By: Robert
Kwaku Annor
IQM Quantum Computers CEO
and co-founder Jan Goetz has received the Baltic Lighthouse of Innovation Award
in Gdansk, Poland, recognising innovation by the company’s team and
highlighting the importance of strong innovation ecosystems in advancing
quantum computing.
Goetz announced the award
following a ceremony hosted by Gdańsk University of Technology Rector,
Professor Krzysztof Wilde, which brought together business leaders, innovators
and public sector representatives from the Gdansk area.
The award follows the Espoo
Medal Goetz received in August from the City of Espoo in Finland, which was
also awarded to his co-founders, Juha Vartiainen and Mikko Möttönen.
Goetz said the two awards
honoured the work of the IQM Quantum Computers team and came from regions with
which he has strong personal connections. Gdansk was the home of his
grandparents, while Espoo is home to his family and the company he co-founded.
“It feels humbling to
receive these awards knowing how hard our team and our partners are working to
solve some of the hardest challenges out there: building a large-scale quantum
computer at commercial scale,” Goetz said.
During the Gdansk ceremony,
participants heard from Grzegorz Stanislawski about the importance of
innovation to the region and from economist Professor Marcin Piatkowski, who
discussed Poland’s economic growth.
Goetz said IQM had several
customers and partners in Poland and was ready to support the country’s
innovation ecosystem and drive quantum adoption, drawing on expertise in
software, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and defence.
He emphasised the importance
of collaboration in developing advanced quantum computing technology, saying,
“We believe that building a fault-tolerant quantum computer can only be
achieved in collaboration with strong innovation ecosystems.”
He added that Espoo and
Gdansk clearly demonstrated the qualities needed to support such ecosystems.
