Enabling the next evolution of quantum systems: Finnish physicist selected as finalist for the European Inventor Award 2026

• Physicist and professor Mikko Möttönen developed an ultrasensitive cryogenic microwave sensor to diagnose interference in quantum computers
• The self-calibrating device measures extremely weak microwave signals to detect and measure tiny power leaks, without disturbing quantum systems
• The Finnish professor is a finalist in the ‘Research’ category. The winners will be announced during the Award ceremony on 2 July 2026 in Berlin
• Public voting for the Popular Prize opens today and will be running until the ceremony on 2 July 2026

Munich, 12 May 2026 – According to the European Commission, by 2040, the quantum sector is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs across the EU and exceed a global value of €155 billion. A recent study on quantum technology by the European Patent Office and the OECD highlighted that the number of international patent families (IPFs) – a set of patent applications filed in several countries for the same invention – in quantum increased five-fold in just the last decade. However, the sector is still in an early stage of technological maturity with limited commercialisation to date, reflecting how difficult these machines are to operate reliably outside laboratory conditions. Unlike conventional computers, which process information using bits that are either on or off, quantum computers use quantum bits, known as qubits, whose quantum states enable new types of calculations but are easily disrupted.

To preserve these fragile quantum states, systems must be operated at temperatures close to absolute zero, where even minute amounts of unwanted energy can affect performance. Physicist Mikko Möttönen has developed a cryogenic microwave sensor that allows engineers to detect and measure tiny power leaks and sources of electromagnetic interference inside quantum computing systems. By making such disturbances visible at ultra-low temperatures, the device helps engineers diagnose problems and improve the reliability of quantum hardware. For this work, Möttönen has been selected as a finalist in the ‘Research’ category of the European Inventor Award 2026 by an independent jury.

Measuring quantum signals without disturbance

Conventional measurement instruments can struggle to accurately capture the extremely weak signals emitted by quantum systems in these conditions, as they introduce additional heat or noise, disturbing the system they are meant to observe.

Möttönen’s solution is a cryogenic analyser based on an ultra-sensitive bolometer, which acts as a highly precise power meter for microwaves. Using superconducting materials, it measures the tiny amount of heat generated by incoming signals while minimising disturbance to the quantum system. A built-in self-calibration mechanism allows the analyser to check its own accuracy without relying on external reference sources, helping engineers reliably identify radiation leakage and electromagnetic interference.

“From 2027 onwards, we expect quantum computing to begin solving real industrial problems, first in limited use cases but then expanding, for example, to optimisation, whether routing ships or improving logistics,” said Möttönen.

From fundamental research to quantum diagnostics

Möttönen’s work originated in long-term research at Aalto University, supported by successive European Research Council grants and funding from the Academy of Finland. While initially focused on developing ultra-sensitive bolometers for fundamental research, his team realised that these devices could also diagnose the tiny power leaks and noise that disrupt quantum hardware. This technology has since been applied in quantum computing setups to read out qubit states, detect stray radiation and improve system performance.

“In an emerging field like quantum computing, you must protect your inventions to maintain a competitive edge. Quantum computers are incredibly complex machines; by the time they are commercially available, they will be built on a foundation of a huge number of individual patents," said Möttönen.

Mikko Möttönen is one of three finalists in the ‘Research’ category of the European Inventor Award 2026. The other ‘Research’ finalists are Irish-British vaccinologist Sir Adrian Hill for a malaria vaccine and Portuguese researcher Paula Videira and team for an antibody that distinguishes cancer cells from healthy tissue. The European Patent Office will announce the winners during a livestreamed ceremony from Berlin on 2 July 2026. In addition to the four award categories, the Popular Prize will be decided through a combined vote by the public and the independent jury. Public voting opens on 12 May 2026 and will be running until the ceremony on 2 July 2026.

Find more information about the technology, its impact and the inventor here.

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About the European Inventor Award

The European Inventor Award is one of Europe's most prestigious innovation prizes. Launched by the EPO in 2006, the award honours individuals and teams, who have come up with solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time. The European Inventor Award jury consists of inventors who are all former finalists. To judge proposals, the independent panel draws on their wealth of technical, business, and intellectual property expertise. All inventors must have been granted a European patent for their invention. Read more on the various categories, prizes, selection criteria and livestream ceremony to be held on 2 July in Berlin.

About the EPO

With almost 6,300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 46 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.