2025 EPFL / Illustration by FICHTRE
Relative to its size, Switzerland has a big impact in quantum science and technology, with a proven record of academic excellence, an innovative industrial landscape, and agile national coordination spearheaded by research centers and strong government initiatives.
The story began with early support from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the launch of four National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR) in nanoscience, quantum photonics, spin qubits and quantum science. This investment helped attract dozens of new professors to ETH Zurich, EPFL, the University of Basel and the University of Geneva - along with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), which operates as a quantum hub - to form an interconnected and complementary research network.
Today, despite a smaller government investment in quantum compared to similar-sized countries, such as the Netherlands or Denmark, Switzerland has the highest impact factor for quantum research publications of any country. Hiring in academia reflects this trend - for example, EPFL has hired a dozen new professors in quantum since 2020.
Each of the four academic institutions - ETHZ, EPFL, Basel and Geneva - is home to a quantum center, which centralizes and promotes research within their institution and connects to the other centers, as well as to industry and government. This collaboration led to the creation of the Swiss Quantum Initiative (SQI) in 2022, guided by the Swiss Quantum Commission (SQC), a group of Switzerland-based experts who guide and implement the initiative by suggesting concrete actions, such as funding instruments, research areas, events and more. The aim of the initiative is to consolidate Switzerland's excellent position in quantum science and technologies, from fundamental research to industrial applications.
From research to real-world applications
"The government's role is to act as an enabler, creating favorable conditions and supporting the transition from research to real-world applications," explains Thomas Vidick, EPFL professor and member of the SQC.
Switzerland is also home to large companies and startups working in different areas of quantum technology. Pioneers like ID Quantique in Geneva and Zurich Instruments are being joined by a new wave of startups working in metrology, photonics, and precision component manufacturing. EPFL has produced several startups in quantum, including Ligentec, which produces photonic integrated circuits for major quantum computing companies, and Miraex, which creates quantum interconnects for computing/networking systems and photonic sensing solutions. More recently, EPFL helped fund the startup Qanova Tech, which makes traveling wave parametric amplifiers, a key component for reading out data from quantum devices.
"We saw a gap in the market, and we thought that it would be great to bring a new solution to this technological need," says Simone Frasca, Quanova Tech's founder and a sciencepreneur at EPFL. To support his company, he received a QSE Center Quantum Innogrant along with Innosuisse and NCCR SPINnovate grants.
"The quantum ecosystem in Switzerland is dynamic and will no doubt identify new areas for leadership, such as developing high-tech specific components or pushing advances in quantum algorithms, programming languages and compilation," Vidick says.
"With such strong foundations, we are now looking towards real applications and devices, which in this new phase will need the increased support of the government, including to companies and startups in the field," says Philippe Caroff, executive director of the QSE Center.
Ligentec. The company is based on the groundbreaking work of the laboratory of Tobias Kippenberg on low loss silicon nitride for non-linear applications to power technologies ranging such as faster communications, quantum computing and biomedical innovation.
Deeplight. Harnessing the high-quality (Q) factor photonic integrated circuit based resonator technology developed in Tobias Kippenberg's lab, Deeplight specializes in developing narrow-linewidth, tunable lasers and advanced optical signal technologies using cutting-edge integrated
photonic chips.
EDWATEC. Founded in 2023 after the breakthrough in on-chip amplification by Tobias Kippenberg's group, this startup is building next-generation photonic chips that boost light signals, paving the way for faster, more efficient communications in everything from the internet to satellites.
Enlightra. The company provides lasers that are roughly a thousand times purer and in an ultra-compact package that is 20 times smaller than existing technology.
Luxtelligence. Co-founded in 2022 by Tobias Kippenberg, this startup manufactures ultrafast electro-optic devices based on lithium niobate and lithium tantalate platform.
Miraex. The startup is pioneering photonic chip technology for advancing distributed quantum sensing, computing, and global quantum networks through scalable interconnectivity and entanglement.
Qanova Tech*. Building state-of-the-art parametric amplifier to fulfill researchers' amplification needs
while minimizing noise.
Rhonexum*. Founded in Edoardo Charbon's AQUA lab, this startup drives the development of cryogenic electronics via circuit simulation solutions to meet the rising demand for always-improving computation, sensing and emerging quantum technologies.
