The acquisition of QHarbor by Quantum Machines and a new office opening in Delft signals a focused investment in the software essential for scaling quantum systems, revealing a belief that robust software is now a primary bottleneck in the field. Founders Alberto Tosato and Stephan Philips, formerly of QHarbor, are joining Quantum Machines to address a critical challenge for physics researchers: managing the increasingly complex data generated by advanced quantum experiments. “At QHarbor, we solved a critical bottleneck for physics researchers: storing, organizing, and visualizing complex measurement data at scale,” explains Tosato, highlighting the impetus behind the collaboration. Europe’s quantum ecosystem, they note, requires venture capital comfortable with deep-tech timelines to bridge the gap between fundamental science and commercial viability, a need Quantum Machines and QHarbor aim to address through a fully integrated hardware and software stack.
What was the specific realization that prompted you to create QHarbor?
This year will see a concentrated effort to address software bottlenecks hindering the advancement of scalable quantum systems, as evidenced by Quantum Machines’ acquisition of QHarbor and the subsequent opening of a new office in Delft. The founders of QHarbor, Alberto Tosato and Stephan Philips, identified a critical gap in the quantum ecosystem stemming from the disconnect between sophisticated experimental design and rudimentary data handling practices. “It came out of conversations with Alberto where we were trying to identify what would actually be useful to the quantum ecosystem,” explained Philips, detailing the origins of their venture. Delft’s unique environment, deliberately blurring the lines between academic research and industrial development, provided fertile ground for this realization. The founders observed that while quantum physicists excel at building complex experiments, the supporting code and infrastructure are often treated as secondary concerns, a trend that intensifies with increasing qubit counts and experimental scale.
This mismatch creates significant challenges for larger teams attempting to manage calibrations and metadata effectively. “Quantum physicists are very good at building complex experiments, but the surrounding code and infrastructure tends to be treated as a chore,” said Tosato, highlighting the core problem QHarbor aimed to solve. Experts anticipate that a standardized data management framework will become increasingly vital as quantum technology matures, a need QHarbor sought to fulfill by creating a solution applicable to research groups, startups, and established scale-ups alike. The founders concluded that a general-purpose framework was essential for nearly every entity in the field, and that is how QHarbor began, aiming to provide the necessary tools for managing the deluge of data generated by increasingly complex quantum systems.
When you’re building a team in this field, what do you look for beyond technical excellence?
The quantum domain is a very hybrid field. To build real systems, you need a lot of classical engineering alongside quantum engineering. Microwave engineering, software engineering, system architecture, and so on. When you have a team that combines all those skills, what matters most is that people communicate well across disciplines and are humble enough to learn from each other. “To build real systems, you need a lot of classical engineering alongside quantum engineering,” explains Alberto Tosato and Stephan Philips, co-founders of QHarbor, now part of Quantum Machines, highlighting the breadth of skills now essential. Looking ahead, the unique demands of quantum hardware development will necessitate a shift in recruitment strategies, prioritizing individuals demonstrating intellectual humility and a willingness to absorb knowledge from unfamiliar disciplines.
Experts anticipate that companies will actively seek candidates who can bridge the gap between theoretical quantum concepts and practical engineering challenges, fostering a collaborative environment where knowledge flows freely. This focus on soft skills isn’t merely about team dynamics; it’s about overcoming fundamental hurdles in translating research into viable technology. “When you have a team that combines all those skills, what matters most is that people communicate well across disciplines and are humble enough to learn from each other,” said Alberto Tosato and Stephan Philips, co-founders of QHarbor, now part of Quantum Machines, emphasizing the importance of cross-disciplinary fluency for future success in the field.
How does the local ecosystem in Delft support development on a day-to-day level?
Quantum Machines’ recent acquisition of QHarbor and subsequent office opening in Delft are bolstered by a uniquely collaborative local environment, accelerating development cycles and product refinement. The founders of QHarbor experienced immediate support from QuTech, receiving both financial backing and strategic guidance from the outset; this partnership extended to direct product testing within QuTech’s laboratories, a critical advantage when designing systems intended for diverse experimental configurations. This access allows for immediate validation and iterative improvement based on real-world application, a benefit not easily replicated in more isolated research settings.
