SUPREME was launched with the mission to industrialize superconducting quantum technologies and strengthen Europe’s position as a global leader in quantum innovation. The focus is on the development of scalable and stable manufacturing processes for superconducting quantum devices, which will be made available to European SMEs, large companies, start-ups and the scientific community. The project has a total budget of around 50 million euros, which will be provided in equal parts by the EU Chips Joint Undertaking and national funding agencies. The approved funding covers the first phase of the initiative over a period of three and a half years.
“With this initiative, we are strengthening the European quantum ecosystem. We are ensuring that the innovations developed as part of SUPREME can be widely adopted by companies across Europe and achieve a strong market impact in the long term. To this end, we are implementing an ambitious roadmap that will steer and accelerate the industrialization of superconducting quantum technologies,” says Pekka Pursula, Vice President for Microelectronics and Quantum Technology at VTT and coordinator of the SUPREME consortium.
The central goal is to develop robust technologies and make them widely accessible to industry and academia. An important milestone will be the production and demonstration of a 3D integrated qubit module with 200 qubits. This will demonstrate the increased stability, higher yield and improved reproducibility of key manufacturing processes for superconducting quantum chips.
SUPREME focuses on the development and validation of key quantum processes, including angle-evaporated and etched junctions, 3D integration and hybrid processes for applications in quantum computing, quantum sensing and quantum communication. The goal is to reach technology readiness level TRL 6 and manufacturing readiness level MRL 6.
Fraunhofer IPMS contributes its leading expertise in industrial-grade manufacturing of superconducting devices and the development of novel material solutions to SUPREME. With its modern 300 mm clean room facilities, Fraunhofer IPMS offers a state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing environment fully equipped for scalable, high-precision and reproducible manufacturing processes.
The institute’s 300 mm capabilities enable a seamless transfer of research results into pre-commercial pilot production and support the development of superconducting quantum chips in the quantities and quality levels required for industrialization. This unique infrastructure not only accelerates the maturation of processes, but also ensures compatibility with existing semiconductor industry standards, lowering the barriers to entry for European companies.
Driving European industry growth and innovation
To maximize its impact, SUPREME makes its manufacturing processes available to companies through pilot services. Access to the technologies is provided through Process Design Kits (PDKs) and pilot runs that enable companies to design and develop their own quantum devices and systems.
Common manufacturing runs are particularly beneficial for early-stage companies as they spread the cost of full wafer fabrication across many users. Process Design Kits (PDKs) provide clear design rules and validated process specifications.
SUPREME strengthens Europe’s position in quantum technology by laying the foundation for technological sovereignty in the field of superconducting quantum technologies. The project makes a significant contribution to the objectives of the European Quantum Flagship and the European Chips Act.
Consortium partners
The consortium brings together European expertise in superconducting technology from academia, RTOs, industrial technology developers and end users and comprises the following 23 partners from eight EU Member States:
- Research organizations and academia: VTT, coordinator (Finland); TNO (Netherlands); Delft University of Technology (Netherlands); Bavarian Academy of Sciences (Germany); Fraunhofer Gesellschaft für Angewandte Forschung e.V. (Germany); Max Planck Society (Germany); Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology e.V. (Germany); The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission – CEA (France); University of Naples Federico II (Italy); Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Italy); Institut de Física d’Altes Energies – IFAE (Spain); Silicon Austria Labs (Austria)
- Large companies: Infineon Technologies AG (Germany); IQM Finland Oy (Finland)
- Small and medium-sized enterprises: Arctic Instruments Oy (Finland); Alice & Bob (France); QuantWare BV (Netherlands); Single Quantum BV (Netherlands); QphoX BV (Netherlands); Peak Quantum GmbH (Germany); Silent Waves (France); Amires, The Business Innovation Management Institute (Czech Republic); Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech S.L. (Spain)
About Fraunhofer IPMS
Fraunhofer IPMS is a leading international research and development service provider for electronic and photonic microsystems in the application areas of smart industrial solutions, bio and health, mobility as well as green and sustainable microelectronics. The research focus is on customized miniaturized sensors and actuators, MEMS systems, microdisplays and integrated circuits as well as wireless and wired data communication. The institute develops systems and components on 200 and 300 mm wafers in its state-of-the-art clean rooms. Services range from consulting and design to process development and pilot series production. With the Center Nanoelectronic Technologies (CNT), Fraunhofer IPMS offers applied research on 300 mm wafers for microchip manufacturers, suppliers, device manufacturers and R&D partners.
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Further links
👉 www.ipms.fraunhofer.de
Photo: Fraunhofer IPMS
