The race to unlock practical and scalable quantum computing has taken a definite turn toward a silicon-based future, with French startup Quobly carving out a space that’s equal parts ambition and industry savvy. Armed with a hefty €21 million funding boost, Quobly isn’t just dreaming about quantum processors—they’re hustling to industrialize a 100-qubit chip built on silicon, pushing this elusive tech from lab benches to factory floors. This move signals a strategic shift in the quantum game, where marrying cutting-edge science with the tried-and-true semiconductor manufacturing model might just break the commercialization deadlock that’s dogged quantum computing for years.
Quobly’s approach revolves around silicon spin qubits—those tiny quantum dots harnessing the electron’s spin in a silicon substrate. Unlike superconducting qubits, which often come with high complexity and finicky materials, silicon qubits offer longer coherence times and compatibility with existing microelectronics fabrication lines. By choosing 300 mm Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator (FD-SOI) wafers—basically the industry workhorse for chips—Quobly aligns quantum hardware with mature semiconductor processes, a savvy way of sidestepping many barriers to scale. This strategy is far from just technical; it’s about leveraging well-worn industrial lanes to speed up the transition from prototype frenzy to mass production.
Securing €21 million in funding isn’t just a number; it’s a multi-layered pact between government innovation programs and private capital. The bulk of these funds emerge from a €15 million grant under Bpifrance’s France 2030 innovation program, complemented by €6 million of Quobly’s own investment. This co-investment model reflects a bet on quantum computing’s future while acknowledging the capital-intensive road ahead. Fragmented funding or piecemeal support has long hampered quantum startups, so Quobly’s cohesive financial backing equips it to accelerate development and industrial scaling—a bottleneck that’s strangled many quantum ambitions.
Scaling up quantum chips to 100 physical qubits on silicon is no casual stroll in the park. Increasing qubit counts magnifies computational abilities but also ramps up engineering challenges—chief among them sustaining qubit fidelity and coherence. Silicon spin qubits shine here for their longer coherence times, potentially allowing processors to operate with fewer errors. This edge contrasts with other qubit models like superconducting circuits, which although popular, grapple with more complex fabrication and often limited coherence. In opting for silicon, Quobly isn’t just incrementally scaling; they’re seeking to streamline and future-proof quantum chip manufacture in a semiconductor ecosystem that’s been refined for decades.
Beyond the tech specs, Quobly’s operational roadmap further reflects a sharp understanding of industrial scaling imperatives. Adopting a fabless manufacturing model means they design the quantum chips but outsource production to large semiconductor foundries experienced in 300 mm wafer processing. This isn’t an incidental choice; it’s about tapping into existing economies of scale and industrial know-how to ramp production faster and leaner. Softer infrastructure investments complement this stance. Opening quantum chip testing and characterization facilities at Grenoble’s BHT3 innovation hub arms Quobly with the tools to rapidly iterate and validate designs—a crucial feedback loop when quantum chips are as finicky as they are fragile.
Tracing Quobly’s journey back reveals roots planted in deep, collaborative research soil. Initially launched as Siquance in 2022, a spin-off from heavyweight French research institutions CEA and CNRS, the startup leveraged over a decade of quantum microelectronics expertise. The rebranding to Quobly, paired with a successful €19 million seed round, signals more than a name change—it marks a clear mission rewrite aimed at carving a competitive niche within the European quantum ecosystem. This contrasts with contemporaries like Alice & Bob, which pursue alternative error correction strategies and infrastructure-heavy projects like their planned $50 million lab in Paris. Quobly’s focus remains sharp on integrating industrial semiconductor strengths and advancing quantum scale.
All told, Quobly’s recent €21 million funding milestone and its plan to industrialize a 100-qubit silicon quantum chip symbolize a pivotal moment in commercial quantum computing’s protracted saga. Their blend of silicon spin qubit technology, fabless manufacturing model, and targeted infrastructure investments addresses some of the steepest hurdles in moving from quantum novelty to widespread application. Moreover, this effort places France on the global quantum computing map with renewed vigor, potentially heralding an era where quantum devices slide out of exclusive labs into broad industrial use. As the dollar detective might say, Quobly’s chasing down quantum’s elusive trail with a pocket full of smarts and a whole lot of silicon grit—now let’s see if they can close the case.
发表回复