TNO Expands Quantum Hardware Testing Capacity with New Hub at House of Quantum in Delft

Insider Brief:

• TNO has opened a new quantum testing hub at the House of Quantum in Delft, doubling its available lab space to support the growing demand from startups and scale-ups for independent hardware validation.

• The facility offers system-level testing and characterization for quantum components, including QPUs, chip architectures, and control electronics, helping developers identify integration issues and accelerate product readiness.

• TNO leverages its expertise in systems engineering and qubit characterization to support hardware-software interoperability and benchmark performance across the quantum computing stack.

• Co-located within the Dutch quantum ecosystem and backed by Quantum Delta NL, the expansion strengthens national infrastructure and aligns with broader efforts to scale high-tech innovation and support commercialization.

TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, has announced the expansion of its quantum testing infrastructure with a new hub at the House of Quantum in Delft. According to a news release, this facility will double TNO’s available quantum testing space and serve the increasing demand from startups and scaleups for independent, high-quality testing environments. The expansion is supported in part by the National Growth Fund programme Quantum Delta NL and reinforces the organization’s role in enabling the Dutch quantum technology ecosystem.

Supporting a Growing Quantum Hardware Pipeline

As quantum startups move from research to product development, access to system-level testing facilities becomes essential. The new TNO lab will offer support to these companies by providing space, resources, and expertise in testing quantum hardware components. Located within Delft’s House of Quantum, the facility is strategically placed in the center of the Dutch quantum community, which includes academic institutions, startups, and industrial collaborators.

According to TNO, the need for independent, scalable testing facilities has become increasingly more urgent as the quantum sector matures and companies transition from prototype development to integration and optimization. Startups and scale-ups working on QPUs, chip architectures, or control stacks often face bottlenecks due to limited lab infrastructure or the need for highly specialized testing protocols. TNO’s expanded facilities are intended to address these constraints and provide a platform for acceleration.

Expertise in Systems Integration and Component Characterization

TNO brings years of experience in systems engineering, material development, and qubit characterization to the expanded hub. This includes tuning and testing quantum devices, as well as ensuring hardware and software interoperability across the stack. As noted by the organization, their support is particularly relevant for integrators and QPU designers, who must verify that their systems operate reliably when individual components are combined.

The performance of a quantum computer is contingent on more than just qubit fidelity or coherence time. Each layer—from the cryogenic chip to the classical control systems—must function in harmony. The lab will offer independent performance evaluation, a key requirement for benchmarking and iteration in both academic and commercial development cycles.

Hardware testing in quantum systems involves the validation of physical qubits, readout fidelity, gate performance, cross-talk mitigation, and thermal stability. It also includes verification of how well control electronics interface with quantum chips under realistic operating conditions. As each subsystem introduces noise or drift, a modular and testable design approach is necessary.

By providing startups with access to testing infrastructure, TNO may enable early-stage companies to identify integration issues early, reducing the time to market and minimizing rework. This support helps teams move beyond initial proof-of-concept demonstrations and toward viable, scalable hardware solutions.

Embedded in the Dutch Quantum Ecosystem

The House of Quantum in Delft serves as a central hub for quantum innovation in the Netherlands. Co-locating the new testing facility within this environment ensures access to academic partnerships, industrial mentorship, and collaborative opportunities. As part of the broader Quantum Delta NL initiative, the expansion contributes to a national strategy that prioritizes infrastructure development, workforce training, and technology transfer.

According to Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi, CEO of TNO, “The opening of this new lab at the House of Quantum is in step with the coalition formed last month by TNO, Invest-NL, and Techleap. Together, we are dedicated to advancing Dutch high-tech innovation, providing essential support for startups as they scale up to become unicorns, and making a significant impact.”

Techleap’s Special Envoy Constantijn van Oranje also highlighted the importance of infrastructure access, noting that “Access to lab infrastructure is vital for the growth and success of startups…TNO provides Dutch startups with the critical resources they need to accelerate their development, thus creating a collaborative environment for future quantum solutions.”

As the quantum sector matures, testing and validation infrastructure is emerging as a key enabler for industry growth. While academic labs and national initiatives have supported early-stage research, commercial validation demands more robust, flexible, and scalable infrastructure. The TNO facility responds directly to this need, acting as both a technical and strategic resource for the Dutch quantum industry.