The Netherlands Is Securing the Quantum Perimeter

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is launching a funding call in July to secure future quantum technologies through two distinct research lines NWO’s Quantum Technology Call. This initiative, supported financially by the Ministry of Defence, targets the development of portable quantum networks and the implementation of post-quantum cryptography on existing ICT systems.

The program establishes a clear strategic divide in how research must be conducted. For the first research line, which focuses on entanglement for portable quantum networks, NWO requires proposals to be submitted as consortia. This structure forces interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing researchers to partner with experts from various disciplines and societal organisations, including companies. The objective is to move away from quantum network demonstrations that rely on extensive and stable infrastructure toward deployable applications suited for mobile use. Success in this area requires breakthroughs in both entanglement generation and memory technologies, specifically the ability to generate and store entanglement for mobile use and long-term storage.

The second research line, dedicated to post-quantum cryptography operating on existing ICT systems, follows a different structural logic. Researchers in this area will submit individual proposals. This distinction suggests that while the network frontier requires a collective, industrial approach, the cryptographic frontier is being approached through individual scientific advancement.

The strategic importance of this call is evident in its focus on defense and infrastructure-poor environments. By funding multiple projects within each line, NWO aims to promote new scientific insights and build a sustainable knowledge base. The focus on post-quantum cryptography addresses the immediate vulnerability of systems already in place, rather than waiting for the widespread availability of quantum computers capable of breaking encryption.

The tension in this initiative lies in the technical difficulty of maintaining quantum coherence over extended periods. If the Netherlands can bridge the gap between stable, laboratory-bound networks and mobile, deployable entanglement, it will have secured a significant advantage in quantum-enabled defense and infrastructure.

Watch the development of the consortia for the first research line; the strength of these partnerships will determine if portable quantum networks move beyond the lab.