Insider Brief
- German quantum hardware firm eleQtron has partnered with Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) to accelerate scalable quantum chip production and move ion-trap quantum processors from lab to industry.
- The collaboration leverages FMD’s micro- and nanoelectronics expertise, particularly from Fraunhofer ENAS and Fraunhofer ISIT, to integrate MEMS, CMOS, and packaging innovations into eleQtron’s MAGIC© ion-trap architecture.
- The alliance supports eleQtron’s broader push for European tech sovereignty and joins other major efforts with Forschungszentrum Jülich, NXP, parityQC, and Infineon to develop a robust quantum ecosystem.
PRESS RELEASE — As it celebrates its fifth anniversary, German quantum hardware innovator eleQtron is taking its next strategic step: a long-term collaboration with leading institutes of Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) as one of the largest associations for research and development in the field of micro and nanoelectronics in Germany and Europe. The partnership aims to lay the foundation for scalable quantum chip production in Europe – and to fast-track the transition from lab-scale setups to industry-ready quantum computing. Scalable ion trap chips are complex composite modules and require a much larger variety of materials and technologies for manufacturing of quantum chips compared to conventional microelectronics. FMD provides a matchless and deep knowledge base as well as technological breadth through the collaboration of the specialized institutes that belong to the association. Among these, the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS plays a key role as the main driving force within FMD, contributing essential expertise in the field of quantum technologies and specialized micro- and nanofabrication processes.
The joint effort is already underway and focuses on transferring FMDs’ microfabrication expertise to eleQtron’s unique ion-trap-based architecture, known as MAGIC© (Magnetic Gradient Induced Coupling). Key development areas include heterogeneous integration, MEMS- and CMOS-compatible processes, and novel packaging concepts – all designed to support scalable, robust production of quantum processors beyond state-of-the-art together with FMD-institutes Fraunhofer ENAS and Fraunhofer ISIT. eleQtron experts started to analyze the latest results of the wafer level fabrication in May 2025 during a joint site visit to Fraunhofer ENAS. The institute contributes its long-standing experience and technological leadership in developing highly precise components and production processes for quantum chips based on ion traps. Together with Fraunhofer ISIT, Fraunhofer ENAS is working on innovative solutions that enable scalable and robust quantum processor manufacturing and set new technological benchmarks.
“Scaling quantum computing starts with scalable hardware,” says Jan Leisse, CEO and Co-Founder of eleQtron. “This partnership brings together two of Germany’s greatest strengths – quantum physics and microelectronics – to move quantum out of the lab and into real-world use.”
Five years of rapid progress
Founded in 2020 in Siegen, eleQtron has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising quantum hardware players. Unlike many competitors, the company uses high-frequency fields instead of lasers to control its qubits – a more stable, scalable, and cost-effective approach. In just five years, eleQtron has gone from concept to commercial delivery, including high-profile deployments at DLR and Forschungszentrum Jülich worth over €50 million.
A strategic push for European tech sovereignty
The collaboration with leading institutes in the field of micro and nanoelectronics under the umbrella of FMD is part of eleQtron’s broader strategy to build a strong quantum ecosystem in Germany and Europe and to build a resilient hardware supply chain. The FMD platform offers access to an unparalleled microelectronics infrastructure – making it an ideal partner for transferring advanced fabrication capabilities into the quantum domain.
“Quantum computing is the next frontier of European tech sovereignty,” says Prof. Harald Kuhn, director of Fraunhofer ENAS, which plays a decisive role in shaping the FMD with its leading expertise in ion trap technology. “With
eleQtron, we’re translating world-class research into scalable solutions for tomorrow’s computing needs.”
More than a partnership: building a quantum ecosystem
The partnership with the FMD joins a growing list of strategic alliances in eleQtron’s ecosystem, including:
- A multi-million-euro collaboration with Forschungszentrum Jülich under the EPIQ project to deliver a modular quantum supercomputing system;
- A DLR-funded program with NXP® Semiconductors and parityQC, focused on scalable system architectures;
- A joint development initiative with Infineon Technologies, building advanced ion-trap QPUs within the MAGIC-App program.
“We don’t just build hardware – we build partnerships,” Leisse adds. “That’s the only way to bring quantum computing into productive use.”
