Germany has committed €122 million to a project led by QUDORA Technologies to develop a 1,000-qubit fault-tolerant quantum computer and establish a quantum processor unit pilot line. The NFQC-1k project unites a seven-member consortium of research institutions and industry partners, signaling Berlin’s ambition to be a leader in quantum computing. Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space, Dorothee Bär, emphasizes that “quantum computers are among the most important key technologies of our time,” with the goal of fielding at least two European fault-tolerant systems by 2030.
Amado Bautista-Salvador, CEO of QUDORA, stated, “Fault tolerance is not a milestone achieved by improving a single qubit.” QUDORA’s existing €42 million contract from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for its 50-qubit Xaphiro system exists alongside a roadmap already targeting 200 qubits by 2027. Achieving below 0.01% error correction is a central goal, demanding advancements in error correction techniques beyond current capabilities.
€122 Million NFQC-1k Project to Build 1,000-Qubit Computer
The NFQC-1k project will establish a quantum computer demonstrator with a target of at least 1,000 individually addressable physical qubits and 50 logical qubits, aiming for a logical gate error rate below 0.01%. This performance benchmark signifies a move beyond simply increasing qubit count towards achieving the stability needed for complex calculations. The consortium intends to build not only the quantum processor itself, but also a complete QPU pilot line, suggesting an emphasis on manufacturability and eventual commercialization of the technology.
This focus on production infrastructure differentiates NFQC-1k from projects prioritizing purely theoretical advances. QUDORA Technologies, leading the seven-member consortium, will use its Near Field Quantum Control (NFQC) technology, a system utilizing on-chip microwave electronics fabricated with standard semiconductor processes, to address the challenges of scaling qubit control.
“NFQC-1k builds on our NFQC technology to develop a fault-tolerant quantum computer alongside leading German research institutions and companies,” said Henning Hahn, COO of QUDORA. “That our project has been selected shows the confidence of German government in our technology as well as the expertise of our partners and the Quantum Valley Lower Saxony.” The five-year funding commitment of approximately €122 million, awarded through Germany’s Quantum Systems research program, underscores a strategic push toward quantum supremacy.
He continued, “What truly matters is building an architecture in which thousands of resilient qubits can be controlled, and operated reliably, without the system falling apart as it scales.” This emphasis on system-level resilience, rather than individual qubit performance, reflects a maturing understanding of the challenges in building practical quantum computers.
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This performance target signals a focus on practical application, requiring not just more qubits, but more reliable qubits. QUDORA Technologies’ selection as consortium lead reflects a growing emphasis on industrial scalability in quantum hardware development. “Mission-Driven Hardware Competition: Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing with Pilot Line Development (Quantum Computing Competition),” frames the project’s intent to translate research into tangible infrastructure.
This investment extends beyond the initial five-year project timeline, with QUDORA already expanding internationally to drive partnerships and commercial growth, including a recent establishment of QUDORA Japan K.K. QUDORA delivers quantum computing systems both on-premises and, together with partners, via cloud platforms, suggesting a multi-faceted approach to accessibility and deployment.
QUDORA Consortium Integrates Industry and Academia for QPU Pilot Line
The NFQC-1k project will establish a dedicated pilot line for quantum processing unit (QPU) fabrication, extending beyond basic research to address the challenges of industrial-scale quantum computer production. This focus on manufacturability distinguishes the consortium’s approach, aiming to translate laboratory advancements into tangible hardware capable of sustained operation and scalability. QUDORA’s recent expansion into the Asia-Pacific region with the founding of QUDORA Japan K.K. underscores a strategy to build international partnerships for both research and commercial deployment of its systems.
The consortium intends to verify the demonstrator’s performance using a Quantum Fourier Transform, a fundamental operation in many quantum algorithms, signaling a commitment to practical application. QUDORA’s delivery model, offering both on-premises systems and cloud access through partnerships, anticipates diverse user needs and deployment scenarios. The company’s Near Field Quantum Control technology, using standard semiconductor manufacturing processes, is central to this scalable approach, promising a pathway toward more readily produced and integrated quantum hardware.
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