How technological advancements shape business and society.

The term "quantum technology" has been used extensively in recent times, especially since UNESCO declared 2025 the "International Year of Quantum Science and Technology". However, there is still a lack of clarity around its precise meaning and application. What personally fascinates you about quantum technology?

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: I find it fascinating how quantum mechanics, the laws of nature which mainly describe the microscopic world and often contradict our intuition, are now being used to build technologies that will shape the future. Take a neutral-atom quantum computer, for example: The idea that we will be able to control thousands or even millions of atoms – the fundamental building blocks of everything around us – arrange them on a grid and manipulate them to store information and run algorithms to discover new drugs is mind-blowing. It’s also remarkable, and often overlooked, how much technological complexity quantum computers require. This is no longer a purely scientific pursuit, but an enormous engineering effort.

So, building on that enthusiasm, why is now the right time to get involved with quantum technology?

Christian Dille: Now, if not earlier, is the right time, because quantum technologies are already embedded in daily life and the next wave is emerging. Lasers, MRI scanners and the GPS timing behind navigation and finance all rely on the principles of quantum physics and represent the first generation of quantum technologies. In the past few years as well as in the ones ahead, we are seeing a new wave, the second generation, which relies on the controlled manipulation of quantum states. Examples are quantum-safe encryption, which will be built into common internet tools; practical quantum sensors for navigation, healthcare and industry, which will transition from trials to everyday use; and fault-tolerant quantum computing, which may even emerge within the next decade. Developing skills, expertise and partnerships take time, so it makes sense to start now – whether you want to help build quantum technologies or plan to become a user. At Rohde & Schwarz, our traditional customers will eventually engage with quantum technology as well. By investing early, we are building the expertise needed to support them effectively when the time comes.

With this much momentum, why is everyone so interested in quantum technology right now – are we talking about a temporary hype or a true turning point?

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: Quantum technology encompasses many fields, including quantum sensing, quantum communications and quantum computing. Today’s excitement is largely driven by quantum computing. What has changed over the past five to seven years is that the field is moving out of universities and research labs into real companies with funding and a concrete goal: building quantum computers that deliver clear, repeatable advantages on valuable problems. These companies are steadily improving performance to reach that goal. A crucial step is achieving scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing: systems that can correct their own errors and run reliably over long computations with enough qubits to solve real-world problems. Companies like IBM, IQM and Quantinuum aim to reach this within the next decade, although the exact timeline remains uncertain. At the same time, there is a strong push to communicate the potential of quantum computing to the public and industry. This, combined with national and international funding programs and corporate investment, is adding significant momentum.

It looks like quantum technology is getting a lot more attention from scientists and the public these days. On that note, John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis have 2025 been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their research on quantum computers. Does this mean quantum has finally entered the mainstream?

Christian Dille: The Nobel Prize along with the designation of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum will undoubtedly boost public awareness. But “mainstream” means reliable products with everyday impact. Some areas of quantum technology are already mainstream today: atomic clocks in GPS and telecom, quantum gravimeters, SQUID based medical and industrial sensing and quantum random-number generators, for example. Quantum computing, however, is at an earlier stage. Real applications still depend on progress in error correction and scaling over the next decade.

Before we explore applications in more detail, let’s have a look at the industry perspective. What is the role of Zurich Instruments and Rohde & Schwarz in the field of quantum technology?

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: Zurich Instruments is a leader in test and measurement, offering high-performance lock-in amplifiers, signal generators and arbitrary waveform generators used across general quantum research, quantum sensing and quantum communications applications. For quantum computing in particular, Zurich Instruments offers the Quantum Computing Control System (QCCS), which provides the electronics needed to control and readout certain qubit modalities and thus enable quantum computation. You can think of the QCCS as the nervous system of a quantum computer, sending and receiving precisely timed signals to and from the quantum processing unit (QPU). There are different types of qubits: superconducting, spin, trapped ion , neutral atom, among others, and each requires its own architecture. Our control system is especially designed for superconducting qubits (used by IBM, IQM, Google and others) and spin qubits. Equally important is our software, LabOne Q, which translates the user’s desired operations (gates, circuits, algorithms) into signals compatible with our hardware.

