Novo Nordisk Foundation plans to establish a $62 million quantum chip manufacturing facility in Copenhagen.

      Europe is set to develop a facility for quantum chips instead of merely another quantum computer. The Quantum Foundry Copenhagen, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, is constructing a 5,300-square-metre plant in the Danish capital, slated to open in 2027, providing wafer fabrication services to quantum firms globally.

      According to Bloomberg, the investment amounts to approximately $62 million, which is modest compared to the billions allocated for AI data centers, yet it targets a sector of the quantum industry that Europe has limited access to at present.

      The facility will handle nanofabrication of quantum materials, as well as characterization, testing, chip assembly, packaging, and ultra-high-vacuum manufacturing. These processes are essential to quantum computers, and Europe has faced challenges in establishing sufficient capacity outside of research institutions in this area.

      Peter Krogstrup, the CEO of the company, has articulated a clear ambition:

      “Our aim is to become a global leader in quantum chip manufacturing, providing Europe with advanced next-generation quantum computing processors and enabling quantum businesses to scale their production. We plan to create cutting-edge quantum production lines and foster a sustainable deep-tech industry that can influence the future of quantum technology.”

      The funding is not sourced from governmental or venture capital. The Novo Nordisk Foundation, a charitable organization behind Ozempic and the wealthiest foundation in Europe, has pledged over DKK 2.9 billion, roughly €390 million, toward quantum technologies.

      This investment has been directed toward both research and manufacturing. The foundation oversees a quantum computing program at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, aiming to develop Denmark's first fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2034. The foundry is designed to link that research with manufacturing capabilities.

      Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, the foundation's CEO, echoed this sentiment:

      “At the Novo Nordisk Foundation, we believe that quantum technologies will define scientific and technological advancements this century. That’s why we have made a significant long-term investment to establish a world-class quantum ecosystem in Denmark and Europe.”

      Lene Oddershede, the foundation’s chief scientific officer, directly emphasized the strategic importance of this initiative, stating that developing this capacity “represents a crucial step in positioning Europe at the center of the global quantum ecosystem.”

      The European Commission was present at the launch, which reflects how the project is being perceived. “Enhancing European capacity to develop and produce quantum chips is vital for competitiveness and technological independence,” remarked Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s executive vice-president.

      This project aligns with a broader policy shift, as the EU’s Quantum Europe Strategy and the Quantum Act, currently progressing through Brussels, emphasize commercialization and manufacturing over the research funding that has dominated European public investment to date.

      Denmark has been strategically enhancing its position in this domain. The country has outlined its own strategy for transitioning quantum research into a commercial industry and has partnered with Microsoft to build what was announced as the world’s most powerful quantum computer, in conjunction with its national investment fund.

      In other regions of Europe, spending has largely concentrated on quantum applications and individual companies rather than establishing manufacturing infrastructure. For instance, France has allocated €500 million to quantum computing, while Finland has developed a hardware ecosystem surrounding IQM, but neither has an open commercial foundry of this nature.

      A foundry could significantly impact what smaller quantum companies can produce. A startup with a novel qubit design presently needs to either develop its own fabrication capabilities or seek access to a university cleanroom, neither of which is particularly conducive to scaling a commercial product.

      The analogy often drawn is with the semiconductor industry. TSMC revolutionized chip design into a business that companies could engage in without needing to own a factory by decoupling design from manufacturing. A commercial quantum foundry aims to achieve something similar, although the technology remains at a much earlier stage.

      However, reaching this goal will be challenging. There is no prevailing qubit architecture, meaning a foundry might eventually have to accommodate superconducting, spin, and topological approaches, each demanding different manufacturing processes.

      Europe's issue has not been a deficiency in quantum research. The continent generates robust research and has established leading companies; however, commercialization has frequently occurred elsewhere, creating obstacles for Europe in developing a competitive quantum sector.

      Gaining more control over the manufacturing aspect is one strategy to address this. A quantum company relying on a European foundry would have a motive to maintain part of its production ecosystem within Europe, unlike a research lab that primarily focuses on publishing findings.