NKT has recently been in close collaboration with the Ion Trap Group at AU about Tm-fiber lasers for two experimental activities using trapped and laser cooled Ba+ ions. One focuses on sympathetic cooling of complex molecular ions for so-called quantum logic spectroscopy (QLS) of single biorelevant molecular ions, the other is investigates quantum many-body effects in ultracold ion-neutral interactions. In parallel, the US company, IonQ, also now focuses on Ba+ for its future commercial quantum computer. Both experiments at AU build on recent advances in ion-based quantum technology related to realization of quantum computers and simulators. Importantly to Q-BID, they share the need to cool and precisely manipulate single Ba+ ions' internal and motional quantum states using laser excitations of narrow atomic transitions. Only high-performance lasers can cool the motion of the ion or two-ion systems to the ground state, and this represents the important initialization step of both experiments. In Q-BID, NKT and DFM will make new lasers at 650nm and 2052nm for the experiments at AU and IonQ. However, these lasers represent a greater platform development for single-line lasers based on NKT’s existing Koheras platform: adapting the Er-doped fiber laser and amplifier to Tm, and pairing it with a harmonic up-conversion module. This change will allow NKT to address quantum technology experiments requiring lasers from 300-1100nm, which covers >90% of existing activities globally.

The QEH project represents the first large-scale Danish effort at building an integrated quantum computing eco-system pursuing commercially and societally end-user applications within the Danish green energy and health care sectors. To facilitate this goal, the eco-system needs access to state-of-the-art quantum computing hardware on Danish soil. Hence, in QEH we will develop the largest quantum computing hardware platform in existence in Denmark, with 25 quantum bits. This effort will be a key catalyst for quantum software and use-case development for the benefit of start-ups and SMEs targeting quantum technology and its implementation in industrial and societal contexts. QEH will demonstrate this via use-cases from two paradigmatic sectors of Danish welfare: Green energy transition and future high-tech health care. QEH is uniquely suited to address this ambitious goal and the successful outcome will serve the dual purposes of creating the first commercial-oriented quantum computing platform in Denmark and provide a crucial missing ingredient in Danish opportunities for quantum workforce and commercial development. QEH consist of two SMEs, Qdevil specialized in quantum hardware and a fast-growing quantum software start-up Kvantify, top academic quantum physicists (at University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University), the largest Danish green-tech enterprise (Ørsted) and a Danish public hospital pursuing future med-tech solutions (Herlev-Gentofte-Hospital), see Figure 1.

READY will pursue textile-to-textile recycling, spearheaded by the Danish textile companies Mascot, Bestseller, and Kvadrat. The continuously growing textile production has approximately doubled during the last 15 years and is today responsible for 1.2 bill. tons CO2-eq globally. The Danish textile industry wants to transform to a circular economy, but recycled fibers suitable for new textile products are in practice not available commercially. In recent years, a broad range of technologies producing recycled feedstocks and local bio-based fibers have emerged. However, most of these technologies are currently at a maximum TRL of 5, as they do not produce feedstocks meeting requirements for production of new textiles. READY will overcome this key barrier by establishing a digital textile R&D factory, allowing development of recycled and local bio-based feedstocks into new textile products. This is done via digital co-optimization of the critical production processes combined with material-driven design strategies. The new textile products will be evaluated through sustainability and economic assessments and implemented through new circular business models tailored to the individual commercial partners. READY holds the potential for reducing CO2-eq emissions of up to 230.000 tons, while concurrently expanding the market share of the project partners with up to 5 % resulting in more than 1.7 bill. DKK value capture.

Hydrogen is envisioned to become a key energy carrier in the future 100% renewable energy system with predicted applications within transportation, grid stability, industry, re-electrification as well as a feedstock for conversion into other PtX products e.g., ammonia or liquid fuels. Realizing this transition relies on the availability of reliable and efficient electrolyzers at large scale, capable of producing green hydrogen at a lower price than fossil alternatives. In the REALyzer project electrodes and diaphragms will be developed, upscaled to 430 kW stack and demonstrated at GreenLab Skive. The project aims to improve the efficiency, price and durability of the electrodes used in alkaline electrolysis by using new material combinations and newly discovered electrode processing solutions. REALyzer will make use of improvements to the currently used diaphragm systems leading to reduced ohmic resistance in the stacks and allowing for increasing operating temperature and higher current. A central objective is to employ scalable materials and manufacturing processes for alkaline electrolyzers and demonstrate improved performance of new electrode and diaphragm technology at large-scale in industrial environment. In short, the REALyzer project will make improvements to the key components of the alkaline electrolyzer stack in order for green hydrogen to be able to compete with hydrogen from fossil sources and thereby pave the way for a society based on 100% renewable energy.