Dr Florian Kaiser, Head of the Quantum Materials group at LIST;
Credit: LIST
On Wednesday 4 December 2024, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) announced that Dr Florian Kaiser, Head of the Quantum Materials group at LIST, was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant worth €3 million over a five-year period.
This grant will fund Dr Kaiser’s research project, “Q-Chip”, which aims to demonstrate that quantum processors and quantum memories can be operated simultaneously on a single chip, thus overcoming existing scalability challenges in quantum technologies.
“A major question in modern quantum technology is whether we can combine individual demonstration experiments to create practical, real-world applications,” explained Dr Kaiser. “Theoretical studies suggest that linking quantum memories and processors – such as on a single chip – could allow even small systems to deliver significant quantum advantages. This will be immediately relevant for setting up a quantum internet, and, at a later stage, quantum computers.”
The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a prototype that mimics Apple's latest M-line chips, incorporating both processor and memory modules on the same chip. This integration is expected to enable superior performance and minimal energy consumption, aligning with the future of quantum technology: scalable, efficient and practical systems.
Dr Kaiser emphasised that the immediate aim of the project is to create a proof of concept for scalable quantum integration. “We will prioritise hardware development in the first phase of the project,” he said. “Quantum-specific benchmarking experiments will only commence in the final stage.”
The initial prototype will consist of a single quantum processor and a single quantum memory, which can be connected via entanglement in a photonic network. At the end of the project, the team aims to present a fully characterised prototype and provide a roadmap for subsequent developments.
The project will build on research, also led by Dr Kaiser and his team, that explores silicon carbide's potential to significantly improve scalability in quantum computing. On completion, this project is expected to drive a major shift towards reliable, affordable and widely accessible quantum technologies. LIST also described Europe as uniquely positioned to lead this transformation, as it dominates the global silicon carbide industry with over 70% market share.
The project is anticipated to commence around April next year and span a total of five years.
