How a Dutch breakthrough starts the next chapter of the internet

Imagine a new internet. It might already be here.

In the Netherlands, the path to global impact starts with precision and collaboration. A culture where breakthroughs are measured in nanometres, not square kilometres> For decades, the internet has connected billions of people, devices and systems across the globe. But the next revolution in computing, faces a very different challenge. Quantum computers promise a leap in what computing can do, from discovering new materials to solving problems beyond the reach of today's machines. Yet despite their potential, they largely operate in isolation. Without a way to connect them, quantum computers remain powerful but limited. Scaling the technology requires something that does not yet exist at commercial scale: a way for quantum machines to communicate across distance without losing their delicate quantum states.

Building the quantum modem

Quantum computers have the potential to solve problems far beyond the reach of today's machines, from developing new medicines and advanced materials to optimising entire energy systems. Yet there is a catch: quantum computers are extraordinarily difficult to connect. Each machine operates in extreme conditions, isolated from the outside world. Without a way to link them together, the promise of quantum computing remains limited. That is where QphoX (Kyu-fox) comes in. Founded in Delft as a spin-off from the renowned Delft University of Technology and QuTech research institute, QphoX is building what many consider to be one of the missing pieces of the quantum future: the world's first quantum modem.

Just as classical modems once connected computers to the internet, QphoX's technology enables quantum computers to communicate with one another across long distances. It is a breakthrough that could lay the foundations for an entirely new kind of network: the quantum internet. The challenge is far from trivial: today's most powerful quantum processors operate at temperatures colder than outer space, inside highly specialised cryogenic refrigerators. They process information using microwave signals that are extremely fragile and cannot travel far without losing their quantum properties. QphoX has developed a solution that translates these delicate microwave signals into optical photons, allowing quantum information to travel through standard fibre-optic networks while preserving its quantum state.

Inside the cleanroom, QphoX engineers develop the quantum hardware that could power a new era of digital communication.

A small device with the potential to connect the next internet.

Making quantum computers work together

The result is a technology that turns isolated quantum processors into connected systems. Instead of relying on a single, increasingly complex machine, multiple quantum computers can work together as a network. This dramatically improves scalability and overcomes one of the largest obstacles facing the industry today. It is the quantum equivalent of moving from a standalone computer to a connected data centre. Beyond connectivity, the technology addresses another critical challenge: heat. Scaling quantum computers requires more control systems, cables and hardware, all of which introduce heat into environments that must remain incredibly cold. By transmitting information through optical fibres, QphoX reduces the need for bulky cabling and allows data to leave the refrigerator efficiently, protecting the sensitive quantum processors at its core.

The implications reach far beyond computing power alone. Quantum communication is expected to become a cornerstone of digital security in the decades ahead. As quantum computers grow more powerful, many of today's encryption methods will eventually become vulnerable. Quantum networks offer a path towards fundamentally secure communication, helping governments, businesses and citizens protect critical information in an increasingly digital world.

The internet after the internet

QphoX emerged from a uniquely collaborative ecosystem centred around Delft, where researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers work closely together to accelerate breakthrough technologies. Companies, universities and research institutes share knowledge, infrastructure and expertise, creating an environment where deep-tech innovation can move from laboratory research to global impact. This collaborative model has attracted international attention. QphoX works with partners across Europe and beyond, while receiving support from major European innovation programmes. In 2025, the company and American quantum computing firm Rigetti secured a multi-million-dollar contract from the United States Air Force, highlighting the growing strategic importance of their technology. As countries invest heavily in quantum capabilities, the ability to build secure and scalable quantum networks is increasingly seen as a matter of technological sovereignty.

Yet what makes QphoX particularly compelling is that its innovation is surprisingly tangible. The idea of a quantum modem is easy to grasp: a device that allows quantum computers to talk to each other. Behind that simple concept lies years of advanced physics, engineering and materials science. But its purpose is clear. Just as conventional modems unlocked the internet age, quantum modems could unlock the next era of computing. From a laboratory in Delft, QphoX is helping build the infrastructure for technologies that may define the middle of this century. It is not creating a faster computer. It is creating the network that allows quantum computing to grow beyond the limits of any single machine. That’s New Dutch!