The end of Moore’s law has led to unsustainable growth in data centre and high-performance computing (HPC) power consumption. Within the post-CMOS technologies addressing this energy crisis, those based on superconductivity are among the most promising ones. Superconducting classical computing based on single flux quantum (SFQ) pulses is a technology enabling clock speeds exceeding 100 GHz, at extreme power efficiency. Rather than compete with CMOS head on, our vision is that SFQ cores should act as coprocessors in existing HPC architectures, much like GPUs do today. Superconducting circuits are also a leading candidate for implementations of quantum computing (QC), which promises to solve certain classically intractable problems. There, SFQ logic offers a natural solution for tight integration of the signal processing required for control and readout of large-scale error-corrected superconducting quantum processors. In both HPC and QC, expanding to large scale is essential for practical impact, and thus, high-bandwidth data transfer to the cryogenic coprocessor is a key bottleneck. In aCryComm we combine top-level European expertise in HPC, superconducting electronics, quantum computing, and photonics to create an optical data bus between conventional HPC and cryogenic SFQ circuits. We expect the optical data link to outperform conventional electrical connections in bandwidth, energy consumption, thermal loading, and physical footprint. To this end, we will develop opto-electric and electro-optic interfaces, culminating in demonstrators that quantitatively characterize the data bus performance. Thanks to the inter-disciplinary composition of the consortium, we are also able to produce and promote a plan for the long-term exploitation of the cryogenic data bus in HPC and QC. We also suggest paths to commercializing our technologies, taking advantage of the unique possibility the consortium offers for transferring R&D to production in the same European facilities.

The rise of quantum technology has opened the eyes of the ICT industry with respect to cryogenics. It is considered an enabler bringing in quantum functionalities and enhanced system performance and we are observing a massive growth of cryogenics from coolers to cryogenic electronics and photonics. ArCTIC is a joint effort of top European RTOs, industrial fabrication facilities, and leading application partners (23 industrial among which 14 SMEs, 7 RTO, 6 academic), sharing the vision to take a joint EU step towards the era of cryogenic classical and quantum microsystems. We aim to close the gap between qubit research and interfacing control machinery, highly needed for scaled-up quantum systems. The main goal of ArCTIC is to develop scalable cryogenic ICT microsystems and control technology for quantum processors. The technologies developed will have applications in many fields from sensing to communication, leading to important cross-fertilization that will strengthen the forming European ecosystem on cryogenic classical and quantum microsystems. ArCTIC will advance semiconductor technologies and materials, and tailor these for QT requirements and cryogenic applications. Multi-scale physics and data-driven models, cryogenic PDK modelling, device characterization, circuit design activities will support the development of cryogenic microelectronics. We will develop quantum processor platforms and broaden the applicability of microelectronic devices and circuits for cryogenic operation by developing cryo-compatible ultra-low loss substrates and thin-films, microelectronic and photonic circuits, semiconductor packaging and heterogeneous-integration techniques and benchmark the developed technologies. Scientific and Industrial ArCTIC-demonstrators and applications are driving our developments enabling the European industry to maintain and expand its leading edge in semiconductor components and processes and QT and strengthen sustainable manufacturing technologies

Qu-Test brings together 13 service providers for a federated network of testbeds and 11 industrial users from the European quantum community. The network brings together competences and infrastructures across Europe to offer testing and validation services. A first goal of this cooperation is to support the creation of a trusted supply chain through the validation of quantum devices, chips, components and systems by the testbed network as an independent third party. A second goal is to discuss and agree on unified sets of parameters to characterize quantum devices. Methodologies and procedures will be harmonized among the partners of the testbed network in a step towards establishing standards for quantum technologies. Qu-Test is aligned along three testbeds: quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing. In more detail, the Quantum Computing Testbed will measure, characterise and validate cryogenic quantum devices, cryogenic qubits such as superconducting and semiconducting qubits, photonics qubits and ion traps. The Quantum Communication Testbed will characterize devices for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG) and provide design and prototyping services to support innovation in the supply chain of quantum communication technologies. Finally, the Quantum Sensing Testbed will benchmark sensing and metrology instruments provided by industry and use a large suite of quantum sensors (clocks, gravimeters, magnetometers, imagers) to validate industrial use cases aiming at generating new business cases for quantum sensing and metrology devices. With additional services of IPR support, business coaching and innovation management, Qu-Test supports the European quantum industry with a holistic one-stop-shop to move the full ecosystem forward.

Computing with light using integrated optics has seen huge progress over the last 3-4 years in multiple fields such as neuromorphic computing, quantum computing and on-chip data storage. This has created a vast ecosystem that relies on high-speed reconfigurations of nanophotonic circuits (such as their use as synapses or routing applications) and ultrafast yet high-resolution, low-power photodetection. Currently, it is impossible to combine all these functionalities into an integrated platform that fits onto a single chip. In RESPITE, by utilizing our newly invented superconducting Joule switches as neurons, multi-level phase change memory elements as synaptic weights, and superconducting single-photon detector arrays as retina we will demonstrate a novel platform which combines vision and cognition on a single chip. This new platform will allow in-sensor neuromorphic computing with unprecedented performance levels. The platform will have attoJoule switching power consumption, sub-nanosecond latency, and high compactness (3000 neurons and >100K synapses on <5 mm2). Unlike other superconducting neuromorphic technologies, our new platform will be scalable, easy to fabricate, and compatible with low-cost cryostats, high-Tc superconductors, quantum applications, and on-chip learning architectures – making it a game changer for a wide range of users and disciplines.

Traditionally, monitoring of organs and deep body functional imaging is done by ultrasound, X-Rays (incl CT), PET or MRI. These techniques only allow for very limited measurements of functionality, usually combined with exogenous and radioactive agents. In this project we propose an innovative light sensing solution, a fast gated, ultra-high quantum efficiency single-photon sensor, to enable multi-functional deep body imaging with diffuse optics. The new type of sensor is based on superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, that have shown to be ultra-fast and highly efficient. However, until now the active area and number of pixels has been limited to micrometers diameter and tens of pixels. We propose the combination of two new readout techniques, optical gating and charge coupling, to overcome this limit and scale to 10,000 pixels and millimeter diameter. In addition we will develop new strategies for performing TD-NIRS and TD-SCOS to use this new light sensor optimally with Monte-Carlo simulations. We will implement the new light sensor in an optical tomograph and achieve a 100x improvement of SNR compared to using existing light sensors. With our proposed Multifunctional Optical Tomograph we will be able to image deep organ and optical structures and monitor functions including oxygenation, haemodynamics, perfusion and metabolism