Investing in the Quantum Internet: KPN Backs New Network Research at Eindhoven University
Eindhoven, Saturday 9 May 2026
Backed by telecom giant KPN, Eindhoven University is pioneering research to merge classical and quantum network traffic, laying the commercial groundwork for the future quantum internet.
Bridging Classical and Quantum Infrastructure
The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) has announced a new, fully funded four-year research initiative situated within its Smart Optical Networks Lab (SONL) [1]. Backed entirely by Dutch telecommunications provider KPN, the project seeks a PhD candidate to design an entanglement source, alongside the necessary routing architecture and protocols for distributing entangled photons across multi-node quantum networks [1]. Published on 23 April 2026, with an initial application deadline approaching on 23 May 2026—though the vacancy will remain open until filled—the position underscores an urgent push to operationalise quantum internet technologies [1].
The Brainport Ecosystem and High-Tech Synergy
This research is deeply embedded within the Brainport Eindhoven region, an internationally recognised technology hub hosting more than 7,000 high-tech companies [1]. The TU/e Department of Electrical Engineering, which is hosting the project, explicitly aligns its mission with supporting a ‘Smart Sustainable Society’ and a ‘Connected World’ [1]. Their work heavily relies on applying electromagnetic phenomena to telecommunications and electrical signal processing, drawing direct inspiration from the surrounding high-tech manufacturing and systems industry [1].
Strategic Implications for Future Networks
Integrating quantum hardware with existing optical infrastructure represents a critical leap for dual-use technologies and highly secure communications [GPT]. The SONL’s broader research portfolio already encompasses software control and reconfigurable interconnects for data centres, artificial intelligence clusters, and classical telecom networks [1]. By introducing photonic integrated circuits and quantum systems into this mix, the laboratory is positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation network design [1].