In a move that underscores the maturation of Europe’s quantum computing ecosystem, Grenoble-based Quobly has announced a strategic expansion of its research and development infrastructure. By integrating access to the FAMES (FD-SOI Pilot Line for Applications with embedded non-volatile Memories, RF, 3D Integration & PMIC, to ensure European Sovereignty) Pilot Line, the French deeptech firm is effectively bridging the gap between theoretical quantum research and large-scale industrial manufacturing.
This development, which complements Quobly’s existing industrial collaboration with semiconductor giant STMicroelectronics, marks a pivotal moment in the company’s roadmap toward commercializing its "Alloy" quantum computer series. By leveraging the advanced process modules provided by FAMES, Quobly is accelerating its ability to iterate on processor architecture, effectively compressing the time-to-market for its fault-tolerant, silicon-based quantum systems.
The Strategic Triad: Research, Pilot, and Production
Quobly’s operational model is built upon a sophisticated "triad" of innovation: foundational research via CEA-Leti and CNRS, process maturation through the FAMES Pilot Line, and industrial-scale production through STMicroelectronics.
Bridging the "Valley of Death"
For many deeptech startups, the "valley of death"—the chasm between laboratory-scale prototypes and high-volume industrial production—is where technological dreams go to die. Quobly, however, has structured its development cycle to bypass this by utilizing existing CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) infrastructure.
By utilizing the FD-SOI (Fully Depleted Silicon-On-Insulator) platform—the same technology that powers high-efficiency mobile and automotive chips—Quobly is aligning its quantum processors with the most mature manufacturing processes in the world. Access to the FAMES Pilot Line serves as the critical "mid-stream" accelerator. It allows Quobly engineers to test novel patterning and integration techniques on 300mm wafers before committing those designs to the high-volume production lines managed by STMicroelectronics.
Chronology: A Legacy of Silicon Innovation
The current integration of the FAMES Pilot Line is not a sudden pivot, but rather the logical evolution of a trajectory that began nearly two decades ago.
- 2007–2016: Foundational Research. Researchers at CEA-Leti and CNRS began investigating the potential of silicon spin qubits. During this period, the team proved that quantum information could be encoded in the spin of electrons trapped within silicon, a discovery that utilized standard microelectronics materials.
- 2016: The Milestone Demonstration. A critical breakthrough occurred when CEA-Leti successfully demonstrated a silicon spin qubit fabricated using an industrial CMOS process on a 300mm wafer, proving that quantum components could be manufactured at scale.
- 2022: The Birth of Quobly. Quobly was spun out of CEA-Leti and CNRS to commercialize this technology. The company immediately solidified its "co-design" strategy with STMicroelectronics.
- 2024: Series A Funding. The company successfully raised €115 million in a round led by Bpifrance, STMicroelectronics, and SEALSQ, providing the capital necessary to scale its engineering teams and infrastructure.
- Late 2024/Early 2025: FAMES Integration. Quobly begins utilizing the FAMES Pilot Line to optimize its "QSOI®" architecture for future generations of processors.
- 2026: The "Alloy Pioneer" Launch. Quobly is slated to offer its first cloud-based quantum computing services to high-performance computing (HPC) researchers and industry partners.
- 2032: The Million-Qubit Horizon. The long-term goal of the company is to deploy large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum architectures containing one million physical qubits.
Technical Context: The QSOI® Architecture
At the heart of Quobly’s offering is the QSOI® architecture. This proprietary design represents a paradigm shift in how quantum hardware is constructed. Instead of creating exotic, standalone quantum machines, Quobly embeds quantum processors alongside cryogenic control electronics directly onto a 300mm FD-SOI platform.
Why FD-SOI?
FD-SOI offers superior electrostatic control, low power consumption, and—most importantly for quantum computing—the ability to function reliably at cryogenic temperatures. By utilizing this platform, Quobly can leverage the billions of dollars already invested by the semiconductor industry in 300mm manufacturing.
The Role of FAMES
The FAMES Pilot Line provides an "open-access" environment where specialized process modules can be swapped and tested. For Quobly, this means they can experiment with:
- Advanced Patterning: Refined lithography to shrink qubit footprints, allowing for higher density.
