A semiconductor pilot line focused on the development of quantum chips has launched at Imec Leuven in Belgium.

Dubbed SPINS (Semiconductor Pilot line for Industrial Quantum NanoSystems), the pilot line is coordinated by R&D organization Imec and brings together 25 partners from across Europe to strengthen the region’s quantum “leadership and sovereignty.”

The €50 million ($58m) project is funded by the European Union’s Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) alongside national and regional authorities across participating member states. Participants include Fraunhofer, VTT, CEA-Leti, Infineon, TU Delft, and the University of Jyväskylä.

SPINS will focus on semiconductor-based spin qubits, in particular, the development of quantum chips. In addition to looking into semiconductor design and process optimization, the project also aims to create a “lab-to-fab pathway” through Multi-Project Wafers (MPW) and standardized quantum Process Design Kits (PDKs), lowering barriers to entry for organizations operating in this space.

It is one of six quantum pilot lines established by the EU Chips Act, with each focusing on distinctive hardware platforms that can advance quantum computing, communications, and sensing technologies. These other projects include Champ-Ion for ion-trapped qubits, Direqt for diamond-based quantum chips, Q-Planet for neutral atom systems, P4Q for quantum photonics, and Supreme for superconducting qubits.

“Scaling qubits requires an extremely controllable environment and solid manufacturing processing, in view of the extreme sensitivity of qubits to environmental noise,” said Kristiaan De Greve, SPINS coordinator. “These challenges require both the accuracy and control that is only present in the state of semiconductor cleanroom infrastructure, combined with the research and innovation mentality to adjust such an environment to address these sensitive qubits.

“At Imec, we’ve been creatively addressing complex problems with advanced semiconductor manufacturing for over 40 years. By bundling the expertise of our European consortium partners in this quantum pilot line, we will speed up the development of high-TRL semiconductor qubits and thereby enable larger-scale quantum systems made in Europe.”

The launch of SPINS comes two months after the EU announced it had established its largest CHIPS Act pilot line to date – a €2.5 billion ($3bn) facility dubbed NanoIC that is dedicated to the development of advanced semiconductors.

Also coordinated by Imec and based in Leuven, the European Commission said NanoIC will be the first European facility to deploy the most advanced Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine, tools made by ASML, and necessary for the manufacturing of 2nm and sub-2nm semiconductors.

NanoIC is one of five pilot lines planned under the Chips Act dedicated to traditional semiconductor manufacturing. In total, the five projects – NanoIC, FAMES, APECS, WBG, and PIXEurope – represent a combined EU and national investment of €3.7 billion ($4.33bn).

Approved in April 2023, the €43 billion ($51bn) EU Chips Act was established with the intention of doubling the EU’s global market share in semiconductors from 10 percent to at least 20 percent by 2030. Originally set to focus only on high-end chips, it has since expanded to include older chips and research and design facilities.