Christian Dille: As for Rohde & Schwarz, our vision is to make ideas real. In relation to quantum technology, this means to help bring quantum technology from the lab into industrial reality – reliably, reproducibly and at scale. Rohde & Schwarz aims to be the technology partner that bridges today’s high-performance radio frequency (RF) and test as well as and time domain solutions with tomorrow’s scalable quantum systems. As quantum technologies mature and move toward industrial use, the demand for reliable, repeatable and scalable measurement and control infrastructure is growing rapidly, an area where we excel with decades of expertise in RF engineering, low-noise signal generation and precision measurement. So figuratively speaking one could say we at Rohde & Schwarz provide essential building blocks for quantum computing, sensing and communications. A major boost comes from our collaboration with Zurich Instruments. Together, we offer a comprehensive toolbox that supports the complete quantum workflow – from single-qubit characterization to multi-qubit scale-up.

With this in mind, where do we already encounter quantum technology today, perhaps without realizing it?

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: Almost everywhere. Lasers – used in surgery, industrial cutting, barcode scanning and fiber-optic internet – rely on quantum physics, as do quantum-dot displays and the atomic clocks in GPS satellites. Medical imaging and brain diagnostics are also deeply quantum: MRI uses nuclear spin physics, and magnetoencephalography relies on ultra-sensitive quantum sensors to detect tiny magnetic fields in the brain. Even everyday electronics such as phones, wearables and USB storage depend on quantum effects in semiconductors and memory.

On the topic of the medical sector: What opportunities do you see for medical research, for example in developing new drugs or personalized therapies?

Christian Dille: Because quantum computers operate according to the rules of quantum mechanics, they are naturally suited for simulating quantum systems such as molecules and chemical reactions. This opens the door to quantum-chemistry simulations that could accelerate drug development. Achieving this, however, requires not only scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computers but also significant progress in quantum algorithms designed for such tasks.

Speaking about the aspect of detection: Could quantum sensors help, for instance in earthquake or climate research to better predict natural disasters? Something that can affect anyone of us in our daily lives.

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: Quantum sensors won’t magically predict earthquakes or storms, but they can provide earlier, clearer and more continuous measurements of precursor signals – mass shifts, strain, magnetic changes or timing variations – which can improve early-warning systems and climate models. Earthquakes, for instance, redistribute mass and alter the Earth’s gravity field. More sensitive quantum based gravity measurements can help detect such changes.

So basically, quantum sensors could potentially reduce the risk of being harmed by environmental effects. Talking about risks: Do you see any potential risks in quantum technology that are comparable to those being discussed in the field of artificial intelligence?

Christian Dille: Rather than focusing on risks, I think we should look at the opportunities and synergies between the two technologies. Quantum computing can provide the computational power needed for generative AI training, while generative AI can accelerate the development and testing of quantum systems.

Let’s expand our perspective slightly and move to the important topic of research and development. Are industry and the scientific community currently engaged in a global quantum race?

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: I would not call it a race so much as there is no clear “finish line”, but rather a quantum transformation. It’s a collaborative effort, spanning the scientific community and industry, but also governments. All of them are engaged and play a fundamental role in it. Governments provide sustained funding, for both academia and industry, set standards and security frameworks, help building the workforce and infrastructure, and de-risk the market through test beds. The scientific community pushes the boundaries of our understanding of the quantum world, and they perform research on high-risk topics that companies typically cannot afford to tackle. And finally, industry can develop and engineer those advances into useful products and platforms. In addition, this community is deeply interconnected. Many companies originate as university spin-offs, such as IQM, Quantum Diamonds, or IonQ. Companies and research institutions often operate joint labs, like the Microsoft Quantum Lab at Delft, and work together in publicly funded projects. These connections help accelerate the development of quantum technologies.

Quantum computers often represent a significant technological advancement with the potential to generally transform business and society for the better. Will quantum computers overcome classical computers?

