Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT)
Overview
The Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT) is a major national research initiative based in Sweden, primarily hosted and coordinated by Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. Launched in 2018, it is a 12-year, SEK 1.5 billion (about USD 150 million) program funded largely by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
WACQT?s core objective is to position Sweden at the global forefront of the "second quantum revolution." It functions as a collaborative hub involving several prominent Swedish institutions, including the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, Stockholm University, Link?ping University, and the University of Gothenburg. The centre bridges the gap between fundamental academic research and industrial application, fostering a robust quantum ecosystem in Scandinavia.
Primary Missions and Strategic Goals
The entity operates with two overarching mandates:
1. Developing a Swedish Quantum Computer: To build an advanced, high-end quantum computer based on superconducting circuits, aiming for 100 qubits by 2030.
2. Building National Expertise: To cultivate a specialized workforce through the Swedish Graduate School in Quantum Technology, training hundreds of PhD students and postdocs to support Swedish industry.
Products, Services, and Key Facilities
While WACQT is a research-led entity, it offers tangible products (in the form of intellectual property and hardware) and specialized services to academia and the private sector.
1. WACQT Quantum Technology Testbed
Operated by Chalmers Next Labs (CNL), the Testbed is a commercial-grade facility that provides industry and researchers with access to the cutting-edge hardware necessary to develop quantum solutions.
* Hardware Access: The Testbed offers access to a local, Chalmers-made quantum processor (QPU). This allows users "low-level" control over the system, which is often restricted on public cloud platforms.
* Cryogenic Services: Companies can lease time in a Bluefors LD250sl cryostat, which reaches temperatures below 0.01 Kelvin, for testing their own quantum components or materials.
* Measurement Equipment: High-end microwave and sensing equipment is available for validating quantum devices.
* Hybrid Cloud Access: WACQT serves as an IBM Quantum Client Hub, providing partners with cloud access to IBM's 127-qubit (and larger) processors.
2. The WACQT Quantum Computer
The centre's flagship hardware project is the development of a superconducting quantum computer located at Chalmers.
* Phase 1 (2025 Launch): Making a 25-qubit system available to industry and academic partners for algorithm testing.
* Core Research: Focuses on 3D integration (solving how to control qubits deep inside a multi-qubit chip) and improving qubit coherence (lifespan) to reduce error rates.
3. Quantum Helpdesk
A dedicated service department that acts as a consultancy for Swedish industry.
* Algorithm Development: Helping companies translate classical problems into executable quantum algorithms.
* Technical Support: Providing expertise on hardware requirements and the integration of quantum components into existing industrial workflows.
4. WACQT-IP AB
To manage the commercialization of its research, the centre operates WACQT-IP AB, an intellectual property company.
* Patent Portfolio: It builds and protects a portfolio of quantum-related patents developed by affiliated researchers.
* Spin-off Support: The entity facilitates the creation of startup companies based on WACQT technology, such as Atlantic Quantum, which develops scalable quantum hardware.
* Licensing: Offering licensing agreements to industrial partners for the use of proprietary quantum methodologies and technologies.
Research Areas
WACQT categorizes its activities into four functional pillars:
| Pillar | Focus Area | Leading Institution |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Quantum Computing & Simulation | Building the 100-qubit computer; solving complex chemistry and optimization problems. | Chalmers University |
| Quantum Communication | Developing intercept-proof communication through quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum networks. | KTH Royal Institute of Technology |
| Quantum Sensing | Creating hyper-sensitive sensors for medical imaging (e.g., DNA measurement), radar, and gravity detection. | Lund University |
| Quantum Simulation | Using specialized quantum systems to mimic other complex physical systems (e.g., new materials). | Chalmers & Stockholm University |
Industrial Collaboration
WACQT maintains a strong partnership network with major Swedish and international corporations. Partners include Ericsson, AstraZeneca, ABB, Saab, and Jeppesen (a Boeing company). These partners participate in "industrial PhD" programs, where researchers work on specific use cases relevant to the company's business, such as logistics optimization, drug discovery, or secure telecommunications.
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