New European Partnership Aims to Mass-Produce Quantum Computer Chips

2026-09-04 semicon

Delft, Friday, 4 September 2026.
French startup Quobly and Dutch research group TNO have partnered to mass-produce quantum chips using existing semiconductor factories, accelerating Europe’s push for commercial quantum computing.

A Quantum Leap Rooted in Semiconductor Infrastructure

This pioneering development belongs firmly to the field of quantum computing, yet its genius lies in its deep integration with the traditional semiconductor industry [1][2]. At the heart of this innovation are silicon spin qubits, which serve as the fundamental processing units for next-generation quantum computers [1][2]. Rather than building entirely new, highly expensive fabrication facilities, this technology leverages existing 300 mm Fully Depleted Silicon-On-Insulator (FD-SOI) CMOS manufacturing lines [1][2][3]. By utilizing standard semiconductor infrastructure, the partnership aims to solve the severe physical scaling limits that currently restrict quantum hardware development [1][3].

How the Technology Works and Its Core Benefits

To turn a standard transistor into a functional quantum qubit, engineers must execute a complex “technology pivot” [6]. In traditional microchips, transistors operate at room temperature and manage the flow of millions of electrons [6]. Silicon spin qubit technology, however, refines this process to control single-electron behavior at ultra-low, cryogenic temperatures [6]. By partnering with TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, the French developer Quobly will utilize advanced cryogenic characterization, metrology, and device simulation data to analyze materials and minimize process variability across approximately 300 individual manufacturing steps [2][4][6]. This approach allows quantum processors to be manufactured with high yield and reproducibility [2][6].

Key Players, Locations, and Strategic Alliances

The primary driver behind this innovation is Quobly, a French quantum computing startup founded in 2022 and headquartered in Grenoble, France [1][7]. Led by CEO and co-founder Maud Vinet, Quobly has established a robust European supply chain that includes partnerships with CEA-Leti, Soitec, and STMicroelectronics [1][4][7]. To accelerate testing, Quobly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TNO, led by CEO Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi [7]. The official signing ceremony occurred in Eindhoven, Netherlands, during a diplomatic state visit involving French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten [5][7]. This cross-border alliance is designed to secure European technological sovereignty by establishing a self-sufficient, domestic supply chain for quantum technologies [4][5].

Roadmap and Commercial Outlook

The collaboration builds upon initial joint research started in 2025, which focused on materials analysis and characterization [1][2]. Backed by a €115 million Series A funding round completed in June 2026, Quobly is rapidly moving toward commercialization [5][7]. The startup plans to launch initial cloud access to its “Alloy” product family for high-performance computing and research users by the end of 2026 [5][7]. Looking further ahead, the company has set an ambitious industrial target to scale its silicon-based processors to one million qubits by 2032, utilizing established very-large-scale integration (VLSI) manufacturing principles [5][7].

Bronnen

Quantum computing Silicon qubits