Looking at the different levels of quantum computing (QC) effort, you can see that there is now a lot of development at the lower level, meaning the hardware level. However, in order to exploit the real power of these machines, we need experts who can also work on other levels, such as algorithm production and use-case identification. The new QuCS graduates will be able to tackle these problems with wide preparation on all these levels. The field is now growing so much that it is vital to have professionals who can start from this wide preparation to only eventually focus on some specific issue, and I think that is a great aspect of what the QuCS Master offers. 

Before entering the industry, looking at it from the outside, I thought that, since they had been working on it since the 90s, most of the theoretical and software side of it was already worked out, and we just needed to learn to build the machines to run these algorithms on. But now, working in a company such as IBM, I realize how the hardware is being developed, and there are still many things to discover and applications to be found. There is still a lot of work to be done at the theoretical level. 

The Netherlands are in a different situation than the USA. We don't have huge companies that can afford to invest big capital in new technologies. Instead, we have smaller companies, and we need to come up with a different mode of operation to exploit the benefits of this growing industry. I believe that part of this problem can be solved by having more skills available. 

In 1995, Quantum Computing (QC) was a very novel area of research, and the idea of stepping into such a new field was very appealing to me. Of course, now, 30 years later, it may not be that new, but it is still an extremely dynamic and growing area to get into. Given its interdisciplinarity, it keeps being exciting. Coming from theoretical physics, what I liked since the beginning about QC is the clarity of its formalism and its questions. I believe the theoretical computer science part of QC has had a very positive influence on theoretical physics since now it has started implementing some of the precise methods and tools of computer science, such as complexity theory or tools of discrete math. 

I see a lot of demand in the industry for knowledgeable people, particularly in my area, quantum error correction. The QC industry is very dynamic and full of opportunities, but we are still facing challenges on the hardware side. So, I think to have a bigger impact in the near future, it will still be important to study the physics of these machines in addition to the algorithmic knowledge to understand the constraints we are still working with. 

Some say that a quantum winter is coming, but I don't believe it. As long as all these different agents invest in all these different processes, such as all the possible platforms for qubits that are growing lately, there will be no winter. At the same time, it is true that companies need to sell products to keep running, so the challenge in the next few years will be the feasible commercial interests for the industry.  

My main fascination for quantum computers came from the fact that after spending so much time trying to understand what quantum is, quantum computers would allow me to show all the quantum fundamentals through programming, without the need for obscure and expensive labs. 

I am sure it will, because you need to be able to translate the business to the application. The vast majority of the classical computing industry nowadays is made up by the software side of it, and the Quantum computing industry will soon be in a similar situation. When the hardware reaches a higher maturity, we will need people with a broader preparation that can look at what applications are possible with that mature hardware. 

The three main quantum technologies are sensing, networking, and computing, and now, they live on three surprisingly isolated paths. And that is insane. I believe that one of the next big advancements, that now we still struggle to anticipate, will happen when we unify these hardware branches. Ten years from now, I believe that the processing of quantum information collected by the sensors will give us amazing new applications.