Q.ANT and IMS CHIPS establish quantum chip fabricationon

On June 21st, the Stuttgart-based startup Q.ANT and Institut für Mikroelektronik Stuttgart signed an agreement for the joint production of quantum chips. Chips for quantum processors to be produced in small batches as early as two years from now. As a leading quantum technology company, Q.ANT will be contributing its expertise in quantum computer chip production to this cooperation. In addition, the start-up will be contributing machinery and process technology in an initial investment worth 14 million euros. IMS CHIPS is joining using its existing machine park. Quantum chips are considered to be the central building blocks for quantum processors, which in the future will provide a speed advantage in the future.

In addition to clean room production with the appropriate equipment, IMS CHIPS also introduces experts with experience in industrial- scale manufacturing to the cooperation. In return, the start-up invests in manufacturing capacities and equipment geared to quantum technologies. For the IMS, which is a foundation of the state of Baden- Württemberg, this cooperation advances its research and development activities.

In addition to quantum processors, the chips, which operate on the basis of light, will be used in a wide variety of industries in the future: The fields of application range from medical technology, sensor technology, telecommunications, cryptography, logistics and the financial sector. Opposed to many other quantum computing solutions, which operate at cryogenic temperatures as low as -273 °C, Q.ANT’s photonic chips operate at room temperature. This significantly simplifies an integration into existing computing architectures. For its chips, Q.ANT relies on a specially developed technology platform with the material lithium niobate, which is perfectly suited for the photonic approach to quantum computing due to its good electro-optical