Advancing quantum research in Europe
The EU-funded SPINUS(opens in new window) project was launched in 2024 to set up experimental platforms for both quantum simulation and quantum computing. Its aim is to develop a quantum simulator with more than 50 qubits and a quantum computer with over 10 qubits – and to continue its efforts post-project to scale them up to more than 1 000 qubits and 100 qubits, respectively. One year after its launch, in February 2025, SPINUS held an annual meeting in Trento, Italy, to assess progress towards these goals and align on strategic objectives for future project phases. Quantum research may be advancing rapidly, but the constraints of current architectures make it difficult for quantum simulators and computers to surpass the classical methods in use today. SPINUS is tackling this problem by using diamond and silicon carbide (SiC) materials to develop scalable solid-state quantum simulation and computation hardware based on nuclear spin networks and dipole-dipole entangled electron spin qubits. These simulators and processors will be operable at or near room temperature, eliminating the need for complex cooling infrastructure. This will facilitate the widespread adoption of the technology in a wider range of markets and applications.
Twelve months of achievements
The developments showcased during the meeting included significant progress in spin control and readout, achieved by German project partners Forschungszentrum Jülich, Ulm University and the University of Stuttgart. As reported in a ‘EurekAlert!’ news release(opens in new window), the research teams successfully implemented controlled phase gates between two nitrogen-vacancy colour centres and nitrogen-spin polarisation using PulsePol techniques. SPINUS partner Linköping University in Sweden also reported progress in material synthesis, creating high-quality, isotopically pure SiC layers with high surface smoothness, and diamond sandwich structures with thin isotopically controlled layers. Researchers from Stuttgart and Ulm universities and Dutch project partner Delft University of Technology successfully implemented optimal control sequences to initialise and programme their quantum simulators, making significant strides in controlling and measuring large nuclear spin networks of over 40 spins. They also demonstrated dissipative phase transitions using their quantum simulators. Improvements in colour centre-based quantum computers were also made by the research teams at Delft, Stuttgart, Ulm and Belgian partner Hasselt University. The researchers developed dynamically decoupled radio-frequency entangling gates and demonstrated high-fidelity 2-qubit gates in quantum registers of up to 7 qubits. Further advancements have been achieved by different SPINUS project partners in electrical readout techniques, classical simulation methods and quantum algorithms. The SPINUS (Spin based quantum computer and simulator (SPINUS)) consortium plans to deepen its engagement with European quantum initiatives to further research on an international scale. It also plans to explore the potential of integrating quantum pilot lines within the Chips Joint Undertaking(opens in new window). Martin Koppenhoefer of project coordinator Fraunhofer Society, Germany, comments: “Europe’s research on quantum technologies is world class and can partake in the global race to develop large-scale quantum computers and to demonstrate quantum advantage. Within SPINUS, we combine and leverage the individual strengths of our partner institutions to advance solid-state quantum technologies.” For more information, please see: SPINUS project website(opens in new window)
