Post by Hester Bijl

Recently we were honored to welcome Member of the European Parliament Bart Groothuis to TU Delft for a working visit. We started at QuTech with an engaging discussion on the latest developments in quantum nanotechnology and ICT and the future of compute. Where the importance of structural funding for fundamental research infrastructure, such as cleanrooms, was high-lighted. The visit included a tour of our large-scale lab facilities, where we took a look at the dilution refrigerators (cryostats) that enable quantum computing experiments at near absolute zero. We then moved to the D:Dream Hall to visit the Eco-Runner car. This student initiative, active for over 20 years, focuses on building vehicles that achieve maximum efficiency—using as little hydrogen as possible. Our final stop was at Synthetic Cell, where presentations and a lab tour demonstrated the drive and ambition of the researchers involved, on a challenge so complex that they work in a large European consortium, European Synthetic Cell Initiative (SynCellEU). Their work not only contributes to understanding the principles of life, but also to future technological solutions in food, safety, health and clean energy. During the discussions we highlighted the following points: 🔬 Creating Space in the MFF for Breakthrough Science and Innovation There is a pressing need to allocate dedicated space within the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for large-scale scientific consortia working on breakthrough research, evaluated primarily on scientific excellence. 🏗️ Scaling up research (infrastructure) capacity This should be complemented by substantial investments in large-scale research laboratories, as well as robust funding mechanisms to accelerate transformative innovations—such as quantum computing. 🚀 From lab to market Equally important are strong, large-scale investment opportunities that help bring these innovations to market quickly, particularly through startups and scale-ups. 🌍 Staying globally competitive Other regions in the world are already making significant financial commitments in this area. 🛡️ Safeguarding strategic autonomy Strengthening Europe’s efforts is therefore not only important, but essential—indeed crucial—for safeguarding and advancing our strategic autonomy. Hester Bijl Servaas Duterloo Marceline du Prie Fleur Vermeulen-Duijndam Kees Eijkel Rebecca Mayrhofer Anna Molleman Erik van den Biggelaar Gary Steele Csilla Buiting-Csikós Marileen Dogterom Paulien Herder Stefania Usai Bert Van Herck Joris Domisse CHARU SHARMA Bart Groothuis Tom Draaijer Chantal Diepenheim Duursma #TUDelft #HorizonEurope #EuropeanParliament