A research consortium from TU Delft and Leiden University receives an NWO Summit Grant of 35 million euros, as a long-term support and to continue their prominent role internationally. They aim to investigate the fundamental limits of quantum physics. In total five consortia from different Dutch universities will receive a total of 188 million euros to strengthen the position of Dutch science.

This research project aims to investigate the fundamental limits on physical processes imposed by the laws of quantum mechanics, by exploring the behavior of quantum systems at the nanoscale. What is the size limit of the quantum domain, how massive or how complex can a system in quantum superposition be, is there a quantum granularity of space and time? Answers to these questions can point the way to radically new fundamental or technological breakthroughs.

Lead applicant and scientific director at QuTech, Lieven Vandersypen says about the grant: “Despite all the successes of quantum theory, major gaps in our understanding remain. They are big open questions, many of them interrelated, and these occur when we take quantum mechanics to its limits. The consortium we have brought together is eminent, balanced in composition and with expertise across all the relevant disciplines. We will work as a team, collaborating on specific topics with the other members of the consortium, and with the new researchers we will attract.”

He continues: “This Delft-Leiden consortium has a history of joint work and community building of more than twenty years, spanning large joint research projects funded by an ERC Synergy and two large Dutch so-called Gravitation programs, during which we had joint work meetings and retreats, as well as a joint graduate school with specialized PhD level courses, spring schools and a new joint MSc program in QIST. Finally, two of the co-investigators were driving forces behind the national agenda for quantum technology and the Quantum Delta NL program. Where the QDNL program is focused on economic impact, we will be able to leverage the investments in infrastructure and build-up of know-how from this program in our Quantum Limits research.”