Head of Innovation & Partnerships

At a glance

• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
• Contract: Full-time, permanent (CDI)
• Location: Strasbourg (CESQ), on-site — hybrid option
• Languages: French and English
• Shape of the role: new, senior individual contributor — no direct reports
• Team: currently 15 people, 80% R&D

Who we are

We make quantum computers work. Quantum hardware today is fragile and hard to program, and useful machines are still several years out — our job is to shorten that gap. MIMIQ™, our quantum emulator, lets people design, test and optimize quantum programs at scale before hardware can run them. The Quantum Logic Unit (QLU™) is the compilation and error-correction layer that will run those programs on neutral-atom processors as the hardware matures.

QPerfect was founded in April 2023 as a spin-out of the European Center for Quantum Sciences (CESQ) at the University of Strasbourg, with CNRS, and is a recipient of the prestigious iLab Grand Prix. Since July 2026 we have been a wholly owned subsidiary of BTQ Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: BTQ), the Canadian quantum-security company, and its European R&D hub. We are 15 people, 80% of them in R&D, and we are scaling fast.

The role

This is a new, senior individual-contributor role reporting directly to the CEO. You will own how QPerfect finances its innovation — primarily through non-dilutive funding — and build the ecosystem relationships that feed both that funding pipeline and QPerfect’s broader positioning, growing over time into ownership of IP and technology transfer. Throughout, you sync closely with R&D so that funding and partnership decisions stay aligned with the R&D and product roadmaps.

The role is deliberately broad. The year-one priorities are ranked below; how quickly you take on the later pillars will depend on how well the first two are established.

What you’ll own

1. Innovation funding and grants — primary, year one

The core deliverable for this role: securing and managing non-dilutive funding.

• Identify, apply for, and manage grant applications — Bpifrance (including Deeptech Seed), Horizon Europe, ANR, France 2030, and regional (Grand Est) programs
• Coordinate with finance and accounting on CIR/CII (research tax credit) filings and compliance
• Own the full grant lifecycle: sourcing opportunities, writing applications, meeting reporting obligations, and handling renewals
• Track and report the funding pipeline and secured amounts to the CEO and the board
• Sync with R&D so that what we apply for is aligned with the R&D and product roadmaps

2. Ecosystem and partnership development — secondary, year one

Runs alongside the funding work — many grant and consortium opportunities originate through these relationships.

• Build and maintain relationships with CESQ, academic partners, and quantum ecosystem players
• Represent QPerfect in consortium bids and collaborative research proposals
• Bring opportunities back in, and check them against the R&D and product roadmaps before committing

3. IP and technology transfer — growth area, year two

Picked up once the core funding and ecosystem work is running.

• Establish and run an invention disclosure process with our R&D team
• Own the patent filing pipeline in coordination with external IP counsel and the BTQ group
• Advise on licensing and technology transfer opportunities with academic partners
• Ensure IP ownership and assignment terms stay clean between QPerfect and the BTQ group

Your first 6–12 months might look like

• The grant pipeline is mapped, and at least 2–3 applications are submitted to relevant Bpifrance, ANR or Horizon Europe programs.
• The CIR/CII process is documented and running smoothly with finance.
• You have active relationships with CESQ and at least one or two academic or consortium partners.
• You have supported or led at least one consortium bid or collaborative proposal.
• The CEO has clear, at-a-glance reporting on funding secured and partnership pipeline status.

Who you are

• You have 5–8 years of experience in innovation funding, grants management, or technology transfer, ideally in a deeptech, research-intensive, or scientific environment.
• You have a demonstrated track record of securing French and/or EU public funding (Bpifrance, ANR, Horizon Europe) — you can name the programs and agencies you have worked with directly.
• You have a working knowledge of IP and patent processes. You don’t need to be a patent attorney, but you understand disclosure-to-filing workflows.
• You are fluent in French and English — grant work runs in French, international coordination runs in English.
• You are comfortable operating with limited structure in a small organization, and equally comfortable in front of researchers and in front of a board.
• You have a genuine interest in quantum computing or comparable deeptech domains. You don’t need a physics background, but you do need to learn enough to be credible with our scientists and engineers.

Why join us

• An employee profit-sharing agreement, mutuelle, titres restaurant, and standard French benefits.
• Direct access to the CEO and full visibility into a Nasdaq-listed group’s European R&D strategy.
• A genuinely international, research-driven team at CESQ in Strasbourg.
• Real ownership of a new function, at a genuine inflection point for the company — your scope will grow with it.

How to apply

Send a CV and a few lines on why this role, no formal cover letter needed. QPerfect is an equal-opportunity employer; we assess every candidate against the same job-related criteria.