“It is all the work that has been carried out by other people in the field after us that has paved the way for this Nobel Prize. The greatest value lies in the fact that so many people have been able to take this work further,” says Nobel laureate in Physics Michel Devoret, who this week visited Chalmers together with his fellow laureates John Martinis and John Clarke, as well as the laureates in Chemistry and Medicine, Omar Yaghi and Shimon Sakaguchi.
Just last week, the laureates received their Nobel medals and diplomas from King Carl XVI Gustaf at Stockholm Concert Hall in a ceremony steeped in tradition. After the celebrations, five of this year’s Nobel Prize Laureates traveled to Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology to deliver their Nobel lectures and meet researchers, former colleagues, and students.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for groundbreaking contributions to quantum mechanics. At Chalmers’ Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, the October announcement was met with great excitement. Over the years, Martinis and Clarke have been guest researchers within the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT), and Clarke was appointed Jubilee Professor in 2008. All three laureates have also participated in Nobel symposia organized by Chalmers and served as faculty opponents during PhD defenses.
Thus, the congratulations from students and researchers are especially warm and heartfelt as the trio enter the department during Nobel Week.
“This feels like a fairy tale,” says Michel Devoret, trying to sum up the week as a Nobel laureate.
Their days have been packed with ceremonies, dinners, meetings, and travel, yet their energy remains surprisingly high.
“Now that I’ve had a little rest, I feel great! Sweden has been a fantastic host during Nobel Week, and it’s nice to be here in Gothenburg,” says John Martinis, welcomed by former colleague Per Delsing, who led WACQT research activities until 2025.
“All three laureates have visited Chalmers many times as faculty opponents, guest researchers, and for conferences. I know them all personally and am, of course, very happy for them,” says Per Delsing.
For Michel Devoret, who landed late the previous evening, sleep has been a bit elusive, and the tension ahead of his afternoon Nobel lecture at Chalmers is palpable.
“You never stop being nervous. But it’s good to be nervous before a lecture – it means you care,” says Michel Devoret as we head toward the coffee machine for an extra energy boost.
Laid the foundation for superconducting quantum computing
The paths of the three physics laureates crossed at the University of California, Berkeley, in the mid-1980s. At the time, John Clarke supervised PhD student John Martinis, while Michel Devoret was doing his postdoc. Through a series of experiments, the trio demonstrated how a couple of quantum mechanics’ fundamental properties could become evident in a system large enough to hold in your hands. Their superconducting electrical system could tunnel macroscopically from one state to another – as if passing straight through a wall. They also showed that the system absorbed and emitted energy in discrete amounts, exactly as quantum mechanics predict.
Their work is considered the foundation for the development of superconducting quantum computing up to today, 40 years later. But did Martinis, Devoret, and Clarke realize back then how significant their contributions would become?
“We knew we had discovered something. But winning the Nobel Prize is on a completely different level. It’s all the work done by others in the field after us that paved the way for this Nobel Prize. The greatest value lies in the fact that so many people have been able to build on this work,” says Michel Devoret while waiting in line for coffee.
Superconducting quantum computing is a major focus of quantum research at Chalmers. The quantum computers developed within WACQT are based on superconducting quantum systems. But before such quantum computers can tackle real-world problems in areas like drug development, cryptography, or logistics, they need to scale up significantly – and many challenges remain. The largest quantum computer at Chalmers currently has 25 qubits, but the goal is to reach 100 qubits.
“I often say that a research group needs to have about one quantum researcher per qubit,” says Michel Devoret with a laugh.
A quick calculation shows that the number of researchers actively working on Chalmers’ quantum computer project isn't quite in line with the current number of qubits – and that the team will need to recruit new members to reach its 100-qubit goal.
From quantum labs to spin-offs
The Nobel laureates’ visit to Chalmers has been meticulously planned, with a schedule timed down to the minute. During the tours of the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, the quantum laboratories are showcased and examined closely by the laureates – who ask probing questions about material choices and technical solutions.
"It's really a pleasure to show our lab to Devoret. The students were also very happy and proud of talking about their own work with him. It was reassuring to discuss some design decision that we made, and to hear his opinion about it, says Giovanna Tancredi, co-director of WACQT.
Several research groups seize the opportunity to present their latest projects, test ideas, and seek advice – after all, it’s not every day you have Nobel Prize winners in the room. Complex calculations are sketched on chalkboards to illustrate new paths forward in the fascinating world of quantum technology.
The laureates’ follow-up questions are numerous and deeply informed, reflecting an impressive breadth and depth of understanding across quantum mechanics.
Göran Johansson, Director of WACQT, is hosting the day’s program and leading the tour. He also delivered the speech to the three physics laureates during the award ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall. For Göran, Michel Devoret has long been an important source of inspiration.
“He’s one of the reasons I began working on superconducting quantum computers back in 2000. It’s incredibly inspiring to see his deep commitment to every physical detail. He truly takes the time to reflect and respond thoughtfully to every question,” says Göran.
The tour also includes Chalmers’ cleanroom facility, Myfab. Division head Peter Modh describes the 1,200-square-meter research infrastructure where ultra-small quantum components are developed in an environment of extreme purity - something that clearly impresses the visitors.
“The best university cleanroom in the U.S. is at UC Santa Barbara. I’d say Chalmers’ cleanroom is on par with that,” says Michel Devoret.
In 2024, Chalmers launched a unique quantum testbed as part of Chalmers Next Labs. Built on a 25-qubit chip developed within WACQT, the testbed allows companies to harness quantum algorithms to solve real-world challenges – and even provides direct access to IBM’s powerful quantum processors. This cutting-edge lab was a new sight for John Martinis, who last visited Chalmers in 2022. While earlier discussions had focused on quantum technology’s toughest challenges – such as preventing systems from losing superposition and building more robust qubits – the spotlight soon shifted to a striking gold-colored cylinder on the table. A tangle of black cables spiraled upward through its center. It’s a sample holder, normally housed inside a quantum computer to secure critical components.
“This sample holder was developed by Scalinq, one of several spin-offs born out of WACQT,” explains Per Delsing as Martinis examines the component closely.
To date, seven spin-off companies have emerged from WACQT and established themselves internationally. Their ties to Chalmers remain strong, with several continuing to use the cleanroom for product development. Joining the tour is Andreas Nylander from Arkeon Technologies, recently named both Startup of the Year and Game-Changer 2025 at Venture Cup. Another notable example is Atlantic Quantum, founded by researchers from WACQT and MIT. Earlier this year, the company made headlines when it was acquired by Google Quantum AI – where Michel Devoret now serves as Chief Scientist of Quantum Hardware, and where John Martinis previously led hardware development.
Naturally, the Gothenburg-based Atlantic Quantum team took the chance to congratulate and thank the laureates whose pioneering work paved the way for their innovations. They soon realize that, as fellow Google employees, they should be able to connect via the company’s internal chat.
“My inbox is overflowing,” says Michel Devoret and smiles. “It's better if you just call me.”