Ronald Hanson, quantum network physicist at TU Delft and scientific director of Qutech, has been awarded the NWO Spinoza Prize, the highest scientific honor in the Netherlands. In 2015, Hanson’s team set a record by entangling two particles over one kilometer apart (link in Dutch) – an achievement that made headlines worldwide. Last year, the Delft researchers improved the quality of the quantum connection enough for it to be considered a prototype quantum network (link in Dutch). Qutech is now working with telecom provider KPN to link up several Dutch cities.
Hanson shares the award with historian Bas van Bavel (Utrecht University), astronomer Amina Helmi (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) and medical biologist Yvette van Kooyk (Amsterdam AMC). Additionally, health psychologist Andrea Evers (Leiden University) and industrial microbiologist Jack Pronk (TU Delft) have been awarded the Stevin Prize for excellent research that has led to important new applications.
Recipients of both the Spinoza and Stevin Prize get 2.5 million euros for research activities and knowledge utilization. The award ceremony of the Spinoza and Stevin Prizes will take place on Wednesday 2 October 2019 in the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague.