Nature and its sister journals have a reputation for publishing cutting-edge fundamental results and we strongly believe that expanding knowledge is in itself a convincing reason to do science. Likewise, it is important to remember that by-products of fundamental research in the form of innovations can be enormously beneficial for society. There wouldn't be radios if Maxwell hadn't been interested in electromagnetic waves just for the sake of it. Without the fundamental interest of people such as John Stewart Bell and David Deutsch in quantum physics, quantum information applications would not be moving towards commercialization today.

As fields such as quantum information move towards more applied research, and focus on the commercialization of many decades of fundamental science, we want to assist beyond simply publishing on these developments. Inspiring and fostering entrepreneurial thinking among young scientists is a critical ingredient for the success of commercialization efforts, hence we conceived and organized the Nature/Entrepreneur First Innovation Forum in Quantum Technologies. In collaboration with Innovate UK, we selected five groups of young physicists in an open application process. Entrepreneur First, a London-based company that helps people with skills in technology to found start-ups, helped the young physicists to assess and polish their business ideas. And, on 6 May 2016, in a grand finale, these young minds got the opportunity to discuss their ideas with a prominent panel of experienced entrepreneurs and academics. Ying Lia Li, one of those selected, describes her experience on page 652.

This project was an experiment for Nature and its sister journals and we cannot deny a certain nervousness about its outcome. But listening to the students' presentations, which ranged from unconditionally secure signatures to a silicon-based quantum computer (http://go.nature.com/28IVjGO), and witnessing the constructive and vibrant discussion about trajectories that quantum technology start-ups could take, about common pitfalls and overlooked opportunities, and about the grit and courage that it takes to found a start-up in a new and largely unexplored technology, we feel that we have indeed contributed to nurturing entrepreneurial thinking.

And in addition to inspiring young scientists to become business founders, the Nature/Entrepreneur First Innovation Forum has injected enthusiasm within our editorial teams, kindling interest in entrepreneurship and in projects that do not follow the beaten path.