SemiQon

SemiQon is a Finnish deep-tech company developing scalable and cost-effective silicon-based quantum processors. Spun out from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in early 2023, the company aims to address key challenges in quantum computing related to scalability, price, and sustainability. The founding team includes Himadri Majumdar (CEO), Janne Lehtinen (CSO), Markku Kainlauri (Director of Operations), and Mika Prunnila. Majumdar has a two-decade career in Finland in research and innovation management, including serving as the Program Manager for quantum technologies at VTT before co-founding SemiQon.

SemiQon's core technology revolves around building quantum processor chips from silicon semiconductors, leveraging decades of know-how from the existing semiconductor industry. This approach is designed to make the processors well-suited for mass manufacturing and commercially competitive. A key innovation is the development of the world's first transistor fully optimized for cryogenic temperatures (1 Kelvin and lower), which significantly reduces heat dissipation and power consumption, critical factors for scaling quantum computers. This cryo-CMOS technology allows control and readout electronics to be placed closer to the qubits inside the cryostat, simplifying system design and reducing the need for extensive room-temperature infrastructure.

The company's business model focuses on manufacturing and supplying these silicon-based quantum processor chips to partners and customers, including research groups, universities, and full-stack quantum computer manufacturers. In March 2024, SemiQon announced it had manufactured and shipped its first 4-qubit quantum dot array to strategic partners. While the primary mission is to enable million-qubit fault-tolerant quantum computers, SemiQon is also commercializing its cryo-CMOS technology for applications beyond quantum, such as in space technology and defense, to generate earlier revenue. The company operates its fabrication facilities in Espoo, Finland, utilizing the Micronova pilot microelectronics fabrication center.

Since its inception, SemiQon has secured significant funding to accelerate its development and commercialization efforts. It raised €1.9 million in pre-seed funding to begin operations in 2023. By February 2025, the company had secured a total of €17.5 million, which includes a €2.5 million grant and €15 million in equity from the European Innovation Council (EIC). This funding is intended to advance its cryo-CMOS product from a technology readiness level (TRL) of 6 to 8 within two years.

Keywords: silicon quantum processors, cryogenic CMOS, quantum computing hardware, quantum dot qubits, semiconductor qubits, quantum scalability, VTT spin-off, cryo-electronics, quantum hardware, fault-tolerant quantum computing, quantum integrated circuits, silicon-on-insulator, deep tech, quantum chip manufacturing, spin qubits, quantum technology