Christian Dille: This is a common misconception. Quantum computers will not be used to run Word or browse the internet, in other words, like the traditional desktops and laptops that we use in our daily lives. Instead, they will complement high-performance computers that exist in data centers. They are designed and will be used to simulate or solve highly specialized complex problems like the structure of a protein, which are not possible with our most powerful computers. In the future, we will see hybrid systems emerge in which classical high-performance computing (HPC) environments integrate quantum computers as specialized accelerators.

Research and development are investments that require significant financial resources, which ar e often very limited. In regard to quantum computing, how important is government funding for your work and what can public institutions contribute?

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: It plays a very important role for us, as it sustains the university groups who use our control electronics to push the frontiers of quantum computing, and enables co-development with academic and industrial partners through publicly funded projects. For instance, we at Zurich Instruments are partners in QSolid and MUNIQC-SC, two German publicly funded projects, both of which aim to build a superconducting quantum computer in Germany. In addition, most quantum computers purchased today come from the public sector and are used in high-performance computing centers. This is supported by significant public funding in Europe, largely through major EU and national programs. These early systems help raise awareness of quantum computing and serve as platforms for developing infrastructure and enabling technologies as well as algorithms and initial applications.

Being the enabler and connecting element, is it safe to say that you are part of a larger ecosystem? We often hear the term quantum technology ecosystem. Could you elaborate on that?

Christian Dille: The quantum technology ecosystem includes all the players and activities needed to transform quantum ideas into real-world solutions: universities exploring fundamental science, companies building specialized hardware and software, system integrators, startups developing applications, and governments supporting research and innovation. You can think of it as a community united by a shared goal: advancing quantum technologies. Each part contributes something essential – scientific knowledge, engineering expertise, funding or talent development. Only through effective interaction between all these elements can quantum technology progress from early research to practical tools that benefit industry and society.

Let's change direction once more and focus on quantum sensing for a moment. How does its readiness level compare to that of quantum computing, which we discussed previously?

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: While quantum computers have attracted significant public attention, they are not yet technically ready for commercial use. Quantum sensor technology, on the other hand, is already further along. Quantum sensors are already essential components in many applications. Some of these technologies are already commercialized like quantum gravimeters. Others are in the system prototype phase like quantum magnetometers for brain diagnostic applications. And others, such as nitrogen-vacancy (NV) sensors are currently in the field demonstration phase or in advanced laboratory prototype phases.

It is fair to say then that quantum sensing has already reached a very practical level. For which industries is quantum sensing relevant?

Christian Dille: Its ability to detect incredibly subtle magnetic, electric or gravitational signals opens doors that were previously inaccessible. In healthcare, ultra-sensitive magnetic sensors could make non-invasive brain and heart imaging more accessible, enable nanoscale NMR for research and even lead to wearable or compact MRI-like devices. In semiconductors, quantum sensors provide new ways to analyze failures and optimize processes by precisely measuring currents and magnetic fields. Aerospace and defense will benefit from quantum accelerometers and gravimeters that enable reliable navigation without GPS and help detect hidden or underwater objects. In oil, gas and mining, quantum-enhanced gravity and magnetic sensing can create clearer subsurface maps, reducing exploration risks. Finally, ultra-stable atomic clocks will play a key role in telecoms, finance and critical infrastructure by improving synchronization and enabling secure, time-critical networks – essential for technologies such as 6G and distributed data centers. Put simply: Wherever precision matters, quantum sensing has the potential to be a game changer.

Last but not least, what are some of your personal “aha moments” that you have experienced in your work with quantum technology?

Dr. Irene Sánchez Arribas: To me, the speed of technological development and advancement is just breathtaking. Just look at how far we've come in the last ten years. While of course no one can predict the future, I am quite certain that quantum technology will profoundly shape everyone's life and that society will greatly benefit from it.

Christian Dille: That really is a difficult question to answer, because there is so much. But when I think about it, I am somehow surprised every time by the fact that quantum sensor technology is more mature than quantum computing, even though I know that of course. This is probably because quantum computing receives so much public attention that my perception has shifted unconsciously.