Home > Press > Floor van de Pavert: seeing the (almost) invisible with nano-wires quality - part 2
Abstract:
How three young entrepreneurs have transformed a brilliant invention into a commercial product - by SERGIO PISTOI
The story began a few years ago, when two scientists from the University of Delft (see related story) developed a way to double the efficiency of currently available single photons detectors. These devices, which are used in research and in the industry, can detect infinitesimal amounts of light, down to a single photon. In late 2011, the researchers teamed up with Floor van de Pavert, an expert in technological transfer with a background in physics. Together they founded Single Quantum, a start-up company that commercializes the invention. We talked with van de Pavert, the company's CEO, to know more about their business approach.
Ms. van de Pavert, how did you move from the laboratory results to a commercial endeavour?
The company spun off from the research work of Sander Dorenbos and Val Zwiller (currently CTO and Scientific Adviser of Single Quantum - editor's note) at the University of Delft. After they developed their single photon detector, Sander and Val gave it to other laboratories. At one point, the device became so popular that they were getting requests from scientists all over the world. This is when they realize it could become a commercial product, and I came on board. The device was an improvement of an existing detector, so we had to obtain a licence with the owners of the original patent. The coaching we got from the Pronano project was very helpful to establish the company and to negotiate the licence deal.
What is your business model?
Since we have a functioning product, we decided to commercialize it directly. We are already selling our device successfully, which provides us with a cash flow since the beginning. This is certainly a very fortunate situation compared to most start-ups.
How are you planning to grow in the near future?
At this stage it is crucial to establish a professional company structure. We also want to identify new markets and new applications and to look for commercial products in which our technology could be embedded.
In your experience, what is the hardest part of the job when establishing a start-up?
I believe the most difficult part is to make a good team and to have people with complementary expertise. Having a physics background was helpful for me to understand the technology, but when moving from the laboratory to the market, you also need different sets of non-technical skills like communication or networking capabilities. We were lucky to be a good, synergetic team. It's just a pleasure working together.
Sergio Pistoi - youris.com
####
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Elisabeth Schmid
Phone: + 39 02 700 25 71
Fax: + 39 02 700 25 40
Copyright © youris.com
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related News Press |
News and information
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Physics
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
'Sudden death' of quantum fluctuations defies current theories of superconductivity: Study challenges the conventional wisdom of superconducting quantum transitions January 12th, 2024
Superconductivity
Optically trapped quantum droplets of light can bind together to form macroscopic complexes March 8th, 2024
'Sudden death' of quantum fluctuations defies current theories of superconductivity: Study challenges the conventional wisdom of superconducting quantum transitions January 12th, 2024
Chip Technology
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Utilizing palladium for addressing contact issues of buried oxide thin film transistors April 5th, 2024
HKUST researchers develop new integration technique for efficient coupling of III-V and silicon February 16th, 2024
Quantum Computing
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
With VECSELs towards the quantum internet Fraunhofer: IAF achieves record output power with VECSEL for quantum frequency converters April 5th, 2024
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes April 5th, 2024
Discoveries
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes April 5th, 2024
New micromaterial releases nanoparticles that selectively destroy cancer cells April 5th, 2024
Utilizing palladium for addressing contact issues of buried oxide thin film transistors April 5th, 2024
Announcements
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Tools
Ferroelectrically modulate the Fermi level of graphene oxide to enhance SERS response November 3rd, 2023
The USTC realizes In situ electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy using single nanodiamond sensors November 3rd, 2023
Patents/IP/Tech Transfer/Licensing
Getting drugs across the blood-brain barrier using nanoparticles March 3rd, 2023
Metasurfaces control polarized light at will: New research unlocks the hidden potential of metasurfaces August 13th, 2021
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Announces Closing of Agreement with Takeda November 27th, 2020
Photonics/Optics/Lasers
With VECSELs towards the quantum internet Fraunhofer: IAF achieves record output power with VECSEL for quantum frequency converters April 5th, 2024
Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024
Optically trapped quantum droplets of light can bind together to form macroscopic complexes March 8th, 2024
HKUST researchers develop new integration technique for efficient coupling of III-V and silicon February 16th, 2024
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
Premium Products | ||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||