📋 Tender Overview
Infineon Technologies AG is one of the industrial pioneers with its open approach to researching and developing quantum computing. It is driving the progress of this technological basis of future supercomputers in three promising ways. Now in addition to several highly recognized research institutes it is once again participating as an industrial partner in further national and European funded projects.The technological race for better quantum computing technology is still open. Essentially scientists are pursuing three paths to the physical technical implementation of the crucial basic elements the qubits superconducting qubits ion trap-based qubits and silicon-based spin qubits. Infineon is researching and developing all three approaches with the potential for industrial implementation. It contributes its semiconductor and industrial expertise to several consortia on quantum technology including the funded projects GEQCOS for superconducting qubits and PIEDMONS for ion trap-based quantum computing. Now the company is also collaborating in the QUASAR project which focuses on silicon-based spin qubits. This project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF as part of the funding program Quantum Technologies - from Basic Research to Market contract number 13N15656.QUASAR aims to lay the foundations for the industrial production of quantum processors over the next four years. The goal is a semiconductor quantum processor based on the exchange of electrons shuttle and to be realized with technology available in Germany. To this end scientists from Forschungszentrum Jlich institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Leibniz Association the universities in Regensburg and Konstanz the quantum start-up HQS and Infineon Dresden are working together. The project is coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jlich.A key advantage is that silicon-based spin qubits are robust fast and at the same time have excellent scaling potential says Claus Dahl Director Automotive Sense and Control at Infineon Dresden.In silicon-based qubits quantum information is encoded by the spin of electrons. These electrons are located at so-called quantum dots special semiconductor structures in the nanometer range. Novel interconnect elements are to be used for the interaction between the qubits. These so-called quantum buses shall enable the transport of electrons in a controlled manner over distances of up to about 10 micrometers without losing the quantum information. In collaboration with quantum scientists at RWTH Aachen University Infineon has already developed process engineering approaches for a scalable architecture for corresponding quantum processors.In addition Infineon Dresden is participating in the Quantum Large-Scale Integration with Silicon QLSI project of the European Quantum Flagship which started in September 2020. Together with partners from the QUASAR project and other European institutions Infineon is researching an industry-compatible fabrication approach for semiconductor qubits. The QLSI project is coordinated by the French research institute for electronics and information technology CEA-Leti.In close cooperation between academic and industrial research we want to raise the quality in the fabrication of quantum devices to an industry-compatible level in these projects. After all only by using industrial standard processes of CMOS technology to a large extent the challenges in process integration can be mastered when scaling up to a complex product explains Dahl.Setting the course for European value creation potentialIf we in Germany and Europe dont want to be dependent for this future technology solely on American or Asian know-how we must move forward with the industrialization now says Sebastian Luber Senior Director Technology Innovation at Infineon. Quantum computing and its wider application are still in their infancy. The course is now being set for the technology competitors to differentiate a new dimension with their own know-how to the digitalization of business and society. The value creation potential of applying quantum computing is many times greater than in the technology itself. Infineons research projects play a major role in laying the foundation for implementing the current federal initiative to build a quantum computer made in Germany.Partners of the QUASAR projectHQS Quantum Simulations GmbH is a KIT spin-off with 18 employees and focuses on quantum mechanical material simulations. HQS cooperates with companies such as BASF BOSCH and Merck in the materials and chemicals sector.The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics develops hardware for quantum technology and electronic systems. The core competencies range from materials research design and technology development cryogenic measurement technology to circuits and systems.The Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics conducts research and development on silicon-based high-frequency circuits and technologies including new materials. It also offers prototype manufacturing via its 200 mm line.The Leibniz Institute of Crystal Growth specializes in the growth of solid crystals epitaxial thin films and nanostructures. The development and characterization of isotopically pure 28Si crystals deserves special mention.With around 2700 employees Infineon Technologies Dresden GmbH Co. KG is one of the most modern and largest semiconductor development and production sites in Germany. Infineon Dresden has two highly automated production lines covering about 50 different technologies. The Infineon Technolgies is strategically involved in post-quantum cryptography as well as various quantum hardware concepts such as ion traps superconductors and approaches based on SiGe quantum wells. The latter are being investigated at the Dresden site.
