Delft spin-out Groove Quantum puts semiconductor qubits firmly on the map

Delft-based startup Groove Quantum is building a quantum computer based on semiconductors – the same technology found in the chips in our phones, applied to an entirely new kind of computer. Founder Anne-Marije Zwerver: “A quantum computer can perform calculations in minutes or hours that would take classical computers millions of years to complete.” 

In short:

• Groove Quantum develops quantum computers based on germanium, a semiconductor material that is more scalable than alternatives.
• The company emerged from research at QuTech at TU Delft and was founded three years ago by Anne-Marije Zwerver and Nico Hendrickx.
• With eighteen operational qubits, Groove is ahead of other semiconductor start-ups.

What does Groove Quantum do exactly, and what problem are you solving?

“We build quantum computers. They’re needed because there’s a class of problems that classical computers could theoretically solve but would take millions of years in practice. Think of simulating chemical processes – developing medicines or optimising fertiliser production. Fertiliser production alone consumes around two per cent of the world’s energy, even though we know it can be done more efficiently. A quantum computer can perform those kinds of calculations in minutes or hours.”

Quantum sounds abstract. How do you explain it?

“A normal bit is either 0 or 1. A quantum bit – a qubit – can be 0 and 1 simultaneously. That’s impossible to visualise, even for me. But you can still compute with it. If you couple two qubits, you can examine four states at once. With three you get eight. It scales exponentially.  A quantum computer doesn’t search through all possibilities one by one; it can, in a sense, explore multiple routes simultaneously. That’s what makes it so powerful for certain calculations. It has fascinated me since I was fifteen.”

What makes your approach different from other quantum startups?

“There are various ways to build qubits – using superconductors, photons, or, as we do, semiconductors. We believe semiconductors are the key to scalability, because they’re the same technology that made conventional computers so small and powerful. That industry has built up eighty years of expertise in manufacturing and integrating chips uniformly, reproducibly, and in large numbers – expertise we can apply directly to our qubits. Specifically, we use germanium rather than silicon. Germanium scales better and produces higher-quality qubits. We currently have eighteen operational qubits – more than any other semiconductor qubit company.”

For which applications can a quantum computer make a real difference?

“What fascinates me most compelling is the pharmaceutical angle: developing better medicines that aren’t possible today. But materials optimisation for solar panels and batteries, or more efficient fertiliser production, are equally fascinating. Many companies are starting explore quantum technology – financial institutions are exploring applications such as portfolio optimisation. Closer to home, grid operator Alliander is looking at ways to optimise the electricity grid. The applications are wide-ranging, and which application takes of first will also depend on who the first customers turn out to be.”

When did the idea for Groove come about?

“It didn’t really start with me. My co-founder Nico Hendrickx was working on germanium qubits during his PhD, while I was working with silicon. The results were so strong that the idea of turning it into a company gradually took shape – partly driven by three professors and a patent lawyer who felt we should do something with it. I’d previously worked at a startup through YES!Delft, but the quantum world was too compelling to leave behind. When we eventually won a European investment grant, that was the moment we decided to go for it. We both quit our jobs and committed to Groove full-time.”

What was the biggest surprise as an entrepreneur?

“Two things. On the positive side: our team. We’d never hired anyone before, which was quite daunting –the first employees in a company are crucial. But every one of them has been outstanding, each bringing their own talent. On the negative side: the bureaucracy. Everyone is so afraid of state aid that it sometimes feels more like state sabotage. Institutions tend to pass responsibility around between themselves, unwilling to make decisions. The result is a vicious circle in which we’re sometimes sent from one place to another five times, only to end up back where we started. I accept that oversight is necessary, but that it should take months – that I still can’t get my head around.”  

Deep tech requires patience. How do you manage that as an entrepreneur?

“You need investors who understand that too. This isn’t a sprint but a marathon. We were very deliberate in choosing partners with expertise in deep tech and the patience it demands. We also try to be realistic about our timelines. There are quantum companies promising a million qubits within two years. That’s simply not credible.  We say what we’ll do and we do what we say. We’re slowly building that into a track record, and it’s becoming more and more important.”

When will Groove Quantum count as real success to you?

“We’ve put semiconductor qubits on the map as serious technology. The next step is to compete with all other qubit technologies and come out on top. In five years, I want people to say: when the quantum computer arrives, it will be built Groove.” 

This article was first published on 18 May by TU Delft.