Mission & Vision

WIQD (pronounced “wicked”) stands for We in Quantum Development. We are a professional network in the quantum sector in the Netherlands, including industry, academia and policy.

There is a marked lack of diversity in the quantum sector. According to Quantum Flagship, the gender imbalance in quantum is staggering. For every four men, only one woman works in the quantum sector in the European Union. This number is even lower for other underrepresented groups.

Our aim is to connect and retain underrepresented groups who have or want to pursue a career working or studying in the field of quantum technologies. Although some of our programmes are only open to underrepresented groups to create a safe space, everyone is welcome to join our events and be a part of the WIQD community.

Our Story

Women in Quantum Development (WIQD) was founded in 2020 by Dr. Julia Cramer, quantum physicist and science communication researcher at the Leiden University, and Dr. Stacey Jeffrey, Senior Researcher at CWI (QuSoft). Julia and Stacey saw the need to establish a professional support network for women in quantum development.

Since then, we have grown from a small volunteer-based support network to a professional organisation with full-time staff members, organizing monthly events and advocating for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to different stakeholder in quantum.

As time went on, we also understood that identities are not simple, but intertwined with one another. By bringing together all underrepresented groups, we make a stronger case for inclusion. We decided to embrace an intersectional approach to identity and use our voices to foster an inclusive quantum sector for everybody.

In May 2025, we decided to change our name to We in Quantum Development to reflect our mission.

Our Vision

We envision an inclusive quantum sector in the Netherlands, where everyone feels that they belong.

Our Mission

We aim to connect and retain underrepresented groups in the quantum sector in the Netherlands through support, networking, and community growth.

Our Core Values

Acceptance
Accepting people as they are.
Awareness
Having knowledge and understanding of our biases and how they affect others.
Diversity
Embracing differences in identity and background; such as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.
Equity
Recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge imbalances and make adjustments to address them.
Inclusion
Fostering a sense of belonging and value within the quantum community.
Support
Sharing resources and encouragement so that everyone can succeed.
Welcoming
Creating a space that is accessible and approachable, regardless of personal or professional background.