Mission
The team of the Engineering Unit at the Quantum Center pursues an engineering approach to designing, manufacturing and testing quantum technologies. The overarching goal is to provide a platform and technical framework to address the highly demanding technological challenges we face when bringing novel quantum technologies from the lab into the real world. The Engineering Unit offers the sort of know-how and expertise that are required for the successful longer-term development of quantum technologies but are beyond the capabilities of individual research groups.
The Engineering Unit operates as a unique ‘quantum technology shop’, in which quantum technologies are advanced by a team of engineers, scientists and technicians. Its current expertise in several key areas will be continuously expanded, so that important challenges on the path towards commercially viable quantum technologies can be overcome.
Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in the affiliated research groups benefit directly from the know-how and these engineering capabilities. At the same time, members of the affiliated groups contribute to the technology development by the Engineering Unit. In this way, the Engineering Unit stimulates interactions between research groups and enables cross-fertilization and efficient use of the developed technologies across a wide range of research groups and disciplines.
The members of the Engineering Unit collaborate closely with current and new research teams at ETH Zurich and engage in collaborations with Swiss and international industries to pursue its goals. It promotes the creation of spin-off companies based on its own developments and those of its partner labs at ETH Zurich. It fosters the creation of intellectual property and supports quantum-engineering developments in individual research groups.
The Engineering Unit promotes the education of engineers, scientists, and technicians as well as the creation of jobs in a new and developing industry based on potentially disruptive quantum technologies.