SkyWater Technology has launched OnRamp, a new initiative offering early-stage quantum hardware startups direct access to manufacturing expertise and a defined path toward commercialization. The program bypasses typical foundry barriers, like high-volume commitments, by connecting founders with SkyWater’s engineers to evaluate designs and develop a foundry-validated roadmap.
“OnRamp gives founders direct access to the expertise, infrastructure, and guidance needed to make informed decisions earlier and advance from lab to fab with confidence,” said Mihir Bhaskar, SVP & GM, Quantum Solutions, SkyWater. Central to the program is SkyWater’s SP90 platform, a 200 mm silicon nitride photonics platform specifically designed for quantum applications.
OnRamp Program Bridges Lab Prototype to Commercial Foundry Access
The platform accommodates wavelengths spanning 400 to 2000+ nm and integrates technologies like III-V lasers and superconducting single-photon detectors, offering a degree of flexibility not typically found in standard commercial foundries. This integrated capability allows for diverse quantum modalities on a single platform, streamlining development for participating startups. A common obstacle for early-stage quantum hardware companies is securing foundry access without substantial upfront commitments. OnRamp directly addresses this by offering collaborative design evaluation with SkyWater’s engineering team.
This process bypasses the typical requirement for high-volume commitments and adherence to strict design rules, allowing startups to assess manufacturability and refine their designs before scaling production. Participating companies retain complete control over their intellectual property throughout the OnRamp process, even while receiving validation of their designs and assistance with developing a manufacturing roadmap.
This roadmap is a key tool for securing further funding and preparing for commercial production, providing investors with confidence in the scalability of the technology. SkyWater has supported quantum and advanced photonics innovation for over a decade, shipping quantum wafers for sensing, networking, and computing applications, and now extends that experience to a new cohort of innovators, the company says.
The program provides selected teams with no-cost access to SkyWater engineering resources to define their foundry roadmap and early access to prototypes fabricated on the SP90 platform. By engaging with companies at the initial stages of development, SkyWater aims to accelerate their path to commercialization and strengthen the broader quantum ecosystem.
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