Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SQOUT (Scaling-up quantum computers with quantum memory links)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2025-01-01 do 2025-12-31
Quantum computing is widely recognised as one of the most transformative technologies of the coming decades. It promises unprecedented computational capabilities, with the potential to address complex problems that are currently intractable for classical computers. Such capabilities could enable major advances in areas including drug discovery, industrial optimisation, climate modelling, finance, and AI. Despite rapid scientific progress, today’s quantum computing hardware remains fundamentally limited in scale and reliability, preventing its transition from laboratory prototypes to practical, fault-tolerant systems.
Current quantum processors rely on quantum bits (qubits) that are extremely sensitive to noise and errors. As a result, even the most advanced platforms demonstrated so far are restricted to a few hundred qubits, far below the millions required for useful, fault-tolerant quantum computing. There is now broad consensus across the scientific and industrial communities that scaling quantum computing will require a modular approach: interconnecting multiple smaller quantum processing units into distributed architectures. However, this vision faces a critical technological bottleneck. Reliable methods to store, synchronise, and transmit quantum states between separate processors do not yet exist in commercially viable form. In particular, high-performance quantum memories, which are essential to enable such interconnections, are still missing from the market.
The project addresses this strategic gap by targeting one of the most pressing challenges in quantum hardware development: enabling robust and scalable interconnection between heterogeneous quantum processors. It builds on a breakthrough cold-atom quantum memory technology that achieves exceptionally high storage efficiency and quantum state fidelity. This technology makes it possible to reliably absorb, store, and retrieve fragile quantum states of light on demand, while preserving their coherence.
The overall objective of the project is to transform this scientific breakthrough into an industrially viable, integrated solution that can interface with a wide range of quantum computing platforms, including photonic, neutral-atom, ion-based, superconducting, and spin-based processors. The project aims to develop a complete “quantum memory link”, combining dedicated hardware with advanced control software, to synchronise qubits across physically separated processing units. By enabling multiple smaller quantum processors to operate coherently as a single system, the project paves the way towards scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing architectures.
By bridging the gap between frontier research and industrial deployment, the project is expected to deliver significant impacts. These include accelerating access to high-value quantum applications, enabling new industrial capabilities, and positioning Europe at the forefront of scalable quantum computing and networking technologies. In this way, the project aligns closely with European strategic priorities to strengthen technological sovereignty, build a competitive quantum industrial ecosystem, and support the emergence of next-generation digital infrastructure.
Current quantum processors rely on quantum bits (qubits) that are extremely sensitive to noise and errors. As a result, even the most advanced platforms demonstrated so far are restricted to a few hundred qubits, far below the millions required for useful, fault-tolerant quantum computing. There is now broad consensus across the scientific and industrial communities that scaling quantum computing will require a modular approach: interconnecting multiple smaller quantum processing units into distributed architectures. However, this vision faces a critical technological bottleneck. Reliable methods to store, synchronise, and transmit quantum states between separate processors do not yet exist in commercially viable form. In particular, high-performance quantum memories, which are essential to enable such interconnections, are still missing from the market.
The project addresses this strategic gap by targeting one of the most pressing challenges in quantum hardware development: enabling robust and scalable interconnection between heterogeneous quantum processors. It builds on a breakthrough cold-atom quantum memory technology that achieves exceptionally high storage efficiency and quantum state fidelity. This technology makes it possible to reliably absorb, store, and retrieve fragile quantum states of light on demand, while preserving their coherence.
The overall objective of the project is to transform this scientific breakthrough into an industrially viable, integrated solution that can interface with a wide range of quantum computing platforms, including photonic, neutral-atom, ion-based, superconducting, and spin-based processors. The project aims to develop a complete “quantum memory link”, combining dedicated hardware with advanced control software, to synchronise qubits across physically separated processing units. By enabling multiple smaller quantum processors to operate coherently as a single system, the project paves the way towards scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing architectures.
By bridging the gap between frontier research and industrial deployment, the project is expected to deliver significant impacts. These include accelerating access to high-value quantum applications, enabling new industrial capabilities, and positioning Europe at the forefront of scalable quantum computing and networking technologies. In this way, the project aligns closely with European strategic priorities to strengthen technological sovereignty, build a competitive quantum industrial ecosystem, and support the emergence of next-generation digital infrastructure.
The project focused on advancing a high-performance quantum memory technology from laboratory demonstration towards an integrated system suitable for quantum processor interconnection. Technical activities concentrated on optimising a cold-atom quantum memory to achieve high storage efficiency, quantum state fidelity, and operational stability, which are essential requirements for distributed and fault-tolerant quantum computing.
In parallel, the project addressed system-level engineering challenges by integrating optical, electronic, and control components into a compact and automated system. Dedicated control software was developed to manage timing, synchronisation, and interaction between paired quantum memories operating as a “quantum link”. This full-stack approach enables compatibility with different quantum computing platforms and supports scalable system architectures.
Building on these developments, the project will carry out validation activities with selected pilot partners representing diverse quantum hardware technologies. These forthcoming demonstrations will assess real-world interfacing, performance, and robustness, establishing the technical basis for progressing towards higher technology readiness levels and future industrial deployment.
In parallel, the project addressed system-level engineering challenges by integrating optical, electronic, and control components into a compact and automated system. Dedicated control software was developed to manage timing, synchronisation, and interaction between paired quantum memories operating as a “quantum link”. This full-stack approach enables compatibility with different quantum computing platforms and supports scalable system architectures.
Building on these developments, the project will carry out validation activities with selected pilot partners representing diverse quantum hardware technologies. These forthcoming demonstrations will assess real-world interfacing, performance, and robustness, establishing the technical basis for progressing towards higher technology readiness levels and future industrial deployment.
The project delivers a quantum memory technology that significantly exceeds the current state of the art in terms of storage efficiency, quantum fidelity, and reliability. By enabling efficient and on-demand synchronisation of quantum states, the developed quantum memory link addresses a key limitation preventing scalable and modular quantum computing architectures.
Beyond existing approaches, the results enable practical interconnection between heterogeneous quantum processors, opening pathways towards fault-tolerant distributed quantum computing and advanced quantum networking. Further uptake will require continued system integration, pilot demonstrations, and alignment with emerging standards, but the project establishes a decisive technological advantage with strong potential for industrial adoption and market impact.
Beyond existing approaches, the results enable practical interconnection between heterogeneous quantum processors, opening pathways towards fault-tolerant distributed quantum computing and advanced quantum networking. Further uptake will require continued system integration, pilot demonstrations, and alignment with emerging standards, but the project establishes a decisive technological advantage with strong potential for industrial adoption and market impact.