Insider Brief:
- Quobly has secured €21 million (approximately $23.7 million) to industrialize a 100-qubit silicon-based quantum processor as part of the Q100T Project.
- The chip will be built on 300 mm FD-SOI wafers, aligning with standard semiconductor manufacturing processes to support large-scale production.
- The project builds on 15 years of research at CEA and CNRS and is supported by partnerships, including an exclusive collaboration with STMicroelectronics.
- Quobly intends to reach production-readiness by 2027 by moving from lab-scale demonstrations to a manufacturable, CMOS-compatible quantum platform within the France 2030 initiative.
Quobly, a quantum microelectronics startup based in France, has announced a €21 million (approximately $23.7 million) financing package to accelerate the industrial production of a silicon-based quantum processor featuring 100 physical qubits. According to a release from the company, the Q100T Project is a milestone in transitioning quantum technology from lab-scale demonstrations to scalable, CMOS-compatible production.
The funding consists of a €15 million grant from Bpifrance as part of the France 2030 initiative and a €6 million co-investment from Quobly’s own equity. For an early-stage company, committing €6 million in equity speaks to Quobly’s strong intent to move beyond research and into full-scale production.
From CMOS Compatibility to Industrialization
The processor will be manufactured using 300 mm fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD-SOI) wafers, which is the same semiconductor technology used in mainstream consumer electronics, including smartphones and automotive chips. FD-SOI enables high-speed and low-power operation by using an ultra-thin insulating layer beneath the transistor channel, and it is well-known for its ability to mitigate variability at nanoscale dimensions.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, Quobly is adapting quantum chip production to fit within existing semiconductor fabs. As noted in the release, the use of 300 mm wafers removes a bottleneck in quantum hardware scalability by enabling compatibility with industry-standard tools and processes.
The project draws on 15 years of research at CEA and CNRS, including early demonstrations of spin qubits on silicon and a portfolio of more than 40 patent families. The company has already demonstrated a functioning qubit on a 300 mm wafer, validating that its technology can be integrated into the semiconductor supply chain without custom fabrication workflows.
Quobly’s CEO and cofounder, Maud Vinet, stated that this funding positions the company for the “home stretch” of industrialization. The end goal of the Q100T project is to produce a 100-qubit chip that can support the shift from prototype to commercial rollout.
Strategic Partnerships and Governance Shifts
In support of this industrial transition, Quobly has appointed Philippe Delmas, a former vice-president at Airbus, as Chairman of its Board of Directors. As noted in the release, Delmas brings experience in both the management of major technology organizations and the scaling of high-growth startups. His appointment is intended to support the company’s commercialization timeline, with production-readiness planned by 2027.
Quobly also highlighted its partnership with STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor manufacturer. The collaboration, announced in late 2024, is described as exclusive and essential to the company’s scale-up phase. While specific manufacturing or co-development responsibilities were not detailed in the release, the involvement of STMicroelectronics provides Quobly with a direct pathway into high-volume chip production.
The Q100T project is part of France’s broader national effort to build leadership in quantum technologies. The France 2030 plan, launched by the French government, supports innovation with targeted funding in sectors such as quantum computing, clean energy, and biotechnology. The program’s backing of Quobly signals national-level interest in building domestic quantum manufacturing capabilities that align with existing semiconductor strengths.
Prototype and Production in Silicon Quantum Chips
Spin qubits in silicon leverage the spin state of a single electron confined in a quantum dot, typically formed within a silicon transistor. Their advantages include long coherence times, potential for dense integration, and natural compatibility with mature silicon processing. However, challenges remain in achieving high-fidelity gate operations, scaling control electronics, and maintaining qubit uniformity across large wafers.
By focusing on 300 mm FD-SOI wafers, Quobly intends to address many of these bottlenecks simultaneously. As outlined in the release, the Q100T project is not just about increasing qubit count, but rather, focused on achieving a manufacturable platform for quantum computing that can integrate into existing foundry processes and supply chains.
The company has not yet provided technical specifications for the Q100T chip, such as expected coherence times, gate fidelities, or error correction architecture. However, the €21 million package reflects growing institutional support for scalable silicon-based quantum processors. If successful, Quobly’s project could lead to a shift from prototype-scale demonstrations to manufacturable quantum processors using industry-standard infrastructure, an essential step for commercial adoption in the years ahead.
