Towards Quantum Industry: VTT’s Role in Quantum Enabling Technologies

That transition requires much more than a quantum processor. Behind every quantum system is a complex technology stack: advanced materials, semiconductor processing, photonics, detectors, electronics, packaging, cryogenics, control systems, testing and integration. These technologies may not always carry the word quantum in their name, but they determine whether a quantum device can move from a laboratory experiment to a product. This is the emerging quantum enabling layer which is one of the most important parts of global quantum industry. 

Europe is now putting this ambition into practice through a new generation of quantum pilots. Rather than focusing on a single quantum architecture, these initiatives address several of the technologies expected to shape the future of the field.

Each of the following European platform is technically different. Yet they all face the same fundamental industrial question: How do we turn a promising quantum technology into something that can be manufactured, integrated and used at scale?

• SUPREME, coordinated by VTT, focuses on superconducting quantum technologies, developing stable and reproducible manufacturing processes, advanced integration for superconducting quantum chips.  
• P4Q, coordinated by the University of Twente, is building a European manufacturing ecosystem for photonic quantum chips and assemblies.
• CHAMP-ION, coordinated by Silicon Austria Labs, focuses on the industrialization of trapped-ion quantum chips.
• Q-PLANET, coordinated by PASQAL, addresses chip-scale neutral-atom quantum technologies.
• DIREQT, coordinated by CNR, is developing a European manufacturing platform for diamond quantum technologies.  
• SPINS, coordinated by imec, focuses on spin-based quantum technologies.  

Within this European landscape, VTT has developed a distinctive position through its involvement across all six European quantum pilots, bringing together expertise in photonics, microfabrication, superconducting technologies, detectors, packaging and system integration across different quantum platforms. These capabilities are relevant across several quantum architectures and create a bridge between quantum research and industrial manufacturing. This makes VTT's role broader than developing one particular type of quantum computer: it contributes to build the technology layer underneath the European quantum ecosystem. While different quantum platforms may compete, many of the enabling technologies they rely on can increasingly be shared and developed together. 

VTT's role can be seen through Qu-Pilot, a pioneering European experimental pilot line coordinated by VTT that connects quantum technology infrastructures across Europe. Qu-Pilot addresses a critical gap in the European innovation chain: giving companies and researchers access to experimental production capabilities without requiring them to build the entire infrastructure themselves. The initiative covers several quantum technology areas and aims to connect European capabilities into a distributed pilot-production network.

The next step is stability quantum pilots, to establish stable and scalable manufacturing processes for quantum chips.  This represents an important shift in the European approach to quantum innovation. 

As Europe's different quantum pilots develop, the importance of the enabling layer becomes increasingly visible. The strength of the enabling technologies lies in their ability to create value across quantum platforms by sharing knowledge and infrastructure: Photonics can connect quantum systems. Advanced packaging can integrate different technologies. Semiconductor processes can support multiple quantum architectures. Detectors and control technologies can serve computing, communication and sensing. The enabling layer therefore provides a common “language” for different quantum platforms.

Quantum technologies depend on a broad range of enabling technologies, from advanced materials and semiconductor processing to superconducting devices, detectors, cryogenic and RF electronics, control systems, packaging, testing and integration. These technologies provide the foundations needed to manufacture and operate quantum devices at scale.  

Within the enabling technologies, photonics plays a particularly important role. Photonics is key quantum enabling technology across quantum platforms, from trapped-ion and superconducting systems to photonic and neutral-atom technologies. They enable compact generation, routing, manipulation and detection of light, while optical packaging and integration connect PICs with fibres, lasers, detectors and other components. Photonic technologies also offer a pathway to scalable low-temperature and room-temperature interconnects.

For Europe, this creates a strong opportunity. The future of quantum technology will depend not only on better qubits, but on the ability to manufacture, integrate, and test them at scale. Quantum enabling technologies are key to turning Europe’s research strength into industrial strength.