Laura A. Smoliar Appointed CEO of Quantum Denmark

Quantum Denmark is a central pillar of the Danish National Strategy for Quantum Technology and was established through a joint application by the NATO DIANA-Q partners on behalf of the entire Danish quantum ecosystem. Inaugurated in November 2024, Quantum Denmark brings together entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders to translate cutting-edge quantum research into real-world commercial solutions across sectors like healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing, defense and secure communications. It is supported by a total investment of DKK 158 million from the Danish Business Authority, the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Dr. Smoliar has worked to bring new technologies from the laboratory to the commercial market for nearly three decades in Silicon Valley, as a technologist, startup founder, and venture capital investor. She most recently worked with Stanford University and Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council to build the Taiwan Science and Technology Hub, an initiative at Stanford to foster people-to-people interactions in science and technology that collaborated across the Schools of Engineering, Medicine, and Humanities and Sciences as well as the Hoover Institute. She also founded the Berkeley Catalyst Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund designed to share profits back with the University of California, Berkeley’s College of Chemistry.

She has degrees in Chemistry from Columbia College, Columbia University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, where she worked with Yuan T. Lee. She also worked at Academia Sinica, Taiwan, during her Ph.D. and postdoc years.

As CEO, Dr. Smoliar will build a strong organization with a global mindset and expand Quantum Denmark’s offerings, which include:

• A leading European test facility — the Quantum Test Center Denmark — open to entrepreneurs, university researchers, industry, and research institutions
• Quantum House Denmark —shared office space for 12–15 companies, mainly startups, and facilities for holding events, hosting investors, and receiving delegations
• Access to technical testing, consulting, and business development services
  
  

Dr. Smoliar’s appointment aligns with Denmark’s ambitions to become a global frontrunner in quantum technologies through international collaboration, commercialization, and innovation.

Michael Kjær, CEO of DFM, says: “Dr. Smoliar has a long track record of successful international collaboration bringing leading edge technologies to the marketplace, across Denmark, Asia, and the USA, making her the ideal person to build a global center for quantum in Denmark.”

"I am honored to lead Quantum Denmark and contribute to its mission of advancing quantum technologies globally," said Smoliar. "Together, we will foster innovation and collaboration to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time."