MWC25 | Ingrid Romijn, Q*Bird, Julien Beenakkers, Future Connections & Dr. Anne Berends, SunLED Life Science

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Ingrid Romijn

Co-Founder & CEO

Q*Bird B.V.

Julien Beenakkers

CEO

Future Connections

Anne Berends

Co-founder & CTO

SunLED Life Science

play_circle_outline Quantum network devices for ultra-secure communication

play_circle_outline Automation in telco networks for improved customer experience and cost savings

play_circle_outline Near-infrared light technology for healthier indoor living

play_circle_outline Technology and innovation culture in the Netherlands, focus on quantum technology

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Ingrid Romijn, Q*Bird, Julien Beenakkers, Future Connections & Dr. Anne Berends, SunLED Life Science

Ingrid Romijn

Co-Founder & CEO Q*Bird B.V.

Julien Beenakkers

CEO Future Connections

Anne Berends

Co-founder & CTO SunLED Life Science

In this insightful discussion from MWC25 Barcelona, Savannah Peterson sits down with Ingrid Romijn, CEO of Q*Bird; Julien Beenakkers, co-founder and CEO of Future Connections; and Dr. Anne Berend, an innovative developer in display device technology. TheCUBE, with its renowned analysts, delves into the groundbreaking work each is doing in their respective fields, ranging from quantum network security and telco automation to health-enhancing display tech integration.

The panelists share their visions and advancements, with Romijn highlighting the impo... Read more

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What is Q*Birds and what is their role at the show? add

What types of technologies are applied in the network domain of telco operators to improve network performance, customer experience, cost savings, and energy savings? add

What is the importance of natural sunlight for our health and how can technology help bring its benefits indoors? add

What size is the quantum community in the Netherlands compared to the rest of the world? add

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Ingrid Romijn, Q*Bird, Julien Beenakkers, Future Connections & Dr. Anne Berends, SunLED Life Science

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Savannah Peterson

>> Good afternoon everyone, and welcome back to Barcelona, Spain. We're here on day four of Mobile World Congress. My name's Savannah Peterson. Very excited to be here with a power-packed panel of smart people from the Netherlands here to talk about their various telco companies. They've been our neighbors next door, you can see the vibrant orange. It's like a beacon for finding our booth, which is actually really helpful. Ingrid, Julien, and Anna, thank you so much for being here and taking the time. I know we've got three different companies up here. We've got a lot of stuff to talk about. So I'm just going to go down the line, and Ingrid, I'm going to start with you. Tell us a little bit about Q*Birds and what you're doing here at the show.

>> Thank you. And thanks for having me here.

>> Absolutely. - So I'm Ingrid Romijn, I'm CEO of Q*Bird,

>> and Q*Bird makes quantum network devices,

Savannah Peterson

>> which is like the next generation digital infrastructure.

Savannah Peterson

>> Talk about living in the future.

>> Well, it's not the future, actually we are making these devices right now. So what we do is we provide an ultra-secure network layer with the upcoming threats of, for instance, quantum computers and other high-powerful computers that will be able to break encryption that is used nowadays, you need to be able to secure your communications, you need to be able to secure your networks. And we provide that security. So we have a quantum network that we set up that is based on physical devices. So we provide a security on the most fundamental layer of physics, based on hardware which cannot be hacked. It is basically-

>> This is so cool.

Savannah Peterson

>> I hadn't really thought about quantum for networking, and it makes so much sense.

>> Exactly. So we are already preparing to connect quantum computers in the future to build a quantum internet. So actually our technology is ready to connect quantum processors once they appear. But we already have a product now that can provide the security.

Savannah Peterson

>> That's so Cool. I bet a lot of people were excited to talk to you this week.

>> Absolutely. It's been a crazy week. It's been amazing. Yes.

Savannah Peterson

>> Crazy and amazing. I believe that. Julien, let's talk about Future Connectors.

>> Thank you. Yeah, I'm Julien Beenakkers, I'm a co-founder

>> and CEO of Future Connections. We're from originally a Dutch company, although we also have entities now in Spain, UK, and we recently opened a branch in Mexico.

Savannah Peterson

>> Nice. You're all over. - So we're scaling up quite fast.

>> Our unique selling point I think is that we combine telco technology and software. So telco people, software people, bring them together and create a lot of automation. So we do automation in the network domain of telco operators to help them that the network is performing correctly, that the customer experience improving, cost savings are there. Energy saving is a hot topic nowadays. On the other side, we apply from originally field services operations up to onboarding a customer and the whole servicing a customer who is connected to a network to make sure that everything is fine, that the experience is fine. So to do that we apply AI and all kind of technologies into the network domain to make that happen.

Savannah Peterson

>> Wow, that's pretty cool. - Yep.

Savannah Peterson

>> How many times have you been to Mobile

>> World Congress then? Have you been to the show a lot?

