Quantum Delta NL (QDNL), a foundation committed to scaling the Dutch quantum technology ecosystem, has announced its commitment to fund a total amount of €15M towards the QDNL Participations fund. This program aims to close the bridge between the grant-giving phase of research and the ‘patient capital’ phase of venture investment. The funds will serve as the researchers’ financial support in preparing their paper’s commercialization.
QDNL is a comprehensive program to transform the Netherlands into a Quantum Technology Silicon Valley. QDNL refers to the community of people, businesses, research institutions, government agencies, end users, and facilities participating with Quantum Technology. QDNL seeks to break down barriers between these actors and provide an inclusive culture to promote growth and collaboration.
The new €15 million fund is established to assist in developing venture-capital investable firms from the booming ecosystem of Dutch quantum technology research. The QDNL Participations fund will invest in companies across the quantum technology industry, specifically industries covering hardware, communications, and sensing technologies and companies that contribute critically to the sector’s growth.
“We want to get in very early and make sure that we protect and support founders by making sure the first check into the company is one of patience and support, because that’s actually where the problems typically originate already,”
TON VAN ‘T NOORDENDE, QDNL Participations managing director
The fund will invest in firms in the early stages of quantum technology, often leading the round with investments of up to €1.5 million. It will also assist research teams in launching technology-based enterprises.
“Research-based founders are not business people. They receive slow, poor, even sometimes exploitative, advice that can limit or end their business progress, and grant-giving organizations do not foster commercial outcomes.”
TON VAN ‘T NOORDENDE, QDNL Participations managing director
“Worldwide venture capital investment into quantum technology has increased significantly in recent years, and the Netherlands is a hotspot for research and startups in the field. With our new fund and support program, we aim to get more of the country’s world-leading research out of the lab and onto the market.”
TON VAN ‘T NOORDENDE, QDNL Participations managing director
As additional support, they have also provided a system called ‘Infinity,’ a free, on-call support program designed to help quantum researchers spin out and raise their first investment; it also aims to build the best, most connected, sustainable quantum startup sector globally by the year 2028.
“This program is about more than money. Quantum Delta NL cherishes young companies, and the Infinity team will provide them with the support they need to help the Dutch quantum technology sector achieve its enormous potential.”
Carlo Beenakker, chair of the supervisory board of Quantum Delta NL
“Infinity and QDNL Participations have only one goal: to allow quantum startups to grow sustainably in the Netherlands, so that they can participate in the growing global quantum market. There are no other interests – which is why we have chosen to give the program its own profile. Startups can rely on the team to put them first and to handle information with the utmost professionalism and discretion. The fund is badly needed because in the Netherlands, it is still difficult to find investors with a long time horizon and knowledge of the market. In combination with investments in shared facilities like cleanrooms and R&D programs, Quantum Delta NL is building the best climate for startups.”
Freeke Heijman, co-founder and Director Ecosystem Development at Quantum Delta NL
QDNL Participations provides significant business and commercial support to transform potentially great technology ideas into clearly outstanding investable firms, assisting brilliant technical minds in organizing and leading people to put their ideas into the world for the benefit of humanity.
Read more about it here.