Onnes Technologies is a leading provider of advanced cryogenic nanopositioners for low temperatures scientific research and industrial applications. With a focus on precision engineering and cutting-edge Cryo-Walking technology, Onnes Technologies is redefining cryogenic nanopositioning technology.
Interview with Max Kouwenhoven, CEO of Onnes Technologies.
Easy Engineering: A brief description of the company and its activities.
Max Kouwenhoven: Onnes is dedicated to developing innovative products that enable scientists and researchers to explore the frontiers of low temperature physics including quantum computing, nano-electronics, and materials science. By offering arQtika cryogenic nanopositioners, cVIS Cryogenic Vibration Isolation Systems, and qSPM Quantum Scanning Probe Microscopy, we work towards a new paradigm of SPM enabling single-spin resolution. Our products are designed to operate at ultra-low temperatures down to 10 mK, allowing for precise and accurate positioning while preserving milli-Kelvin temperatures and pm/√Hz vibration levels.
At Onnes Technologies work experienced scientists and engineers bringing together extensive expertise in cryogenic technology, nanopositioning, and scanning probe microscopy techniques. We are committed to providing exceptional service and support to customers around the world. By collaborating with leading research institutions and universities, we push to advance the state of the art in cryogenic technology and its applications.
Founded in 2018, Onnes Technologies is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands and has a global presence, serving customers. The company is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world through the development of advanced technology solutions that help drive scientific discovery and innovation. Onnes Technologies is part of Quantum Leiden and Quantum Delta NL.
E.E: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
M.K: Onnes Technologies continues developing the necessary instrumentation needed to enable quantum sensors in scanning probe microscopy applications. To that end, Onnes Technologies is mainly active in the field of low temperature instrumentation and quantum technologies.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
M.K: Currently, we are setting up a testbed facility with all required infrastructure included to support the development of quantum sensing techniques.
Onnes Technologies notices the field of quantum scanning probe microscopy is struggling making the transition from wet cryostats to closed-cycle dilution refrigerators due to the vibrations induced by the pulsetubes used for cooling down closed-cycle systems. Such transitions require quite some investments, and with the testbed facility, researchers can do proof of concept and use preliminary data for their grant applications.
With helping researchers, the testbed can obtain a lot of expertise of various sensing techniques that can be made accessible for industries to explore the relevancy of quantum scanning probe microscopy for their business case. Also here, industrial parties are able to enter this topic with little investment in tools or expertise that would otherwise prevent them from addressing this topic.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
M.K: Onnes Technologies mainly aims to supply instrumentation to academic markets in the low temperature physics field. Our products are interesting to industrial partners either supplying to academic customers themselves or to the semiconductor industries.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
M.K: Currently the main market is the academic market in which we recognize a significant CAGR on the topic of cryogenics and quantum. Under the interest in quantum computing, the funding for cryogenics and quantum technology has increased significantly over the last few years. This trend has potential to continue for some time.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
M.K: From being a subsidized topic of interest, the markets aims to drive the technology to industrial applications. With the quantum computer being the magnun opus of this key technology. Onnes Technologies follows this strategy and aims to make the jump from the academic market to industrial market as well. We believe quantum scanning probe microscopy can be impactful like the conventional scanning probe microscopy has been for the semiconductor industry. With quantum-enhanced sensitivity, novel quantum sensors like SQUIDs, NV centers, Single Electron Transistors, MRFM, and nano-MRI can form a new paradigm for metrology – quantum metrology. Quantum metrology can characterize transistor devices with energetic resolution that gives insight into new CMOS dynamics emerging due to the further miniaturization at the nano level.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
M.K: Onnes Technologies is currently working on the first full solution Quantum Microscopes in which we build Dedicated Instrumentation Probes based on our own cryogenic nanopositioner technology and in-situ cryogenic vibration isolation technology that utilizes quantum sensors for scanning probe microscopy applications.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
M.K: Onnes Technologies expects to grow market share for the academic market with our unique and patented technology. We aim to demonstrate a first series of quantum sensors for the application of scanning probe this year enabled by our cryogenic positioners and cryogenic vibration isolation system products.