Twenty-nine European partners have come together to launch Photonics for Quantum (P4Q), a pilot project to develop scalable and reliable photonic quantum chips. A total of €50 million will be invested into the project, consisting of €25 million from Europe and another €25 million from national governments across 12 European countries.
Led by the University of Twente in The Netherlands, P4Q will focus on the standards and production techniques needed to make photonic quantum chips perform reliably and consistently. This will be carried out across the entire research and manufacturing process, for example by minimizing loss of light in glass fibres, crafting photonic circuits that can be integrated into larger systems, or by ensuring components remain stable at extremely low temperatures.
The project will develop Process Design Kits and Assembly Design Kits, so that design and production are better aligned. Various photonic platforms, such as silicon nitride (SiN), thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) and alumina (AlOx), will be addressed.
P4Q is organised into eight work packages and targets Technology Readiness Level 8 (TRL-8) and Manufacturing Readiness Level 8 (MRL-8), enabling large-scale demonstrations and preparing technologies for further industrialisation.
The 29 partners – a mix of universities, research organisations, private companies, and industrial foundries – are:
AIT, Aluvia, AMIRES, AQT, C2N, CEA-Leti, Delft Networks, ICFO, IMEC, IMS CHIPS, Leonardo, Ligentec, LioniX International, New Origin, PlanQC GmbH, Q*bird, QphoX, QuiX Quantum, Sintef, Sparrow Quantum, Thales Alenia Space, Thales R&T, TNO, TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, Tyndall National Institute, University of Twente (coordinator), VTT, Quandela
