planqc

A lot is happening at the moment, more than I can usually fit into one post. But these are two things that genuinely matter to me: I am looking forward to speaking at the 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀 later this month, and I am honored to have been elected to the 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC)   What I like about this combination is that it brings together two sides of the same challenge.   On the one hand, there is the public discussion about how Europe creates better conditions for founders, technology companies, and industrial growth. On the other hand, there is the less visible work of shaping strategy, aligning priorities, and building the structures that help an industry mature.   The European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) is one of the key platforms for Europe’s quantum industry to coordinate around the questions that will define the next years: competitiveness, deployment, standards, skills, roadmaps, industrial growth, and value creation in Europe. Being elected to the Governing Board is therefore not just a personal milestone for me. It is also a sign of trust, and one I am very grateful for. And like most meaningful things in this field, it is not the result of one person alone. It reflects the work of many people around me, inside and outside planqc!   Thank you to the Lisbon Council for the invitation and to the QuIC community for the trust.

Meet Ria Jobanputra, Quantum Algorithms Engineer at planqc.   Ria works in our Algorithms team, developing quantum algorithms for quantum chemistry with a focus on more accurate and efficient molecular simulations. In the interview, she gives a behind-the-scenes look at what that means in practice: identifying relevant chemistry applications for quantum computing, refining algorithms for real molecular systems, and helping expand the range of industry problems our technology can address.   She also shares her path into science and innovation: studying chemistry, building deep expertise in molecular modelling, and following a growing interest in the computational and physics-based side of the field into quantum technology. What stands out is her perspective that there is no single path into quantum – and that different backgrounds can bring real value to a fast-moving field. Her advice to young women in science and technology is both thoughtful and encouraging: do not be afraid to take a path that feels different, stay curious, and trust that your skills and perspective matter.   One highlight from her journey so far has been joining planqc directly after completing her master’s degree in the UK and relocating to another country – an unconventional step into quantum technology that she is rightly proud of. You can find the interview here: https://lnkd.in/eQzksUEw And one fun detail: outside of work, Ria enjoys dancing, getting lost in fiction books, and travelling to discover new places and cultures.

We're looking forward to welcoming planqc to Deep Tech Momentum next week (𝟮𝟬–𝟮𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝘆, 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻). planqc is one of 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲'𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Spun out of the 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 in 2022 and Munich-based, they use 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 as qubits - qubits that are identical by nature, free of manufacturing defects, and require no cryogenics. It's one of the most elegant architectural bets in quantum and one of the few approaches with a credible scaling path. What makes 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗾𝗰 particularly compelling: they 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 - hardware to software - and already hold €𝟱𝟬𝗠+ 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 with the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) and Germany's national supercomputing infrastructure. Founded by world-class physicists, this is exactly the kind of company DTM exists to put in front of corporates, investors, and policymakers. At DTM26, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗾𝗰 will have a 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗣𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 - come meet the team if you're building, buying, or investing in quantum and make sure you attend Dr. Marcus Hennig's session on the Titans of Europe stage! #DTM26 #DeepTech #Quantum #Europe #planqc

Excited to be attending Q-Expo 2026 in Bilbao on 18–19 May, hosted by European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC).   It’s great to see Q-Expo growing alongside the quantum industry and bringing together the people driving Europe’s quantum ecosystem forward. Looking forward to insightful conversations, new connections and future collaborations. If you’ll be there as well, let’s connect – happy to meet onsite, just send me a message. planqc European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC)

Meet Jennifer Lilieholm, Quantum Hardware Engineer at planqc.   Jennifer works in our Quantum Hardware team, where she works hands-on with the quantum computer we’re building at planqc – both operating it and contributing to its development. In the interview, she gives a behind-the-scenes look at what that means in practice: working with complex experimental systems, troubleshooting them, and helping bring the final pieces together into a functional quantum computer.   She also shares her path into science and innovation: training as a quantum physicist, spending the past ten years working with ion traps through her doctoral work at the University of Washington and later as a postdoctoral researcher at NIST in Colorado, and now bringing that experience into quantum hardware at planqc. What stands out is her perspective on curiosity and confidence – from being fascinated by the strange rules of quantum mechanics to speaking up in difficult environments and helping create better conditions for others. Her advice to young women in science and technology is simple and powerful: don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do – including the little voice in your own head.   One highlight from her journey so far has been a moment early in her career when she looked through a microscope and saw individual molecules fluoresce in a live cell – an experience she describes as the most magical moment of her life, and one that set her on the path toward laser-based experimental science. You can find the interview here: https://lnkd.in/daz7GEgz And one fun detail: outside the lab, Jennifer enjoys aerial acrobatics, including aerial rope, high-flying trapeze, and German Wheel.

The past few weeks brought a few moments that genuinely stood out for us at planqc.   First, seeing Prof. Ignacio Cirac receive the inaugural ICTP-IBM Richard Feynman Prize in Quantum Computing. It is hard to imagine a more fitting recipient. Ignacio has shaped the field at its foundations, and because he is also a Scientific Advisor to planqc, this recognition felt especially close to home for us. Congratulations, Ignacio, on this truly deserved honor. It is a privilege to have your guidance on our journey. Another special moment was seeing Sebastian Blatt, our CTO and Co Founder, invited to the Italian Embassy in Berlin. In a program that included keynotes by Christiane Koch and Fabio Sciarrino, Sebastian joined the panel “Shaping the Quantum Future” alongside Laura D'Angelo, Chiara Macchiavello, Paolo Villoresi moderated by Tommaso Calarco. Representing planqc in this setting and contributing to the discussion alongside leading scientific voices was a real highlight for us. A third moment was the publication of the new World Economic Forum white paper, "Quantum for Energy and Utilities: Key Opportunities for Energy Transition." We were pleased to contribute to this work. What makes it especially valuable is its clear focus on where quantum technologies could become relevant, including grid optimization, materials discovery and precision monitoring. Just as important, it lays out what comes next: pilot projects, benchmarking against classical methods, and hybrid approaches that combine quantum and classical computing. You can find the white paper here: https://lnkd.in/e_XrEBM3 Looking back, these weeks brought recognition, strong conversations, and thoughtful work on future applications. Thank you to everyone who was part of these moments.   And stay tuned: a new episode of Women in Quantum will be out tomorrow!

Portfolio Spotlight | planqc ⚛️ Spun out of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Munich, planqc builds quantum computers using neutral atoms as qubits, an approach designed for large-scale, fault-tolerant systems. 🟣 The fastest path to scale. Neutral atoms are identical by nature, making them uniquely reliable as qubits. planqc's approach is designed to reach thousands of qubits without the engineering bottlenecks that hold other platforms back. 🟣 Selected by Germany's leading institutions. planqc has been chosen by the country's national supercomputing infrastructure and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) - a strong signal of confidence from the organisations closest to the technology. 🟣 Hardware and software, designed together. By co-developing across the full stack, planqc shortens the path from real-world problems to working quantum applications. Founded by Alexander Glätzle, Sebastian Blatt, and Johannes Zeiher, planqc is building the infrastructure Europe needs to lead in quantum computing. Explore the technology: https://planqc.eu/ #Portfolio #VentureCapital #QuantumComputing #DeepTech