As quantum chip development transitions from labs to industrial facilities, The Netherlands-based Orange QS aims to streamline testing processes, offering an affordable and rapid alternative to in-house solutions. Now the Dutch startup has secured €1.5 million in pre-seed funding, marking a significant step in advancing quantum industry chip testing.
The round was led by QDNL Participations (which backed Quantum Delta NL and QuantWare) and Cottonwood Technology Fund. Orange QS specialises in addressing a critical challenge in the quantum industry: efficient and affordable testing of quantum chips.
The funds will be used to develop the next generation of quantum chip test equipment, positioning Orange QS as a key player in high-speed qubit testing for the emerging quantum industry.
Solving the challenge of testing quantum chips at scale
Basically, the newly secured funding will enable Orange QS to develop its next generation of quantum chip test equipment, optimising it for high-speed qubit testing and targeting the growing quantum industry market. The company’s unique position in the quantum supply chain has attracted attention from investors who see the potential for Orange QS to become a global leader in quantum diagnostics and testing.
As the field of quantum computing continues to evolve, the need for comprehensive and accessible chip-testing solutions becomes increasingly evident. Quantum chips are transitioning from academic laboratories to industrial fabrication facilities, and this shift demands efficient testing processes comparable to those used for conventional semiconductor chips.
Currently, testing a small quantum chip can take weeks and requires specialised cryogenic lab facilities and a team of quantum engineers. Orange QS aims to simplify this complex process by providing an easy, cost-effective, and fast alternative to in-house testing solutions. While this approach is common in the semiconductor industry, it requires quantum expertise, which sets Orange QS apart.
“We announced Orange QS in April 2020, on the same day as the launch of the Quantum Inspire, the first publicly accessible quantum computer in Europe. The founders all contributed in different ways to the Quantum Inspire. During the development of the computer, we realized how big a bottleneck it was to test a new quantum chip,” says Garrelt Alberts, Managing Director at Orange QS.
Next-gen quantum chip test equipment
Orange QS was founded in 2020 as a spinout from the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Despite being the company’s first external funding, Orange QS has already established a presence in the market for quantum chip research and development tools. Over the past three years, the company has grown to a team of 17 employees and has created its own cryogenic lab facilities.
Earlier this year, Orange QS launched the Orange Rack, designed for the US quantum chip R&D market. This room temperature equipment stack automates quantum chip testing using Quantum Diagnostics Libraries, proprietary software libraries for automated qubit testing.
“By providing rapid and accurate testing of quantum devices, Orange QS is filling a crucial need for the emerging quantum computing industry. This technology will catalyse many more innovations in the Dutch quantum ecosystem and strengthen the country’s position as a leader in this field. I look forward to propelling this transformative quantum platform forward together,” said Ton van ‘t Noordende, Managing Director of QDNL Participations.
“We think Orange QS has chosen a very unique position in the quantum supply chain, and we are very excited that this team is able to be the global winner in quantum diagnostics and testing”, said Alain le Loux, General Partner at Cottonwood Technology Fund.
Orange Quantum Systems aims to revolutionise quantum chip testing, contributing to the advancement of quantum technology. With the recent funding and a European Innovation Council’s EIC Accelerator grant, the company is well-positioned to deliver test equipment to the emerging global quantum industry.
