Quobly and STMicroelectronics have signed a collaboration agreement to advance Quobly’s quantum processing unit using STMicroelectronics’ 28nm FD-SOI technology. Their goal is to launch the first-generation QPU by 2027. CEO Maud Vinet and Philippe Magarshack of STMicroelectronics shared their thoughts on this innovative cooperation

It seems that everyone is talking about the potential of quantum to transform a wide range of industries. What verticals will Quobly’s future QPU address?

Maud: Quobly’s universal quantum computer will primarily address industries where high-performance computing is crucial, including finance, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy, logistics, government, and research (including climate). At Quobly, however, we will initially be targeting quantum chemistry and quantum materials for finalities like catalysis simulation, carbon reuse, nitrogen fixation. Today, developing the catalysts that will be needed for efficient chemical reactions to convert carbon into useful fuels and substances takes much too long—too long for being made. In terms of our go to market strategy, focusing on quantum chemistry also makes sense. First, because the total addressable market is vast and, second, because the kind of calculations we are talking about will require 100-plus logical qubits, Quobly’s sweet spot.

Philippe: ST’s core strength lies in developing unique and differentiated semiconductor process technologies. This involves carefully selecting optimal atom combinations. We believe Quantum Computing will accelerate this selection process significantly in the future, reducing the R&D timeframe from years to months.

There are a number of different quantum technologies currently in the race to a commercially viable, practical quantum processor. Quobly isn’t the only startup working on silicon qubits. Why did STMicroelectronics choose Quobly?

Philippe: We reviewed promising Quantum Computing technologies, including superconducting, cold atoms, trapped ions, silicon photonics, and Silicon spins. We chose Silicon spin qubits for their efficient integration with our existing silicon process technologies, and therefore their scalability. Specifically, we selected FD-SOI, which ST has pioneered since 2012, for its superior isolation for single electron qubits. Among companies developing FD-SOI spin qubits, we chose Quobly due to our successful past collaboration on ST’s FD-SOI technology, with Quobly team members while they were part of CEA-LETI.

Maud: Quantum technology must scale up from a science project to have societal impact. This requires integrating qubits into commercial fabs affordably and at scale. STMicroelectronics and Quobly are committed to this practical innovation approach.

This agreement is unprecedented in the quantum computing industry. What makes it so unique?

Philippe: After choosing Quobly as a partner, we leveraged ST’s expertise to transition silicon technologies from lab to fab in our advanced 300mm facility in Crolles, France. This collaboration provides Quobly with ST’s industrial knowledge and access to our skilled circuit designers, device engineers, back-end engineers, and litho experts, ensuring the manufacturability of Quobly’s quantum chips.

Maud:STMicroelectronics’ team will be working with our people to adapt ST’s commercial processes in a rapid feedback loop. ST will bring process know-how and design expertise to our mastery of silicon-based quantum.

What will the collaboration look like in practical terms? How will your respective teams be working together? What challenges do you anticipate and how will you overcome them?

Philippe: The collaboration is structured over multiple years, with intermediate milestones, increasingly complex silicon test vehicles, and access to Quobly’s low-temperature silicon characterization equipment to facilitate short loops during process development. Classical program management techniques are utilized, including regular meetings, where the two teams will share their technical analysis of the measurement results, and task owners from each of the two entities.

Maud: This is a long-term collaboration, and we will be working together closely. We plan to iterate through regular meetings, with ST in charge of manufacturing, and Quobly focused mainly on measurement and characterization. We will share results in real time to keep the design process moving forward at a brisk pace.

What does the collaboration mean in terms of Quobly’s go-to-market strategy? Does Quobly plan to remain fabless with STMicroelectronics as its strategic fab partner?

Maud: Quobly still plans to stay fabless or at least fab light. This means we won’t have our own cleanrooms, but we will have our own statistical characterization and measurement capabilities to keep leveling up the technology. Most of our capabilities will be located in Grenoble, so geographical proximity with ST is definitely a plus for the cooperation. But so is our shared history around FD-SOI. Several of our team members at Quobly were pioneers in the genesis and development of FD-SOI, including in the cooperation with ST. Our people know each other, and we have succeeded together in the past. Now we plan to do it again.

Quobly has also announced an upcoming Series A round and is actively seeking new partners. What kind of partners? Are we talking about quantum end-users? What role will STMicroelectronics play in this new stage in Quobly’s development?

Maud: Now that we have secured this strategic collaboration with ST to bring our silicon qubits from an R&D cleanroom into a commercial fab, a Series A round is the logical next step. The funds will position us to take full advantage of this decisive phase in our roadmap. In terms of new partnerships, we will be looking to our future industrial end-users. These partnerships will drive the co-development of a full quantum stack tailored to specific computational problems.

Quobly and STMicroelectronics both have ambitious business and CSR objectives. How will this collaboration move the needle?

Philippe: The CEO of ST has recently reaffirmed our objective to achieve our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027; and to source 100% renewable energy by that year. We are confident that the development of silicon-based quantum computing will support these goals for both ST and Quobly’s customers.

Maud: Quobly and ST both want to become major players in quantum. In terms of CSR, Quobly’s strategy is centered on use cases with the capacity to make a positive impact on the environment and support the move toward a circular carbon economy. Chemistry, which I mentioned earlier, is crucial in this regard, and it is also a market that offers a company like Quobly great potential in terms of business.