The SemiQon Team
SemiQon’s core team brings together decades of research expertise in quantum and microelectronics and a strong knowledge of the European and global quantum industry. Everything we do is made possible by our team. Together, our backgrounds bring together the best of many worlds, and our complementary skillsets allow us to push the limits of what has previously been possible and to create entirely new, disruptive solutions.
In addition to offering our experts the opportunity to work on ambitious and unique technological challenges, we want to build an environment that fosters shared values and prioritizes an atmosphere of mutual trust and care while striving for excellence.
“Our goals are ambitious, and our work is demanding. But innovation cannot be forced. At SemiQon, we foster breakthroughs through collaboration, trust, and open exchange of ideas.”
About the SemiQon Team
We consciously and carefully continue to build a team that has the perfect combination of expertise required to build chips that will power the future of quantum computing. Our team combines seasoned experts with significant scientific contributions, hands-on experience in fabrication, and extensive experience in working with industry. Together, our backgrounds bring together the best of many worlds, and allow us to create entirely new, disruptive solutions.
The rate at which we have reached one technological milestone after another is a testament to the remarkable skillset of our team and the way we seamlessly work together.
We offer our experts the opportunity to work on overcoming some complex (but if you ask us, endlessly fascinating) technological challenges. To do so, we prioritize building an environment that fosters shared values and an atmosphere of mutual trust and care while striving for excellence.
How SemiQon Works
We are rigorous about our process, but ambitious with our goals.
From the start, we decided to focus our resources and efforts where it counts – building the best possible quantum processing units. Instead of “doing it all” we maximize our impact through specialization. All of this requires both deep and specialized knowledge and experience that bridges different domains.
Our work cuts through a comprehensive process from design to fabrication and measuring, all requiring unique expertise, and combining a high-level of theoretical understanding as well as hands-on execution.
As researchers, we keep science at the heart of everything we do, but avoid unnecessary rigidity and focus on staying nimble, flexible, and open-minded.
We are committed to making sure that every person that joins our team can do their best work and to continue to grow their own expertise. There are no “worker bees” at SemiQon. Each member of the team is genuinely encouraged and expected to share insights, raise questions, and contribute to our mission. We value integrity, curiosity, and diversity of people and perspectives.
WHAT Semiqon BELIEVEs IN
Equality, Resilience, Openness, Safety, Excellence,Trust & Care, Timeliness, Satisfaction, Diversity
Meet the Founding Team
Himadri Majumdar
CEO
Himadri Majumdar
Himadri is the chief executive and co-founder of SemiQon. He is also the operational lead of the company. Himadri focuses on building global collaboration and strategic partnerships with research groups and companies. His goal is to make SemiQon processors the industry standard for semiconductor-based quantum processors.
In his previous role as Lead, Quantum Technologies at VTT, Himadri managed VTT’s Quantum initiative including managing the first quantum computer acquisition and build project of VTT and Finland. He also focused on building networks and partnerships both in Finland and internationally and driving an ambitious quantum innovation ecosystem with partners from both business and academia. Trained as a physicist with a PhD in Applied Physics, Himadri has been involved in innovation and innovation management for last 20+ years.
Mika Prunnila
Chief Research Officer
Mika Prunnila
Mika is a co-founder and leads the research activities in SemiQon. Mika ensures that SemiQon’s technology reflects the state-of-the-art silicon-based quantum processors through collaborative research with top research groups in the world. He is also in charge of defining SemiQon’s research and development roadmap.
Research Professor at VTT, Mika is an R&D leader and a key player in defining Europe’s quantum strategy. He has 20 years of experience in microsystems and nanotechnology from manufacturing techniques and device physics to applications. Extensive experience in preparing, executing, and leading major collaborative national and international R&D projects involving industrial and academic partners. His track record includes commercial partnership engagement as well as broad dissemination activities and IP generation.
Janne Lehtinen
Chief Science Officer
Janne Lehtinen
Janne is the chief scientist and co-founder of SemiQon. In his role he defines SemiQon’s technology roadmap and overlooks its implementation. New IP creation is also one of Janne’s core responsibilities.
Formerly Research Team Leader at VTT’s Quantum Sensors team, Janne has strong domain expertise in spin-qubit and superconducting systems. He has been leading European initiatives in Quantum technology over the last 7 years. Janne has a PhD in Physics from University of Jyväskylä. He has authored significant number of publications and patents in the domain.
Markku Kainlauri
Director, Operations
Markku Kainlauri
Markku is the lead of fabrication and co-founder in SemiQon and overlooks the device microfabrication process in the foundry. He overlooks the process definition, description and implementation, which has strong implication on the processor performance and yield.
Before joining SemiQon, Markku developed and led semiconductor device fabrication and process integration at VTT as Senior Scientist in the Quantum Photonics team. He is a certified (IPMA-C) project manager with a proven track record for long-term customer engagement and management. Markku hold a Master of Science (Tech.) in Engineering Physics from Aalto University (formerly Helsinki University of Technology).
Advisory
Prof. Prineha Narang
Science and Strategy Advisor
University of California, Los Angeles, USA. US Science envoy
Prof. Juha Muhonen
Science and Technology Advisor
University of Jyväskylä, Finland