Jesse Robbers departs QDNL Board to take on new role at IMEC
Quantum Delta NL (QDNL) has announced that Jesse Robbers, Board Member and Director of Industry & Digital Infrastructure, will be leaving the organisation.
Jesse co-founded QDNL in 2020 alongside Ronald Hanson and Freeke Heijman-Te Paske, playing a key role in securing funding from the Dutch National Growth Fund (NGF). He will soon begin a new role as Regional Managing Director NL at IMEC.
Over six years of dedicated leadership, Jesse has been instrumental in shaping the Dutch quantum ecosystem. Since the launch of the National Agenda for Quantum Technology (NAQT) in 2019, he has helped drive the national quantum strategy and foster major advancements in the field.
Under Jesse’s leadership, QDNL successfully delivered the first two phases of its strategic roadmap, culminating in a highly positive Mid-Term Review (MTR). This milestone led to the approval of Phase 3 by the NGF, securing the next stage of the Netherlands’ quantum ambitions. Jesse was also leading the “National Quantum Communication” strategy, which was recognised internationally and he positioned the Dutch Quantum ecosystem successfully in strategic European programs like EuroQCI, EuroHPC and the Chips Act.
Jesse Robbers was there from the beginning, and his strategic insight has positioned the Netherlands as a central player in the European quantum infrastructure. The Supervisory Board is deeply grateful for his leadership and wishes him every success at IMEC.
As Jesse embarks on this next chapter, the QDNL Board and Core Team thank him for his invaluable contributions and look forward to future collaboration.Reflecting on his time at QDNL, Jesse said: "I’m proud of what we’ve built with the Dutch quantum ecosystem over the past four years. The recognition by the government, especially the NGF Commission’s Phase 3 award, validates our progress. Equally important is the Netherlands’ position as a global frontrunner in quantum. At IMEC, key future technologies—semiconductors, quantum, photonics, AI, and more—converge, driving innovation across industries. IMEC is shaping the next technological breakthroughs, and I’ll remain deeply connected to the Dutch quantum ecosystem."
Philippe Bouyer, chair of the QDNL Board, said: “Jesse played a crucial role in building Quantum Delta NL from the ground up, leaving an undeniable mark on both the Dutch and European quantum ecosystem. His leadership in securing funding, shaping strategy, and fostering industry collaboration has been instrumental in establishing the Netherlands as a quantum powerhouse, both nationally and internationally. Beyond his strategic impact, Jesse helped foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and shared ambition within QDNL. As we enter Phase 3 of our roadmap, we build on the strong foundation he helped create. We will greatly miss Jesse—not only for his vision but for the personal connections he built and the positive energy he brought to QDNL every day.”
As Jesse embarks on this next chapter, the QDNL Board and Core Team thank him for his invaluable contributions and look forward to future collaboration.
