About me
This is a short CV of Koen Groenland.
I am passionate about deeply understanding novel technology - the inner workings, the impact on society, and how we can teach future generations - even if this requires diving into challenging mathematics or complex societal responses.
I work as a quantum innovation officer at QuSoft and the University of Amsterdam. I bring together scientists, businesess and governments to collaborate and exchange knowledge about the challenging subject of quantum computing. Together with a small team, I am responsible for the daily acitivities of Quantum.Amsterdam, such as: business development for public-private partnerships, hosting network activities, setting up new reseach projects, spreading knowledge and awareness, and various teaching activities for students and professionals (see below). I am the first point of contact for organizations who plan to start their journey in quantum technology. I am closely involved in a large range of strategic innovation efforts, such as Quantum Delta NL and the European Quantum Flagship.
My background is in theoretical physics, specializing in the theory of quantum computing. Until Februari 2020 I was a post-doc at the University of Amsterdam, and until September 2019 I was a PhD candidate at Centrum Wiskunde en Informatica. The focus of my research is on applications of near-term quantum computers: What will be the first useful algorithm that actually has an impact on the real world? How many qubits would that require? What is the right (electrical/optical) signal that we should send into the quantum computer so that it performs the assigned task efficiently?
When not working on quantum stuff, I enjoy playing volleyball (outside hitter), beachvolleyball, bouldering, skiing, and gadgets.
[Photo credits for page banner to Harld Röling]
You can contact me as follows:
mail: K.L.Groenland@uva.nl
Office L214,
Centrum Wiskunde en Informatica
Science Park 123
1098 XG Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Recent events
(2024) Amsterdam Chemistry Innovation Day [speaker]
(2023) Masterclass Introduction to Quantum Computing [speaker, organizer]
(2023) Amsterdam Science Park "Science & Innovation Dinner" [speaker]
(2023) UvA Universiteitsdag [speaker, session organizer]
(2023) AG Connect Tech Fest [speaker]
(2023) Vierkant voor Wiskunde Zomerkamp (C) [speaker]
(2023) The Next Q: Meet the Quantum Startups shaping the future [organizer]
(2023) Vlaams Supercomputer Centrum (VSC) lunch session on Quantum (see recording) [speaker]
(2023) UvA Girl's Day [speaker]
(2022) Masterclass Introduction to Quantum Computing [speaker, organizer]
(2022) ABN AMRO security month: The Rise of the Quantum Computer [speaker]
(2022) Innovation Mission on Quantum, Nano and Photonics by RVO in Japan [participant, speaker]
(2022) Big Meetup: How to build the Future Quantum Workforce [speaker]
(2021-today) Quantum.Amsterdam Business Meetups, [main organizer]
(2021-today) Quantum.Amsterdam Public Meetups, [main organizer]
(2021) London Quantum Summit, panel on "How Quantum Ready Are You? " [panelist]
(2021) Q.A Symposium €615 million for Quantum. Proposed, Approved, Action! [organizer and tech background]
(2021) 22-04: ECP + QDNL Panel: Unraveling Quantum Technology: What now? [speaker]
(2020) QuSoft's Lustrum Month [co-organizer]
Opening day talk: Quantum.Amsterdam [speaker]
Business and Society Day [host]
(2020) Inside Quantum Technology Europe
Panel on User experiences: Aerospace and automotive [host]
Scientific publications and preprints
All publications are free to access, either on ArXiv or through CWI's repository.
