Spinoza Prize for Lieven Vandersypen

NWO has announced that Professor Lieven Vandersypen (TU Delft/QuTech) has been awarded the Spinoza Prize, the highest award in Dutch Science. Rector Tim van der Hagen: “What a fantastic news. A Spinoza award is a monumental recognition for Lieven Vandersypen. As a university we are incredibly proud to host inspiring minds that lift research and engineering to a higher level. This award underlines the outstanding quality of Vandersypen’s quantum research.”

Prof.dr.ir. Lieven Vandersypen

Lieven Vandersypen (1972) is Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Professor of Quantum Nanoscience at TU Delft and Director Research at QuTech (a collaboration between TU Delft and TNO). He enjoys a worldwide reputation for his pioneering work in quantum computing. A computer that, based on the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, can execute enormous amounts of calculations simultaneously. Vandersypen has been leading experiments that have shaped the research field for twenty years. He is not only an outstanding scientist, but also a visionary who advances his discipline through collaboration with partners in science and other domains.

The Spinoza committee members write they are convinced that with his qualities, vision and drive and his excellent network of academic and private partners, Lieven Vandersypen will be able to make the further major scientific and technological breakthroughs that are required to realize the full potential of the quantum computer in the coming years. Vandersypen: “I am super happy and honoured by this award, which is also a tremendous recognition of the work of my entire group over all these years.”

2021 Laureates

Besides Vandersypen, Professor Marc Koper (Leiden University), professor José van Dijck (University of Utrecht), and professor Maria Yazdanbakhsh (LUMC) have been awarded the Spinoza Prize. Professor Bart Jacobs (Radboud University) and professor Judi Mesman receive the Stevin Prize. Each laureate receives 2.5 million euros, which they can spend on scientific research and related activities.

The researchers are awarded the prize for their outstanding, pioneering and inspiring work. The key focus of both prizes is the quality of the researcher; whereas the Spinoza Prize emphasises the scientific work and fundamental questions, the Stevin Prize primarily honours the societal impact.

Award ceremony

The festive award ceremony of the Spinoza and Stevin Prizes will take place on Wednesday 13 October 2021. During the ceremony, the Spinoza and Stevin laureates will explain their research to the audience and state how they intend to use the financial part of their prize.

More information
For more extensive information check the websites of NWO and QuTech.
For more information about Lieven Vandersypen, see the website of the Vandersypen lab.