuits that are just as sensitive.’ In healthcare, this could mean portable MRI machines. ‘Traditional MRIs require huge magnetic fields. But with superconducting quantum circuits, you could build smaller, mobile systems—bringing advanced diagnostics to places that do not have access today.’

Challenges

Compared to other quantum systems, superconducting circuits offer a big advantage: they are highly engineerable. ‘We can model them accurately and predict their behaviour, which makes them easier to integrate into real-world applications,’ Ines says.

But they come with challenges. Cooling them requires dilution refrigerators: complex machines that create some of the coldest environments in the universe. ‘At higher temperatures, quantum information decays quickly due to noise. Cryogenic conditions help suppress that noise, allowing for precise measurements and longer quantum operations.’

From Portugal to quantum puzzles

Ines’ journey into quantum science was not planned. Originally from Portugal, she came to the Netherlands through an exchange program and ended up doing her master’s thesis at SRON, the Dutch space research institute. ‘That is where I got into superconducting technology,’ she says. ‘I love connecting the dots and solving complex problems. It is creative work. You need to understand your system deeply to find solutions no one else has.’

After earning her PhD at TU Delft and completing a postdoc at ETH Zürich, she joined TNO. ‘TNO sits right between science and industry. There is so much knowledge here, and we use it to turn research into real-world solutions—not just for exploration.’

Power of teamwork

What sets TNO apart for Ines is the collaborative spirit. ‘At university, people often work in very small teams, or do everything themselves like design, simulation, fabrication, measurements, analysis. But at TNO, I work with experts who specialise in each step. I trust our nanofabrication engineers to build my designs better than I ever could.’ Juggling six or seven projects at once, she has learned to balance priorities and lean on her team. ‘Some people are great at spotting details I miss. Others bring energy that helps you push through tough days.’

Solving puzzles

When things do not work, Ines admits it can be frustrating. ‘I can get a bit obsessed,’ she laughs. ‘I keep thinking: why is it not working? What am I missing? Until we crack it.’ At TNO, she has expanded her skills: connecting superconducting circuits with other quantum platforms like NV centers and spin qubits, and growing into a leadership role.

Recently, she became technical lead of the superconducting Product Market Combination. ‘It is a big responsibility, but also a great opportunity to sharpen our focus and ask: what should we be working on? I really enjoy that.’