Europe has officially launched Q-PLANET, a €50m initiative designed to accelerate the industrial production of quantum chips for next-generation computing, sensing and communication technologies.
Coordinated by Pasqal, the project is one of six Quantum Chip Stability Pilot Lines established under the European Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU).
The consortium brings together 28 research organisations, industry partners and academic institutions from 11 EU Member States.
Over an initial three-year phase, Q-PLANET will develop industrial-grade components for neutral atom quantum technologies, creating manufacturing processes capable of supporting large-scale commercial deployment.
By improving manufacturing standards, reducing barriers for emerging companies and strengthening Europe’s domestic supply chain, the project aims to help transform quantum research into commercially viable products while reinforcing Europe’s technological competitiveness.
Building the next generation of quantum chips
Quantum technologies are increasingly viewed as strategically important across industries, with potential applications ranging from pharmaceutical discovery and advanced materials research to secure communications, navigation and precision timing.
Despite rapid scientific progress, widespread deployment has been constrained by manufacturing challenges.
Producing reliable quantum chips at scale requires highly repeatable fabrication methods, standardised design frameworks, rigorous testing procedures and improved energy efficiency throughout production.
These obstacles have been identified within the Quantum Europe Strategy as major barriers to achieving large-scale industrialisation by 2030. Q-PLANET has been established specifically to address these issues for neutral atom quantum technology.
Unlike conventional semiconductor devices, neutral atom quantum systems depend on highly specialised chip-based components capable of manipulating and controlling individual atoms with exceptional precision.
Creating industrial manufacturing processes for these components is considered essential for moving quantum technologies beyond laboratory demonstrations.
Industrial manufacturing for neutral atom technology
Q-PLANET will focus exclusively on neutral atom platforms, which are regarded as one of the most promising approaches to quantum computing and sensing.
The pilot line will design, fabricate, assemble and test industrial-grade quantum chips and associated components while refining manufacturing and design processes for future commercial production.
A key objective is improving miniaturisation and scalability without compromising performance. The project also seeks to reduce manufacturing costs while increasing device reliability and quantum coherence, a critical factor influencing the accuracy and capability of quantum systems.
Among the technologies under development are integrated on-laser chips, which could simplify complex optical systems and support more compact quantum devices suitable for industrial applications.
Critical components targeted during the first phase
During its first three years, Q-PLANET will concentrate on several core technologies required for neutral atom quantum systems.
Development priorities include four specialised laser wavelengths essential for atom control, alongside atom chips for quantum computing and sensing applications. The consortium will also produce microfabricated vapour cells used in atomic clocks and high-precision field sensors.
Each technology will undergo three iterative cycles of design, fabrication and testing, with the objective of increasing technology readiness from TRL 4 to TRL 6.
Achieving this milestone would demonstrate that the components are suitable for operation in relevant industrial environments rather than remaining confined to research laboratories.
Supporting Europe’s growing quantum ecosystem
Beyond developing hardware, Q-PLANET aims to establish common manufacturing standards that can be adopted across Europe’s expanding quantum sector.
The consortium will create standardised Process Design Kits (PDKs) and Assembly Design Kits (ADKs), providing companies with established manufacturing frameworks that reduce development complexity and improve compatibility between suppliers.
These resources are expected to lower technical barriers for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises entering the quantum market while encouraging broader industrial participation across the European supply chain.
The initiative also supports wider efforts by the European Union to increase technological sovereignty by reducing dependence on overseas manufacturing for critical quantum components.
With funding secured through a six-year Framework Partnership Agreement, Q-PLANET is expected to continue beyond its initial phase.
A second three-year programme is planned to expand adoption of the technologies developed, further improve manufacturing maturity and accelerate the commercial deployment of European-made quantum chips across computing, sensing and secure communication applications.
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