The race to build a practical quantum computer just gained momentum, as SkyWater Technology and QuamCore announced a partnership to tackle some of the biggest hurdles in scaling this revolutionary technology. SkyWater, a leading U.S.-based semiconductor foundry, will leverage its advanced manufacturing capabilities to produce a critical component for QuamCore’s innovative superconducting quantum processor architecture – a digital controller using Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) technology. This collaboration isn’t just about building hardware; it’s a step toward overcoming challenges in power consumption, wiring complexity, and cryogenic operation – all vital for realizing quantum computers capable of tackling currently unsolvable problems. The multi-million-dollar contract signals a growing confidence in domestically-sourced quantum fabrication and a move towards truly scalable quantum systems.
Collaboration for Quantum Computing
Collaboration is proving critical to advancing quantum computing, as evidenced by a new partnership between SkyWater Technology and QuamCore. The companies have entered a multi-million dollar agreement to co-develop Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) devices, aiming to accelerate the creation of practical, large-scale quantum computers. This collaboration uniquely combines SkyWater’s established U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing expertise with QuamCore’s innovative SFQ-based control architecture. Specifically, they will co-engineer a superconducting fabrication process designed to integrate SFQ digital control circuits with superconducting qubit arrays. This approach promises significant benefits, including a potential 1000x reduction in cabling complexity and drastically lower power dissipation compared to conventional CMOS controllers. With initial milestones expected within the next 12-18 months – including test-vehicle fabrication – the partnership aims to move QuamCore closer to its goal of building a 1-million-qubit superconducting quantum computer and demonstrates the power of combining specialized expertise in the quantum realm.
SkyWater’s Manufacturing Capabilities
SkyWater Technology distinguishes itself as a leading U.S.-based semiconductor foundry with specialized manufacturing capabilities crucial for advancing emerging technologies like quantum computing. The company’s core strength lies in its “Technology as a Service” model and, specifically, its proprietary superconducting process modules, design enablement tools, and process integration expertise. This allows SkyWater to collaborate effectively with companies like QuamCore, co-engineering fabrication processes optimized for complex devices—in this case, Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) circuits intended to control superconducting qubit arrays. This partnership focuses on optimizing yield, uniformity, and cryogenic performance at a wafer scale, addressing key challenges in quantum system development. By leveraging these capabilities, SkyWater isn’t simply manufacturing chips, but actively enabling breakthroughs in scalability and performance, demonstrated by the potential to reduce cabling by up to 1000x and significantly lower power dissipation compared to conventional CMOS controllers.
SFQ Technology & Key Benefits
SkyWater Technology is collaborating with QuamCore to advance scalable quantum computing through the development of Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) technology. This multi-million-dollar partnership focuses on co-engineering a superconducting fabrication process, leveraging SkyWater’s U.S.-based manufacturing expertise and QuamCore’s innovative SFQ-based control architecture. SFQ technology promises significant advantages over conventional control methods, potentially reducing cabling complexity by up to 1000x and achieving power dissipation several orders of magnitude lower than CMOS. This is crucial for overcoming current limitations in wiring density, heat load, and overall system complexity in quantum computers. With joint development milestones anticipated within the next 12-18 months—including test-vehicle fabrication and demonstration of cryo-SFQ control chips—the collaboration aims to accelerate QuamCore’s path toward building a 1-million-qubit superconducting quantum computer and solidify SkyWater’s role in securing America’s silicon foundation.
