Silicon-Based Quantum Computing at Scale: Diraq and Imec’s Breakthrough in Quantum Chip Manufacturing
Quantum computing has long promised to revolutionize the way humanity processes information, offering computational power far beyond the capabilities of today’s most advanced supercomputers. However, this promise has been tempered by a fundamental challenge: qubits, the basic units of quantum information, are inherently fragile and prone to errors. For decades, researchers have worked tirelessly to create qubits that can achieve high fidelity, meaning the ability to perform operations with near-perfect accuracy. The recent breakthrough by UNSW Sydney’s spinout startup Diraq, in partnership with Belgium’s renowned nanoelectronics institute imec, marks a significant milestone in overcoming this challenge. Their achievement demonstrates that quantum chips are not only capable of achieving over 99% fidelity in laboratory conditions but also when produced in real-world semiconductor foundries. This development signals a practical path toward building cost-effective, utility-scale quantum computers.
Quantum Computing and the Challenge of Fidelity
Quantum computers differ fundamentally from classical computers. Instead of bits that exist as 0 or 1, quantum computers use qubits that can exist in superposition states, allowing them to process vast amounts of information simultaneously. This property gives quantum computers the potential to solve problems that are intractable for classical machines, such as simulating molecular interactions for drug discovery, optimizing global logistics networks, or breaking certain cryptographic codes.
The challenge, however, lies in the fragility of qubits. They are highly sensitive to external disturbances such as temperature fluctuations, vibrations, or electromagnetic noise, which can lead to errors in computation. To be viable, quantum computers need qubits that can achieve very high fidelity, typically above 99%, to support fault-tolerant error correction schemes. Achieving such performance has traditionally been limited to controlled laboratory settings, where conditions can be finely tuned. Scaling this precision to an industrial manufacturing environment has remained an open question—until now.
Diraq and Imec’s Breakthrough
Diraq, a pioneer in silicon-based quantum computing founded by UNSW Professor Andrew Dzurak, has demonstrated that its qubit technology maintains the necessary high fidelity even when produced in semiconductor foundries. Partnering with imec, one of the world’s leading research centers for nanoelectronics, the team fabricated quantum devices using standard semiconductor production methods. Remarkably, the chips achieved over 99% fidelity in two-qubit operations, the essential building blocks of quantum logic.
This achievement is significant for several reasons. First, it proves that high-performance quantum chips are not limited to bespoke laboratory production. Instead, they can be reliably manufactured using well-established semiconductor processes. This compatibility with existing chip-making infrastructure opens the door to scaling production to millions of qubits, a critical requirement for utility-scale quantum computers. Second, it validates the viability of silicon as the leading material for quantum computing, leveraging the same industrial base that has driven the exponential growth of classical computing over the last half-century.
The Role of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative
The importance of Diraq’s breakthrough extends beyond technical success. It directly aligns with the goals of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, a program run by the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This initiative seeks to define and measure the threshold of utility scale, the point at which a quantum computer’s commercial value exceeds its operational cost. To reach this milestone, quantum processors must be able to store and manipulate quantum information in millions of qubits while maintaining high fidelity.
By demonstrating >99% fidelity in two-qubit operations under industrial manufacturing conditions, Diraq and imec have cleared a major hurdle toward meeting DARPA’s benchmarks. Their achievement moves quantum computing closer to the stage where it can deliver real-world, economically viable solutions to complex problems.
Silicon as the Front-Runner in Quantum Materials
Various materials and platforms are being explored for building qubits, including superconducting circuits, trapped ions, and topological qubits. Each has its own strengths and limitations. However, silicon is rapidly emerging as the front-runner due to its compatibility with the existing semiconductor industry.
Silicon offers two critical advantages. First, it allows for extreme miniaturization. Billions of transistors are already fabricated onto a single silicon chip in classical computing; the same infrastructure can, in principle, support millions of qubits on a chip. Second, silicon-based qubits integrate seamlessly with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes, the backbone of modern electronics. This integration ensures cost-effective scaling, leveraging decades of investment and expertise in semiconductor manufacturing.
Diraq’s collaboration with imec validates this pathway. By showing that high-fidelity qubits can be produced using conventional CMOS processes, they have demonstrated that the transition from laboratory prototypes to mass-produced quantum chips is not only possible but also practical.
From Single-Qubit to Two-Qubit Operations
Diraq and imec had previously shown that single-qubit operations could achieve 99.9% fidelity using CMOS-fabricated qubits. While impressive, single-qubit operations alone are not sufficient for practical quantum computing. The true test lies in performing two-qubit logic gates, which enable entanglement, the cornerstone of quantum algorithms.
The latest breakthrough demonstrates precisely this capability. Two-qubit operations performed on imec-fabricated chips maintained fidelity above the critical 99% threshold, a level required for fault-tolerant quantum error correction. This achievement brings silicon qubits into the realm of scalability and practicality, clearing one of the final obstacles on the road to utility-scale computing.
Implications for the Future of Quantum Computing
The implications of this development are profound. First, it significantly lowers the barrier to commercialization. If qubits can be fabricated using the same methods that produce today’s microprocessors, the cost of production will decrease dramatically, accelerating the timeline for industry-wide adoption. Second, it strengthens silicon’s position as the material of choice for quantum computing, potentially reducing the fragmentation of research efforts across competing qubit technologies.
Moreover, this breakthrough enhances the feasibility of achieving a fully fault-tolerant quantum computer. Fault tolerance is essential for overcoming the inevitable errors in quantum computation. With high-fidelity two-qubit operations now achievable at scale, researchers are closer than ever to building systems that can reliably perform complex calculations over extended periods.
Finally, this progress has strategic importance. Nations and corporations are racing to develop quantum technologies due to their potential impact on national security, economic competitiveness, and scientific discovery. Diraq’s success underscores Australia’s position as a key player in the global quantum race, while imec’s involvement highlights the importance of international collaboration in advancing frontier technologies.
Conclusion
The demonstration by Diraq and imec that high-fidelity silicon qubits can be manufactured in industrial foundries represents a turning point in the quest for practical quantum computing. It bridges the gap between laboratory success and large-scale commercial production, paving the way for utility-scale quantum computers capable of solving problems far beyond the reach of classical machines. As Professor Andrew Dzurak emphasized, achieving utility scale hinges on producing qubits at high fidelity in a commercially viable way. By leveraging the mature semiconductor industry, silicon-based quantum computing now appears to be on the cusp of achieving this goal. This breakthrough not only validates silicon’s role as the leading platform for quantum technologies but also accelerates the timeline toward a future where quantum computers transform industries, economies, and scientific research. In short, Diraq’s partnership with imec has delivered more than a technical success—it has provided a roadmap for turning the extraordinary promise of quantum computing into a practical reality.
Story Source: University of New South Wales.
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