>> We have been here quite often, not only with Future Connection, but also with the previous companies. Although you see it changing now, it's more also e-commerce and content and whatever. So our key goal is to talk to telco operator service providers, at least somebody with a network or network provisioning, et cetera. Yeah, this is a super interesting environment for us to be here and to see what's going on. And especially now with the developments of AI, et cetera, we are on top of that, GenAI, to see how we can build collaborative agents and robots and whatever to automate things and make things easier. Yep.

Savannah Peterson

>> We're at a really cool time- - Yes, it

>> is. - ...

Savannah Peterson

>> in technological history. I mean, I'm sure everybody thinks they live in a cool time. But it seems like there's a lot of technologies coming and intersecting and also about to scale up like quantum, and it's just now in its earlier days, but about to be a little more ubiquitous. Anna, what about you? You've got some awesome hardware in front of you. Tell us about what brought you to the show.

>> So we are at the show because we develop a technology that makes people healthier and that can be integrated in all kinds of display devices. And that is our connection to all the laptop, phone and monitor makers that are here in Barcelona this week. We spend 90% of our time indoors, and that means that we don't feel the health benefits of natural sunlight on a daily basis.

>> That's such a sad statistic you just said, 90%

Savannah Peterson

>> of our time indoors. Jeepers.

>> Yes. And that means that we don't get the health benefits of natural sunlight, and we have a solution for that. Almost half of the lights coming from the sun is near-infrared light. And near-infrared light energizes our body, which means that it has multiple health benefits both for our physical health and our mental health. Our technology, SunLED, brings this near- infrared light in a form factor that can be integrated in all these display devices. And the device that I have here that won all these awards is called the SunBooster. It's the first device that brings this near- infrared light in our office space or the home office, either, or in the real office, or maybe even for gamers. You can clip it on any monitor and it brings these health benefits while you're working or studying or gaming. So you don't have to stop doing anything. You don't have to start doing anything. You can just live your normal life and become happier and healthier.

Savannah Peterson

>> That's awesome. I used to live in Seattle, which is known for seasonal affect disorder. I'm sure you also have that in the Netherlands sometimes.

>> Yeah, yeah, sometimes - It's not always the warmest

Savannah Peterson

>> winter, let's put it that way.

>> Kind of similar weather actually to Seattle. They would recommend that you had a lamp. We had these little sun lamps. I'm sure you've seen them all. But this is so much easier. I mean, is this built into the device or is it an attachment that you're adding on? How does that work?

>> So the SunBooster is a standalone device, just like a webcam basically that you can put on top of a monitor. But we envision that when this takes off in the market ... It will be introduced in Europe later this year. We look for distribution partners for the US and globally. That once this takes off, integration will be the next step, because it's much easier to make this positive impact in the lives of many people when it's integrated and you don't have to buy a separate device. So that is how we envision the roadmap.

Savannah Peterson

>> That's awesome and very exciting. Wow. So you won awards here as well as at CES.

>> Yes. So we received this award at the showstoppers event here at MWC on Sunday. So that was a really great way to kick off the week. And then on Monday we received another award. So that is just amazing that you launch this new technology, a new product, and you get a recognition on a show like this with a real impact.

Savannah Peterson

>> I bet that feels pretty good.

>> Absolutely, yes. - Congrats to you and the team.

>> Thank you. - That's a big deal, especially in the

Savannah Peterson

>> beginning when you start to get that attention.

Savannah Peterson

>> I've actually got some ideas for distribution partners for you, so we'll have to talk about that-

>> Amazing. - ...

Savannah Peterson

>> after the show. Or at least someone who can help with that. Let's put it that way.

>> Great. - Did you all know each other before the show?

Savannah Peterson

>> No. - No, we didn't.

>> So you met in the booth? - Yes.

Savannah Peterson

>> Essentially curated. - Yeah.

Savannah Peterson

>> Oh my gosh, how fun. I bet that's really-

>> Yeah, it's nice to be in the community

>> and be with many companies together, so we can

>> also learn from each other and get to know each other

Savannah Peterson

>> and maybe connect also professionally.

Savannah Peterson

>> Yeah. Yeah, no, I think that's one of the things that's

>> so cool is, the Netherlands, there's a lot

>> of pride in the Netherlands in a good way, for the Dutch, not in an arrogant American way. But you're proud to be Dutch, which is awesome. But as a result of that, you collaborate together. You have one of the most iconic booths at any show floor. You've got a lot of fun stuff going on. At CES I've seen your big orange cowboy hats milling around. But how would you describe the technology and innovation culture in the Netherlands? Julien, I'll start with you.

>> I think there's a lot of technology going on in the Netherlands, because I think we need to be. As a small country, we need to be on top of what's happening. I think that also if you look at telco tech market, we have a number of people living in the Netherlands, inhabitants, which use a lot of facilities to be actually supported by technology. And I think also from originally with Philips and ASML and whatever, these kinds of things, there's a lot happening there. So we need to be there to stay competitive in the market. Although you see also a lot of other country in Europe of course evolving with technology and it's coming from everywhere. And I think it's key to, especially if you look at the education and the universities, et cetera, also to keep focusing on jobs which are also, let's say, working with technology. Not only the management or the architecture, but also doing it in production and these kind of things. So that's one of the things we also discussed with the ministry here is that how can you further improve the environment of the technology in a practical way in the country. Yeah.

