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In April, ‘SPINS’ (Semiconductor Pilot line for Industrial Quantum NanoSystems) was launched, one of the 6 European quantum pilot lines. Coordinated by imec, the consortium brings together 25 European RTOs, industry partners, and academic research groups to strengthen Europe’s leadership and sovereignty in this strategically important domain. The €50 million SPINS pilot line project has been made possible through the co‑funding support from the European Union’s Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) and the national and regional authorities of the participating Member States. Fraunhofer IPMS plays a central role within SPINS in the high-resolution structuring of qubit and processor elements.
Quantum computing has become a highly strategic domain with economic and societal relevance rising sharply. Applications vary from breakthroughs in drug discovery and materials science to ultra-secure communications and next-generation navigation systems.
However, a gap remains between current quantum research and manufacturable quantum processors to enable significant quantum applications. Scaling the number of stable qubits (to as much as one billion) is key to building reliable and fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Given the technological complexity, including cryogenic operation, ultraprecise control electronics and highly specialized fabrication processes, and given the strategic importance of quantum chips, the EU Chips Act has established six complementary quantum pilot lines, each focused on a distinct hardware platform and collectively advancing quantum technologies in the space of quantum computing, communications and sensing. Within this portfolio, SPINS is the pilot line dedicated to semiconductor‑based spin qubits, with a primary focus on delivering quantum chips for quantum‑computing applications.
Imec coordinates this new pilot line efforts and leads the European consortium of 25 partners, ranging from RTOs like Fraunhofer, VTT and CEA-Leti, industry (both large enterprises like Infineon and Siltronic as well as SMEs and startups) and academic groups (like TU Delft and University of Jyväskylä), bringing in complementary knowledge and skills, with the goal of translating the strategic framework of the EU Chips Act into concrete actions.
The first actions of the SPINS-consortium include process and design optimization to establish a robust foundation for scalable, stable, and high-performing spin qubits, all on three different technology platforms: Si/SiGe, Ge/GeSi, and SOI. SPINS aims to establish a lab-to-fab route for this technology via Multi-Project Wafers (MPW) and standardized quantum Process Design Kits (PDKs), which lower entry barriers for startups and SMEs in semiconducting quantum technology and lay the foundations for European companies to build quantum know-how early on.
Fraunhofer IPMS within the SPINS pilot line
Fraunhofer IPMS plays a central role within SPINS in the high-resolution structuring of qubit and processor elements. All lithography steps requiring resolutions beyond the capabilities of optical methods are performed at Fraunhofer IPMS. This enables precise, reproducible patterning, which is essential for the functionality and scalability of Si/SiGe-based quantum chips. In addition, Fraunhofer IPMS makes key contributions to process stability and maturity across the pilot line by providing state-of-the-art cleanroom infrastructure designed for reproducible, scalable qubit fabrication. Processes at Fraunhofer IPMS are designed to support both Si/SiGe and Ge/SiGe platforms, securing multiple technologically complementary pathways within the SPINS consortium. Furthermore, the expertise of Fraunhofer IPMS bridges to activities within the EU project QLSI2, where migration to high-resolution lithography and 300-mm wafers is being explored. This prepares the transfer of SPINS pilot line results to a future 300-mm CMOS line at an early stage.
In this way, Fraunhofer IPMS combines leading research expertise with industrial process readiness, significantly strengthening Europe’s technological independence in semiconductor quantum technology.
European quantum pilot lines
Complementary tracks of the European quantum efforts, next to the semiconductor-based pilot line, include pilot lines on photonics for quantum ‘P4Q’ (coordinated by University of Twente, NL) - to which imec is also contributing, ion trap qubits ‘CHAMP-ION’ (coordinated by SAL, AT), superconducting qubits ‘SUPREME’ (coordinated by VTT, FI), diamond quantum chips ‘DIREQT’ (coordinated by CNR, IT) and neutral atoms ‘Q PLANET’ (coordinated by Pasqal, FR).
Dr. Benjamin Lilienthal-Uhlig, benjamin.lilienthal-uhlig@ipms.fraunhofer.de
https://www.ipms.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/press/2026/SPINS-pilot-line.html
Fraunhofer IPMS plays a central role within SPINS in the high-resolution structuring of qubit and pr ...
Copyright: Fraunhofer IPMS
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Fraunhofer IPMS plays a central role within SPINS in the high-resolution structuring of qubit and pr ...
Copyright: Fraunhofer IPMS
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