Juan Diego Arias Espinoza, KG, Matteo Mazzanti, Kareljan Schoutens, Rene Gerritsma, A high-fidelity method for a single-step N-bit Toffoli gate in trapped ions, Phys. Rev. A 103, 052437,
preprint: https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.08490 (2020)
KG, Freek Witteveen, Kareljan Schoutens, Rene Gerritsma, Sequences of Molmer-Sorensen gates can implement controlled rotations using quantum signal processing techniques, New Journal of Physics, 22, (2020),
preprint: arXiv:2001.05231
S. E. Rasmussen, KG, R. Gerritsma, K. Schoutens, N. T. Zinner, Single-step implementation of high fidelity n-bit Toffoli gates, Phys. Rev. A 101, 022308,
preprint: arXiv:1911.07548
KG, Carla Groenland, Reinier Kramer, Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage-like protocols for amplitude transfer generalize to many bipartite graphs, Journal of Mathematical Physics 61, 072201 (2020);
preprint: arXiv:1904.09915
KG, Kareljan Schoutens, Quantum gates by resonantly driving many-body eigenstates, with a focus on Polychronakos' model, JSTAT 2019, 7, 073103 (2019),
preprint: arXiv:1901.06144
KG, Adiabatic state distribution using anti-ferromagnetic spin systems, SciPost Physics 6 (1), 011 https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.6.1.011 (2019)
KG, Kareljan Schoutens, Many-body strategies for multi-qubit gates: quantum control through Krawtchouk chain dynamics, Phys. Rev. A 97, 042321 (2018),
preprint: arXiv:1707.05144
KG, Sander Bohte, Efficient forward propagation of time-sequences in convolutional neural networks using Deep Shifting, arXiv:1603.03657 (2016)
Other projects / media items
Professional's Guide to Quantum Computing (2022-2023) is a no-nonsense resource around the business impact of quantum technology.
A quantum leap into the future (Amsterdam Science Park, the Science and Business organization, 2023).
Praat mee over Quantum Computing, nu dat nog kan (AG Connect, 2023), which interviews me about Quantum.Amsterdam's activities.
World Economic Forum: State of Quantum, a report on the current state of quantum computing for businesses, to which I contributed (2022)
QDNL discusses "3 questions to" with me (LinkedIn)
(Dutch) Sneller zoeken met Quantum Random Walks, intro to quantum walks for general mathematicians (Nieuw Archief voor Wiskunde, 2017)
Theses
Quantum protocols for few-qubit devices, PhD thesis, University of Amsterdam (2019). Feel free to use my source files as a template for your own thesis.
Hierarchical learning of time-sequences in deep neural networks, MSc thesis, University of Amsterdam (2015)
(Dutch) Universele Topologische Kwantumcomputers met Majoranafermionen in 1D-Draden, BSc thesis, University of Amsterdam (2012)
Courses involved in
Quantum Quest (2023), a five-week webclass that teaches about the math behind quantum computing, aimed at top-tier high school students.
Quantum in Business and Society (UvA, 2023), a course in the MSc Physics that trains students to turn innovative ideas into fruitful a fruitful business strategy.
Masterclass Quantum (2023), a three-day course for high school students that introduces quantum computing and particle physics.
Introduction to Quantum Computing (Q.A + Amsterdam Business School, 2022), a two-day Masterclass aimed at higher-tier managers and IT professionals.
Quantum Physics at Natk4all (2022-2023), a refresher program for aspiring high school Physics teachers.
Quantum in Business and Society (UvA, 2022), a course in the MSc Physics that trains students to turn innovative ideas into fruitful a fruitful business strategy.
Masterclass Quantum (2022), a three-day course for high school students that introduces quantum computing and particle physics.
Quantum Quest (2021), a five-week webclass that teaches about the math behind quantum computing, aimed at top-tier high school students.
Quantum Physics at Natk4all (2021-2022), a refresher program for aspiring high school Physics teachers.
Quantum in Business and Society (UvA, 2021)
Workshop General Awareness Quantum Computing (Q.A Webclass, 2020-present), a 3.5-hour intro to quantum technology for business workforce.
Masterclass Quantum (Webclass, 2021), a three-day course for high school students that introduces quantum computing and particle physics.
Quantum Quest (2020), a four-week webclass that teaches about the math behind quantum computing, aimed at top-tier high school students.
Quantum in Business and Society (UvA, 2020), a course in the MSc Physics that trains students to turn innovative ideas into fruitful a fruitful business strategy.
Quantum Physics 1; Extension for Honours students (UvA, 2019)
Statistical Physics (UvA, 2017)
Computational Cognitive Neuroscience (UvA, 2014)
Lab experiments of Electricity & Magnetism and Waves & Optics (UvA, 2012)