Q-PLANET Launches with 28 European Partners and €50M Budget

A €50 million initiative has launched to build a European supply chain for neutral atom quantum chips, with the Q-PLANET project formally kicking off on July 8 and 9. The consortium, coordinated by Pasqal, unites 28 European research organizations, industry partners, and academic groups across 11 member states to accelerate the industrialization of this promising quantum computing approach. Structured as a six-year Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Chips Joint Undertaking, the initial three-year phase will focus on developing industrial-grade chip components, with a second stage planned to boost user adoption.

According to the project announcement, Q-PLANET aims to address gaps in scalable manufacturing processes and standardized design, ultimately working toward achieving industrialization at scale by 2030.

Q-PLANET Initiative: €50 Million for Neutral Atom Technology

The project formally began on July 8 and 9, with a second three-year phase planned to prioritize user adoption and further refine industrial processes. Q-PLANET is notable for its pan-European scope, uniting 28 organizations, research and technology organizations, industrial partners, and academic groups, across 11 EU Member States. This collaborative network aims to fortify Europe’s position in the quantum supply chain, a domain increasingly vital for both economic and strategic reasons. The consortium will focus on designing, fabricating, assembling, and testing industrial-grade chip components specifically for neutral atom quantum computing, sensing, and communication, with an emphasis on establishing replicable and high-performing foundations for scalable production. Initial efforts will concentrate on four key laser wavelengths, 461 nm, 698 nm, 795 nm, and 1013 nm, alongside atom chips and microfabricated vapor cells, progressing these components from Technology Readiness Level 4 to 6 over three iterative cycles. Q-PLANET intends to lower barriers to entry for smaller companies.

The initiative will establish standardized Process Design Kits (PDKs) and Assembly Design Kits (ADKs), facilitating the development of quantum know-how within startups and SMEs. “Q-PLANET is a decisive step toward the EU’s 2030 quantum ambitions,” said Alexandra Paul, Q-PLANET Coordinator. “By pooling scientific and industrial expertise across Europe, we are building a pan-European quantum-chip manufacturing backbone based on neutral atom technologies, from products to applications.” Jari Kinaret, Executive Director of the Chips Joint Undertaking, emphasized the broader context, stating, “The Chips JU currently supports a portfolio of actions that will develop quantum functionalities based on six technological platforms ranging from superconducting and photonic approaches to the neutral atom technology that is the focus of the Q-PLANET project. This diverse project portfolio strengthens Europe’s technological sovereignty in quantum technology and builds the foundations of a new industry.” The project’s focus on minimizing environmental impact further underscores its commitment to sustainable quantum technology development, a factor increasingly important for long-term viability and public acceptance.

Six-Year Framework for Quantum Chip Industrialization

The pursuit of commercially viable quantum computers is increasingly focused on scaling manufacturing capabilities, a challenge currently addressed by a multi-faceted European initiative known as Q-PLANET. While several quantum computing modalities compete for dominance, neutral atom approaches are receiving focused attention through this €50 million project, signaling a substantial financial commitment to this specific technological pathway. Q-PLANET assembles a broad consortium of 28 European partners, research and technology organizations, industrial players, and academic institutions, spanning 11 member states, demonstrating a concerted pan-European effort to establish a robust quantum supply chain. A subsequent three-year phase is planned to prioritize user adoption of developed services and products, alongside continued industrial maturation of the underlying technologies. This phased approach acknowledges the long-term nature of quantum chip development and the need for sustained investment.

The broader context for Q-PLANET is the European Quantum Strategy, which emphasizes the necessity of achieving industrialization at scale by 2030. Currently, limitations in scalable and replicable manufacturing processes, coupled with a lack of standardized design and testing frameworks, hinder mass production. Pasqal, coordinating the project, views Q-PLANET as a pivotal step towards realizing Europe’s quantum ambitions. The project aims to accelerate quantum industrialization, strengthen supply chain resilience, and ultimately deliver breakthrough technologies to the market with a focus on minimizing environmental impact.

Component Development: Lasers, Atom Chips, and Vapor Cells

Silicon Austria Labs is at the forefront of developing critical laser components for neutral atom quantum computing, specifically focusing on high-speed modulators in Aluminum Nitride at 461 nanometers. These components, essential for controlling qubits, are being designed and fabricated alongside CMOS-integrated driving electronics, representing a significant step towards miniaturization and improved performance within quantum systems. The work undertaken by SAL extends beyond fabrication; the organization is also involved in initiatives supporting the European Chips Act, including the DECIDE Design Platform and the AT-C3 Austrian Chips Competence Centre, demonstrating a broader commitment to bolstering European semiconductor capabilities. Beyond lasers, the Q-PLANET consortium is heavily invested in the development of atom chips, crucial for both quantum sensing and computing applications, and microfabricated vapor cells for atomic clocks and field sensors.

France’s Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) plays a pivotal role in atom chip manufacturing, leveraging expertise in atomic clocks and atom interferometry. Specifically, the Laboratoire Temps Espace (SYRTE) is leading work on these chips, while the Laboratoire Albert Fert, a joint CNRS-Thales research lab, hosts a second atom chip production center. The development of these components isn’t solely focused on performance; energy efficiency is also a key consideration. Pasqal, coordinating the project, is integrating components at 795 and 1013 nanometers into its neutral atom Quantum Processing Units, while simultaneously working on chip-based laser components at 1013 nm. The project’s modular and scalable backend pilot line, co-hosted by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the Technical University of Denmark, will be instrumental in achieving these goals, ensuring a limited low environmental footprint throughout the production cycle.

The escalating demand for quantum technologies is increasingly focused on translating laboratory successes into commercially viable products, a transition hampered by significant manufacturing challenges. These kits represent a crucial step toward lowering the barriers to entry for smaller companies and research groups hoping to participate in the burgeoning quantum industry. Rather than requiring each entity to independently develop and refine fabrication processes, Q-PLANET aims to provide a common foundation, accelerating innovation and reducing costs. This collaborative network is not simply focused on research; it’s geared toward establishing a robust, replicable manufacturing pipeline. Beyond component development, Q-PLANET intends to establish a pathway from prototypes to industrial fabrication. The standardized kits will not only streamline the design process but also facilitate systematic calibration, control, and testing frameworks, all while monitoring energy efficiency throughout production.

European Consortium: Key Partners and Contributions

While much attention focuses on the race for qubit supremacy, the practical challenge of building a reliable, scalable quantum supply chain often remains obscured. The newly launched Q-PLANET initiative, a €50 million European pilot line, directly addresses this bottleneck by concentrating on the industrialization of neutral atom quantum chips, a focused approach distinguishing it from broader quantum hardware efforts. This isn’t simply about theoretical advancement; it’s about translating lab-based research into components ready for real-world applications, a shift requiring coordinated effort across multiple disciplines and national borders. The consortium, comprised of 28 European organizations spanning research, industry, and academia across 11 Member States demonstrates the breadth of this undertaking. Silicon Austria Labs, for example, spearheads work on chip-based laser components at 461 nm, responsible for design, fabrication, and assembly, while also contributing CMOS-integrated driving electronics.

Simultaneously, iQrypto SRL in Belgium leads the development of standardized software and APIs to control quantum components, aiming to lower the barrier to entry for smaller companies. The French contingent is particularly robust, with Pasqal coordinating the project and multiple CNRS laboratories contributing expertise in atom chip manufacturing, vapor cells, and quantum simulation tools. This phased approach isn’t accidental; the second three-year stage is explicitly designed to boost user uptake and further enhance industrial maturity.