Quantum Pilot Line for Production of Advanced Chips for Neutral Atom European Technologies – Building Europe’s Future Quantum Chip Infrastructure
Funded by: the European Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) under the Chips for Europe Initiative
Co-funded by: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Duration: Mai 2026 - April 2029
Partners
- PASQAL (Coordinator), France
- Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), France
- QPerfect, France
- III-V Lab, France
- CNRS – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France
- University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germany
- Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark
- INRIM – Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Italy
- SAES Getters S.p.A., Italy
- Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI), Italy
- CSIC – Spanish National Research Council, Spain
- ICFO – Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Spain
- Portuguese Quantum Institute (PQI), Portugal
- Svenska Laserfabriken (SLF), Sweden
- Welinq, France
- University of Warsaw, Poland
- TopGaN, Poland
- Institute of High Pressure Physics PAS (IWC PAN), Poland
- QPurpose ApS, Denmark
- Safran Electronics & Defense, France
- Centrale Lille Institut, France
- ONERA – The French Aerospace Lab, France
- iQrypto, Belgium
- CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy
- Thales, France
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland
- Silicon Austria Labs (SAL), Austria
Q‑PLANET is establishing Europe’s first pilot line for quantum chips based on neutral-atom technologies. Bringing together 28 partners from 11 European countries, the project develops scalable manufacturing processes, advanced design tools, and comprehensive testing infrastructures for next-generation quantum components. By strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty, fostering a sustainable quantum supply chain, and accelerating the industrial deployment of quantum technologies, Q‑PLANET supports the objectives of the EU Chips Act and the Chips for Europe Initiative.
At the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), research focuses on integrated photonic components based on Silicon Nitride (SiN) and Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) operating at wavelengths of 698 nm, 795 nm, and 1013 nm. These wavelengths are key enablers for neutral-atom quantum technologies, including optical atomic clocks, quantum sensors, and future quantum computing platforms. The developed photonic building blocks include narrow-linewidth lasers, optical filters, and high-speed electro-optic modulators. Activities span the entire development chain, from design and simulation to fabrication, packaging, and characterization of advanced photonic integrated circuits, helping to establish the technological foundation for future industrial quantum systems.