Tommaso, how would you explain your startup, Qruise, to someone who has no experience with quantum computing?

Essentially, we are providing "drivers" for quantum computers. Think of a printer or a headset: you need a small piece of software—a driver—to make the device do what you want. The same applies to quantum devices. In a quantum computer, we need software that "drives" the qubits to ensure they behave exactly as intended. That is what Qruise does.

When did you realize that your research had the potential for a business model?

My group has been working on software to make quantum computers function even before they physically existed. It was always my dream to provide the "tune-up" for these machines. About six or seven years ago, when quantum computers began to move into the commercial sphere, we realized that our software was the key to turning these laboratory devices into actual products.

What do you say to an investor who is hesitant to invest in quantum startups because the "return on investment" seems so far off?

I understand the hesitation because the typical return-on-investment-window doesn't always fit. However, this kind of deep tech is gaining massive traction. Investing in quantum today is like investing in AI 20 years ago. Few people did it then, but it has paid off handsomely. We are in the early days, but the potential is being realized right now.

Which areas of quantum technology are already showing reliable business cases?

We must be honest: quantum computing is not yet "production-ready" for concrete industrial use cases; that will take more years. However, in areas like quantum communicationand sensing (such as magnetometry), we already have products at high technology readiness levels (TRL) that are on the market today.

You mentioned that Germany and Europe face specific challenges. What support do quantum startups actually need from politicians?

There are two main things. First, we need to cut the"red tape."It is a paradox: the government says it wants more innovation, but then it creates several bureaucratic obstacles. Red tape is strangling startups. Second, for investors, the challenge isscaling up. We need to pool public and private resources to achieve a critical mass so that European "champions" can emerge and compete with US companies, which often see much higher valuations simply because of their market ecosystem.

What advice would you give to a young researcher who is considering commercializing their work?

Don't see it as a dichotomy between a science career and industry. Today, there is a huge synergy between the two, especially in deep tech. I encourage them to leverage the strengths of both worlds. And most importantly: do not be afraid to fail. This is high risk, and it requires courage. Courage doesn't mean having a 100% guarantee of success; it means the willingness to try something that will enrich your life, regardless of the outcome.

What is the biggest misconception about quantum technology that you would like to clear up?

There are two. First, that it is "mysterious" and impossible to understand. In fact, the basic principles are quite graspable for society. Second, that it will change the world already tomorrow. It is not a race; it is a marathon. It takes time to go through the life cycle of scientific discovery, building devices, and finding applications. We must understand that it takes a "long breath" to reap the benefits.

Outside of your own field, which innovation are you following with the most curiosity?

Artificial Intelligence, of course. Not just because of the pace of development, but because our work at Qruise is actually based on a specific form of AI called reinforcement learning. Quantum technology needs AI to accelerate its development, and in the long term, AI will benefit immensely from the power of quantum computers. They will mutually benefit each other.

A perfect closing word. Thank you very much, Tommaso, for these insights!