>> Yeah. - Correct. Yeah.

Savannah Peterson

>> It's very clear that there's a passion around that sense

Savannah Peterson

>> of community and all of that.

Savannah Peterson

>> How's the quantum community? Is it big in the Netherlands?

>> Yes, actually the quantum community in the Netherlands is one of the biggest in the world. So we have top universities that are actually excelling on the world scale. I think Delft University on the quantum domain is top three ranked worldwide.

Savannah Peterson

>> Wow. Oh my gosh, I didn't know that.

>> So we are a spin out of the Technical University Delft. And we have a whole ecosystem around us in Delft and also in the broader Netherlands with Quantum Delta NL supporting us, with other companies connecting to us. So it's an amazing place to build a quantum company. And a bit on the same topic, the research is excellent, the innovations are amazing. So we are really top of the world. And now what is needed for us as a community is to scale and to also get the resources and financial resources to be able to scale. And maybe if I can add to that, that is not just the research community, but also partners. Like we are working together with the Port of Rotterdam, which is Europe's largest harbor. It is next door to us. And they are actually one of our launching customers-

Savannah Peterson

>> That's exciting. - ...

>> putting our quantum networks inside the port of Rotterdam. And we are working with a consortium of companies from the area on that topic. So that is amazing. And that shows that the Netherlands is really forward looking.

Savannah Peterson

>> Very much so. - at universities,

>> there's the quantum scalers, there's the quantum companies, and there's bigger entities like the Port of Rotterdam who is already connecting to these companies.

Savannah Peterson

>> Well, it shows that the government, I'm assuming the government runs support, the government's up to speed, well, maybe pun intended, quite literally, with quantum-

>> Absolutely. - ...

Savannah Peterson

>> and is already thinking about that and betting that ...

>> I live in San Francisco, I live in a port city as well. I can tell you that's not happening in my city. And shoot, we're in the Silicon Valley. That's where a lot of cool stuff happens. What do you hope the launch rollout goes? What's your fantasy? What do you hope to be able to say? I'll say this to you, Anna. Actually I'd like you all to answer this question. When we're here at Mobile World Congress next year, what do you hope to be able to say then that you can't say now? What do you hope the product launch goes like? Is it everywhere? Give me that.

>> Of course, that is the dream. As an inventor and a trained scientist, I left academia, well, to see how a good idea can actually be converted into a real product. And when this device lays in, well, the actual shops, that will be for myself a huge accomplishment. And then of course, we want to make it a huge success also, to find it everywhere around the globe in the stores, in the consumer electronics stores. That would be an amazing success. And then of course, when we here next year, I hope to show not only this device, but also an integrated monitor or laptop with our technology inside as the next step.

Savannah Peterson

>> It makes so much sense. I look forward to seeing it too. We'll have to show it off here on the show. Julien, what about you? What do you want to see next year?

>> For next year I hope that we are able to combine the solutions we have now in the network domain and in the customer delivery domain, combined in an end-to- end solution towards the operators. So we can see that the whole customer experience and network performance, et cetera, can be combined, with GenAI on top of it to manage all the elements. That's one. And the second one, we invest a lot in Open RAN networks, which is still a lab environment. So there are not many Open RAN environments live. We have an excellent portfolio of application for that. So I hope next year that we can showcase that it's working and that we'll really show what we have done with live operators in environments.

Savannah Peterson

>> Well, we look forward to checking that out too, Julien. Very exciting. And Ingrid, I can imagine there's a lot you want to be able to say by next year, but tell us.

>> Yeah, absolutely. There's a lot

Savannah Peterson

>> of developments going on in our company. But I think what I would look forward most is right now we have the network inside Rotterdam. We have a couple of other networks in the Netherlands and in other European countries. And next year I would hope to be able to say that we have extended the network in Rotterdam towards Amsterdam, connecting the two harbors, connecting also users in the Amsterdam area. We actually started a project and we got a grant for projects to work on this together with Eurofiber and Single Quantum. So we will be able to develop technology this year to connect multiple of those networks, and actually not just have one hub, but connect multiple quantum hubs to each other so they can all exchange secure information. And on top of that, we are working together with some partners to see if it connect different countries, like from the Netherlands to Germany to Belgium. So those are the things on our mind, and all the developments that we need to do to get there. So, yes.

>> Super exciting.

Savannah Peterson

>> Wow, you all have very awesome stories and companies that you're working with. Really appreciate you taking the time to come and hang out and give us what little energy you probably have left after a very, very busy week. So Anna, Julien, and Ingrid, thanks so much. And thank all of you for tuning in, wherever you might be. We're here in Barcelona, Spain, day four of Mobile World Congress. My name's Savannah Peterson. You're watching theCUBE, the leading source for enterprise tech news.