- 3D Integration: Moving toward stacked chip designs where control logic sits directly beneath the qubit array, reducing latency and thermal noise.
- Process Flow Optimization: Creating standardized, repeatable manufacturing steps that can eventually be handed off to commercial fabs like STMicroelectronics.
Official Perspectives: The Synergy of Innovation
The Engineering View
Nicolas Daval, Chief Engineering Officer of Quobly, emphasizes that this is about "ecosystem maturity."
"Quobly was founded on more than 15 years of research at CEA-Leti and CNRS to develop silicon spin-qubit technology. Our collaboration with CEA-Leti has continued since the company’s creation, while our partnership with STMicroelectronics is enabling us to industrialize QSOI® on 300 mm semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure. Access to FAMES adds another capability to this ecosystem, allowing us to explore and mature technology options for the next generations of our quantum processors."
The Institutional View
Jean-René Lequepeys, CTO of CEA-Leti, underscores the importance of connecting research to industrial reality:
"The collaboration with Quobly builds on a long-standing research effort in silicon quantum technologies and continues to connect advanced semiconductor process development with the requirements of quantum computing. FAMES provides Quobly with access to state-of-the-art process capabilities to investigate new technology options and support the development of future generations of silicon quantum processors."
Implications for the Global Quantum Landscape
The integration of FAMES into the Quobly roadmap has profound implications for the global race toward quantum advantage.
1. European Sovereignty in Deeptech
The FAMES initiative is explicitly designed to secure European sovereignty in the semiconductor domain. By ensuring that cutting-edge quantum hardware is manufactured using European tools, facilities, and expertise, the region is positioning itself to avoid reliance on external supply chains for its future computing infrastructure.
2. The VLSI Principle Applied to Quantum
Quobly’s strategy mimics the trajectory of classical computing. In the 1970s, the move from individual transistors to Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) sparked the digital revolution. Quobly is attempting to apply this same principle to quantum. By focusing on integration rather than just increasing the number of physical qubits through brute force, they aim to create a predictable, scalable, and economically viable roadmap.
3. Economic Impact and ROI
For potential customers—ranging from pharmaceutical companies simulating molecular structures to logistics firms optimizing global supply chains—the Quobly model offers a "predictable footprint." Because the technology is built on standard semiconductor processes, the costs, energy requirements, and system footprints are easier to forecast than those of competitors using trapped-ion or superconducting loops that require massive, bespoke cooling and control infrastructures.
Supporting Data: Scaling Toward 2032
The roadmap to one million qubits is aggressive, requiring a massive leap in engineering efficiency. Quobly’s strategy relies on several key metrics:
- Manufacturing Efficiency: By using 300mm wafers, Quobly can produce thousands of quantum processors simultaneously, unlike lab-grown prototypes which are often produced in batches of one.
- The Si-28 Value Chain: Quobly is actively building a sovereign supply chain. This includes partnerships with Air Liquide (for gases), Soitec (for specialized wafers), and Orano (for material processing), ensuring that every step of the silicon-28 isotope production is secured.
- Workforce Expansion: With over 120 employees and a footprint in Grenoble, Singapore, and Canada, Quobly is aggregating global talent in quantum physics, CMOS manufacturing, and cryogenic engineering.
Conclusion: A Blueprint for the Future
As Quobly approaches its 2026 commercialization milestone, the integration of the FAMES Pilot Line acts as a stabilizer. It allows the company to remain agile in its R&D phase while simultaneously building the industrial muscles required for mass production.
The convergence of silicon spin-qubit research with high-volume semiconductor manufacturing is no longer a theoretical exercise—it is an industrial reality. With the support of CEA-Leti, STMicroelectronics, and the FAMES Pilot Line, Quobly is not merely building a computer; it is building the assembly line for the next generation of global computing. As the industry looks toward the million-qubit threshold of 2032, the "Grenoble model" of collaborative, integrated, and sovereign development stands as a potent blueprint for the future of deeptech.
