Europe Achieves Industrial Qubit Fabrication With High-NA EUV 2026

Europe has reached a significant milestone in quantum computing: the industrial fabrication of a qubit using an ASML High-NA extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine. This achievement, led by IMEC, marks a crucial step toward scalable quantum computers.

Fabricating a qubit—the physical device that implements the smallest unit of quantum information—is notoriously difficult. There are several types, including superconducting qubits, ion traps, neutral atoms, and ions implanted in macromolecules. While complexity varies, all are challenging to produce and manipulate. The ultimate goal is to manufacture them at scale to enable quantum machines with far more qubits than today's devices.

The First Industrial Qubit: Intel and QuTech's Breakthrough

In late March 2024, Intel and QuTech, the quantum computing research institute at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, announced they had produced the first qubit using the same processes and technology currently used for semiconductor manufacturing. This demonstrated that qubits could be fabricated on standard production lines, a key requirement for scaling.

However, the latest achievement by IMEC goes further. IMEC, Europe's most experienced laboratory in integration and nanotechnology, has fabricated a qubit using an ASML High-NA EUV lithography machine. This is currently the most advanced integrated circuit manufacturing equipment, enabling finer features and higher density.

Why High-NA EUV Matters for Quantum Computing

High-NA EUV lithography represents the cutting edge of semiconductor fabrication. By using extreme ultraviolet light with high numerical aperture, it can pattern features at scales that were previously impossible. For quantum computing, this precision is critical because qubits are extremely sensitive to physical variations.

IMEC's achievement demonstrates that quantum devices can be produced using the same advanced lithography tools that will manufacture next-generation classical chips. This convergence could accelerate the development of quantum processors by leveraging the massive investments already made in semiconductor infrastructure.

What This Means for the Quantum Industry

The ability to fabricate qubits industrially has profound implications. It could lead to quantum computers with hundreds or thousands of qubits, enabling applications in cryptography, drug discovery, and materials science. However, significant challenges remain, including error correction, cryogenic control, and integration with classical electronics.

IMEC's work is part of a broader European effort to strengthen its position in quantum technologies. The collaboration between research institutes and equipment manufacturers like ASML is essential for translating lab breakthroughs into commercial products. The background to this story is set out in Samsung Delays 1.4nm Node to 2029 as High-NA EUV Lithography Not Ready. A related thread runs through China Achieves High-Purity Silicon-28 for Quantum Computing. Earlier coverage in PsiQuantum's Photonic Quantum Computer: A Leap Toward Fault Tolerance shows how the argument developed.

• Industrial fabrication of qubits using High-NA EUV lithography is now proven feasible.
• IMEC's achievement builds on earlier work by Intel and QuTech, pushing the technology to the most advanced node.
• Scalability is the key benefit: using semiconductor processes could enable mass production of qubits.
• Challenges remain in error correction and integration, but the manufacturing hurdle is being addressed.
• Europe is positioning itself as a leader in quantum manufacturing through collaborations like IMEC and ASML.

Comparing Qubit Fabrication Approaches

What to Watch Next

The next steps will involve improving qubit coherence and reducing error rates in industrially fabricated devices. IMEC and its partners are likely to focus on integrating qubits with control electronics and developing standardized testing protocols. The quantum community will watch closely to see if this manufacturing approach can deliver the performance needed for practical quantum computers. A closer look at the same subject appears in Microsoft's 2029 Quantum Computer Promise Questioned by Nature. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Microsoft's Majorana 2 Quantum Computer: 2029 Timeline Explained. The same theme surfaces in Leap forward in quantum computing, which takes a different angle.

As the technology matures, we can expect more announcements of industrial qubit production, potentially leading to a new era of quantum-enabled innovation. Context on how this played out before sits in Quantum Computing Finds Nine Solutions for Nuclear Fusion Fuel. A companion piece, Spain's IMEC Chip Research Center in Málaga to Break Ground in 2027, approaches the same subject from another angle.