On the 16th, STMicroelectronics announced an innovative partnership with the cutting-edge quantum computing startup Quobly to aim for the large-scale production of Quantum Processor Units (QPU). Based on ST's advanced fully depleted silicon on insulator (FD-SOI) semiconductor process technology, both companies are set to secure feasible and expense-effective large-scale quantum computing capabilities.
Quobly aims to break through the 1 million qubit barrier by 2031, targeting various application areas ranging from pharmaceuticals, finance, materials science, to climate and fluid dynamics simulations. The two companies plan to achieve groundbreaking results in the field of quantum computing by leveraging their common expertise in FD-SOI and reducing research and development expenses.
In the initial phase of collaboration, Quobly and ST aim to modify ST's 28nm FD-SOI process to meet Quobly's requirements, targeting a 100 qubit quantum machine with proven scalability of more than 100,000 physical qubits. ST plans to support Quobly to jointly design, prototype, industrialize, and mass-produce at scale using FD-SOI in a 300mm fab, leveraging its integrated device manufacturer model. The FD-SOI process is a technology that ST has commercially developed and utilized for years in automotive, industrial, and consumer applications.
Maud Vinet, CEO of Quobly, noted, "This collaboration is unprecedented in the field of quantum computing. With close cooperation with ST, we will accelerate the industrialization of quantum processor technology by years. Our goal is to break through the 1 million qubit barrier by 2031, which will support various applications ranging from pharmaceuticals, finance, materials science, to climate and fluid dynamics simulations."
Remi El-Ouazzane, president of ST's Microcontroller, Digital IC, and RF Products Group, stated, "Quantum computing will transform the world, starting with AI, chemistry, security, and supply chain applications." He added, "This cooperation is based on ST's strengths as an integrated device manufacturer, integrating process research and development expertise, circuit design capabilities, and mass production capacities. By combining Quobly's expertise in quantum technology with ST's knowledge and manufacturing capabilities in FD-SOI, the development of economically viable large-scale quantum computing solutions will be further accelerated."