From childhood curiosity to quantum security and community building, Joachim’s story reveals both Belgium’s potential and the collaboration still needed to unlock it. For him, making quantum work starts not with technology, but with bringing the right people together.
Where did your fascination with technology begin?
Long before quantum entered my professional life, I was already fascinated by computers. I think I was around ten years old when that really started. To me, a computer felt like a machine that could open an entirely new world. That curiosity stayed with me throughout my career. I worked in IT, system administration and coding, and I was always the person who wanted to try the new things first. I like being there when something new is starting.
When did quantum become tangible for you?
I had been interested in quantum mechanics for years, but around 2019 it became much more concrete. IBM came to Proximus and gave a presentation about qubits and the quantum computers they were building. That was the first moment when quantum computing really entered my professional world. A few years later, I was asked to look into quantum opportunities, especially quantum key distribution, which can be used to secure network links. That was when I started to see both sides of the quantum story. Quantum computers could eventually do very interesting things, but they could also break much of the cryptography we use today. That tension is what makes the field so important.
What does that mean for your work at Proximus today?
Today, my focus is mainly on protecting our infrastructure and networks against the future capabilities of quantum computers. We are preparing for the transition from current cryptographic systems towards post-quantum cryptography: security methods that are designed to remain safe in a quantum era. It is a very long journey, and we are still in the preparation phase. Before you can migrate, you need to understand where cryptography is being used, which infrastructure is affected, what solutions are available and who needs to be involved. So the work is not purely technical. A lot of it is about getting the right people around the table and making sure we can start that journey in the right way.
Why is it important to start preparing now?
Because waiting until quantum computers are fully mature would be too late. A transition like this takes years. There are many systems, suppliers, teams and dependencies involved, especially in an organisation as large as Proximus. We were already among the first organisations in Belgium to experiment with quantum key distribution, and now we are also one of the early movers preparing for post-quantum cryptography. You need to start building that readiness before the threat fully arrives.
Is that also where Quantum Circle becomes important?
Absolutely. This is new territory for everyone. We do not pretend that we know everything, and we are happy to learn from others. Through Quantum Circle, we can exchange information and experience with people from other companies, research organisations and sectors. That is extremely valuable because different sectors look at the challenge differently. A telecom company may approach post-quantum security in one way, while a bank, energy company or logistics organisation may see different priorities. Those conversations help you discover other perspectives and approaches. They are already influencing how we work at Proximus.
What made you want to get involved with Quantum Circle in the first place?
I was lucky enough to work with Jan Sonck, who helped start the initiative together with Proximus, Belfius and the Cronos Group. At the time, we saw that Belgium had strong research and good companies, but there was not enough coordination compared with some of our neighbouring countries. That made the idea of Quantum Circle exciting to me. It was an opportunity to start something new that we felt Belgium really needed. It also went beyond what we were doing within Proximus. It was also about building a community and a stronger Belgian ecosystem.
Have you seen the conversation around quantum change since then?
Definitely. In the beginning, a lot of the work was about awareness. Some people did not know what quantum was at all, while others mainly knew it through hype. Today, the questions are becoming much more mature. People are no longer only asking, “What is quantum?” They are starting to ask, “What can we do with it?” You see that shift in areas such as transport and logistics, cybersecurity, energy, policy and the broader impact quantum may have on society. The community itself is also changing. People are not only attending presentations anymore. A group is emerging that is actively contributing, collaborating and working together.
Can you give a concrete example of that collaboration?
A good example is the whitepaper on post-quantum cryptography that we worked on together with members of Quantum Circle and the Cyber Security Coalition. That project brought together a lot of expertise from across Belgium. For me, the most valuable part was not only the whitepaper itself, but the conversations around it. It gave us a reason to sit together, compare experiences and start thinking in a very practical way about how this transition should happen. I learned a lot from the other people involved.
Is it difficult to share knowledge when some of the organisations involved are competitors?
Of course there are limits, especially when you are talking about cybersecurity. Some information is sensitive and cannot simply be shared. But what I really like about the community is the willingness to share what people can share and to help each other. You see people referring others, bringing new expertise into the conversation and sharing useful information even when there is no direct benefit for them. That is something I really value.
How do you see Belgium’s position compared with neighbouring countries?
The biggest difference is coordination. Countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, France and some of the Nordic countries have had more cooperation, more public investment and stronger national programmes. Belgium has a lot of expertise, but it is more fragmented. At the same time, I do not think we are too late. We are a small country, so we cannot do everything. We need to choose wisely where we want to focus. Belgium has very strong expertise in areas such as semiconductors, photonics and cryptography. All of those are relevant to quantum. If we connect those capabilities and work together, I think we can do very interesting things.
What does Belgium need now to move forward?
It needs everything to come together. Investment is important. Research is important. We need technology, infrastructure and expertise. But we also need the people and the connections between them. Government will also have an important role to play in bringing universities, companies and policymakers together and creating more focus. The real opportunity lies in building an ecosystem rather than looking at all of those elements separately.
What happens if Belgium does not act?
Then we risk missing an opportunity. Whether being “left behind” is always a bad thing is difficult to say, but I do think it would be a mistake not to move forward. My feeling is that quantum technology will eventually be used for many things we cannot fully imagine today. We should not exclude ourselves from that future.
If there is one idea you want people to take away, what would it be?
Quantum is often discussed in terms of qubits, algorithms and computing power. But when you are trying to build something new in deep tech, you quickly realise that the technology is only part of the story. In the first place, it is about people and bringing them together. Only in the second place is it about the technology. Belgium already has knowledge, talent and expertise. The challenge now is connecting them. We cannot afford not to move forward.
This interview is part of Inside the Circle, our series featuring the people advancing quantum innovation in Belgium. Discover the full series here.
