Funded by Vinnova, a new platform called Quantum Sweden will be launched to translate quantum research into innovation and strengthen competitiveness.
Quantum Sweden will be based at Chalmers Industrial-Technology and has received SEK 3 million to cover the platform’s implementation phase over its first year.
Quantum technology is at an early commercial stage, but it is developing rapidly and is expected to become a key technology in areas such as health, energy, finance, and defence in the future.
Sweden has internationally successful research in the field, primarily through the Wallenberg-funded WACQT based at Chalmers in Gothenburg. There are also many quantum initiatives and several associations spread across the country.
However, until Quantum Sweden, there has been a lack of a force that links these together and creates the conditions for quantum research to develop into innovation, benefit society and contribute to Sweden’s future competitiveness.
Quantum Sweden is a national collaboration platform
Quantum Sweden is led by the foundation Chalmers Industriteknik. Also involved in the project are WACQT-IP, Rise, GU Ventures, the innovation offices at KTH, Lund University, Linköping University, and Chalmers Technical University College, as well as the companies Ericsson, Scalinq, and Con-science.
Ulf Öhlander, one of the initiators at Vinnova and responsible for the call for proposals, explained: “There is a need for a national collaborative platform for innovation in quantum technology that brings together leading and new Swedish participants, including researchers, industry, and startups.
“Quantum Sweden can also complement and coordinate with WAQCT and work in relation to the Swedish quantum agenda that we launched in the spring of 2023.
“We also need a combined Swedish power in quantum in international contexts.”
The platform highlights the importance of Sweden’s participation in quantum research
The project manager for Quantum Sweden at Chalmers Industrial Technology is Johan Felix, who is responsible for strategic collaboration, and Camilla Johansson is the group manager for innovation management.
They point out that Sweden needs to gather strength so as not to fall behind compared to many other countries that are now investing heavily in building competitiveness in quantum technology.
Today, quantum development is in an early commercial stage, but in the slightly longer term, Johan Felix believes it will be decisive for Swedish competitiveness.
He stated: “It is both about the emergence of companies with completely new business ideas based on quantum technology and about the development of existing industrial operations with the help of quantum technology.
“For example, the computing capacity that quantum computers enable can be decisive for renewable energy production and a more efficient use of resources in business and society.”
The granted funding of SEK 3 million covers the platform’s implementation phase during the first year. The project contributes an equal amount.
Quantum Sweden will conduct activities and networks that support organisations and researchers in the innovation and commercialisation process but cannot provide financial support or funding to actors.