The founders state that this close proximity of expertise is a defining characteristic of Delft’s success, streamlining the traditionally lengthy process of quantum technology maturation. “Brainstorming a feature, visiting a partner to see how they actually use the product, picking up informal feedback, all of that is within a five-minute walk,” explained Alberto Tosato, co-founder of QHarbor, highlighting the efficiency gained from a geographically concentrated network of physicists, electrical engineers, and software developers. This deliberate blurring of disciplinary lines fosters rapid knowledge exchange and problem-solving, circumventing the communication barriers often found in larger, more segmented organizations.
Looking ahead, the founders anticipate that the availability of such immediate feedback loops will be crucial for overcoming the “valley of death” that frequently hinders deep-tech ventures in Europe. “They have also let us test our products directly in QuTech labs, which is quite valuable when you are building something that has to work on a wide range of experimental setups,” added Stephan Philips, also a co-founder of QHarbor, emphasizing the practical benefits of this integrated ecosystem for building robust and versatile quantum systems. This localized support network is expected to continue driving innovation and accelerating the transition from research to commercial deployment.
The field is at a transition point. Multi-qubit experiments are becoming the norm, which means the volume of data being generated is climbing fast, not just linearly with qubit count, but compounded by all the automated calibration that modern setups rely on.
QHarbor has focused on the critical data layer of quantum experimentation
The increasing complexity of quantum experiments is driving a need for sophisticated data management solutions, and this year will see a greater emphasis on interdisciplinary communication. QHarbor’s specialization in the critical data layer of quantum experimentation proved a strategic acquisition for Quantum Machines, signaling a focused investment in software as a key bottleneck to scalability. Alberto Tosato and Stephan Philips anticipate that as multi-qubit experiments become standard practice, the sheer volume of generated data will continue to rise exponentially, compounded by the demands of automated calibration procedures. This escalating data load is acutely felt by experimentalists utilizing control orchestration stacks, prompting a shift towards proactive data management rather than reactive solutions.
Integrating data management directly into Quantum Machines’ stack addresses the problem at its source, a move that becomes increasingly viable as the user base requiring such capabilities expands. “The field is at a transition point,” explained Alberto Tosato, co-founder of QHarbor, now part of the Quantum Machines team. He further noted that data volume isn’t simply scaling linearly with qubit count, but is being amplified by the automation integral to modern quantum setups. This approach contrasts with attempts to add data management as an afterthought, promising more efficient workflows and streamlined analysis for researchers pushing the boundaries of quantum computation.
At QHarbor, we solved a critical bottleneck for physics researchers: storing, organizing, and visualizing complex measurement data at scale. Meanwhile, Quantum Machines sets the gold standard for quantum control, which naturally generates massive amounts of this rich data. By bringing QHarbor into the QM ecosystem, we are closing the loop.
Now that your team is becoming part of a global organization, what are you most looking forward to in terms of the scale and speed at which you can now operate?
The integration of QHarbor into Quantum Machines will accelerate the development of scalable quantum software, moving beyond the limitations often experienced by smaller teams. This year will see a focused effort to expand the user base for their combined technologies, leveraging Quantum Machines’ established presence at major quantum computing conferences to increase visibility and adoption. Looking ahead, the expanded organization is poised to capitalize on Quantum Machines’ internal expertise spanning both hardware and software development, a combination Philips described as possessing “a more industrial approach than is typical in academic labs.” This deliberate integration of research and engineering is expected to streamline the product development process and facilitate faster iterations based on real-world feedback. Experts anticipate that the scale of Quantum Machines’ operations will be particularly impactful, allowing the combined team to connect with a far wider audience than QHarbor could achieve independently. “QM also has a presence at essentially every relevant conference in the field, which on its own changes how many people will get to know what we have built,” noted Philips, highlighting the importance of visibility in a rapidly evolving field where knowledge dissemination is critical for fostering innovation and attracting investment.
Europe excels at fundamental science but struggles in the ‘valley of death’ before commercialization. To fix this, we need venture capital that is comfortable with deep-tech timelines, universities that make IP spin-outs frictionless rather than punitive, and a culture that celebrates building global tech companies as much as publishing in Nature.
