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With Q-PLANET, a new European pilot line coordinated by Pasqal and funded with €50 million brings together 28 partners from eleven EU Member States to industrialize neutral-atom quantum technologies and accelerate the transition from research to manufacturing, strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty.
Brussels/Berlin – With Q-PLANET (Quantum Pilot Line for production of Advanced chips for Neutral atom European Technologies), a new European pilot line for the industrialization of quantum technologies based on neutral atoms is being launched. The project, funded with €50 million, is co-funded by the European Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) as well as national and regional authorities and is coordinated by Pasqal. Q-PLANET brings together 28 research and technology organizations, industry partners, and research institutions from eleven European Member States. As one of six European quantum pilot lines, Q-PLANET aims to accelerate the transition from research to industrial manufacturing, thereby strengthening Europe's technological sovereignty in the field of quantum technologies.
As part of this groundbreaking project, the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institut (HHI) is developing a pilot line for the production, assembly, and characterization of optoelectronic circuits for the control of quantum chips. These are based on photonic integration platforms consisting of thin-film lithium niobate (Thin Film Lithium Niobate, TFLN) and silicon nitride (SiN) for the key optical wavelengths of 698 nm, 795 nm, and 1013 nm.
Industrialization as the Key to Europe's Quantum Technologies
Quantum technologies are a strategic field of the future with great economic and societal potential. One of the greatest challenges is to transfer the necessary technologies from the laboratory into scalable industrial manufacturing. To date, reproducible manufacturing processes as well as common standards for design, calibration, control, and testing are often lacking. These gaps make mass production and broad market deployment more difficult.
This is precisely where Q-PLANET comes in. The goal of the European pilot line is to establish industrial manufacturing processes for neutral atom quantum technologies and to provide industry-grade components. At the same time, standardized development and manufacturing tools will be created to facilitate access to quantum technologies, particularly for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Within the portfolio of six complementary quantum pilot lines funded by Chips JU, Q-PLANET is responsible for the development and industrial deployment of quantum chips based on neutral atom technology. Together, the pilot lines cover a range of hardware technologies, from applications in medical and materials research, through quantum sensing for navigation, timekeeping, and Earth observation, to quantum communication for highly secure networks. This creates the foundation for a competitive European quantum industry.
Focus on the First Project Phase
During the first three years of the project, Q-PLANET will further develop key components for quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication. These include lasers for four key wavelengths (461 nm, 698 nm, 795 nm, and 1013 nm), atom chips, as well as microstructured vapor cells for atomic clocks and field sensors.
The components will be advanced from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 6 through three successive design, manufacturing, and testing cycles. At the same time, standardized Process Design Kits (PDKs) and Assembly Design Kits (ADKs) will be developed to support the transfer of these technologies into industrial manufacturing processes.
“The Chips JU is currently supporting a portfolio of actions that will develop quantum functionalities based on six technological platforms, ranging from superconducting and photonic approaches to the neutral atom technology on which the Q-PLANET project focuses. This diverse project portfolio strengthens Europe's technological sovereignty in quantum technology and lays the foundations for a new industry.”
— Jari KINARET, Chips Joint Undertaking, Executive Director
“Q-PLANET offers the opportunity to actively shape the next generation of photonic components for quantum applications. It is particularly valuable that Fraunhofer HHI can contribute its expertise in integrated photonics to the establishment of a European infrastructure for photonic quantum technologies. The close collaboration between research institutions, industry partners, and end users is a decisive success factor in transferring quantum technologies from the laboratory into practical and scalable applications. At the same time, we are making an important contribution to Europe's technological sovereignty in the field of quantum technologies.”
— Klara Mihov, Fraunhofer HHI, Q-PLANET Project Manager at Fraunhofer HHI
Q-PLANET brings together 28 leading European partners from eleven EU Member States, including Pasqal (coordinator), Silicon Austria Labs (SAL), iQrypto, DTU and Qpurpose, VTT, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, III-V Lab, Safran Electronics & Defense, Fraunhofer HHI, University of Stuttgart, INRiM, POLIMI, TopGaN, University of Warsaw, CSIC, ICFO, and SLF.
Q-PLANET is funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Chips Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. The project is supported by Chips JU and its members.
The Q-PLANET project has been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Klara Mihov
Senior Project Manager
Team Lead Wafer-scale Process Development
klara.mihov@hhi.fraunhofer.de
Phone +49 30 31002-675
https://Further Information:
https://Learn more about Fraunhofer HHI's contribution to Q-PLANET: https://www.hhi.fraunhofer.de/en/departments/hybrid-integration-and-sensing/proj...
https://Learn more about Q-PLANET: https://www.q-planet.eu/
Graphic for Q-PLANET
Copyright: © Fraunhofer HHI
Kick-off for Q-PLANET – European Pilot Line for the Industrialization of Neutral Atom Quantum Chips
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Graphic for Q-PLANET
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