A pilot plant serving as a user facility for ion-trap quantum processors.
We support start-ups in developing and implementing their IP in our state-of-the-art cleanroom and laser laboratories under ideal, safe conditions.
Our features
A few quick updates
⏱️ We’re closing event registration in a week. So, if you haven’t made up your mind yet: Register now! It’s free of charge. https://lnkd.in/dGfDGqEq
🕘 Our Quantum Café opens at 8 and the programme starts at 11:39. On the second day, we’ll open our Café at 8:00 and the programme starts at 9:45.
🍿 We’ll round off the first day with a panel discussion hosted by Digitale Stadt Düsseldorf e.V. and a quantum pub quiz led by our friend Jan Werum – and then: it’s party time! There’ll be dinner, an open bar and a lovely outdoor area to relax and network (or win the pub quiz).
🍲 There’ll be a light breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus an open café and a bar – all free of charge. 🌿 We’re veggie and vegan friendly – please let us know if you have any special requirements
🗣️ The main language of the event is English (but to be honest, we just want you to chat, chat, chat 🙂
🔋 We aim to create an event that’s accessible to everyone. If you have any special requirements, please let us know in advance or at the event so we can take better care of you: live@qci.dlr.de (and please do let us know if we’ve made a mistake so we can improve).
🅿️ There are a limited number of parking spaces at the venue. Please consider using public transport to get to our event. The nearest bus and metro station is U72 Niederheid.
👥 AFQC 2026 is all about chatting with one another and getting involved. That’s why our Quantum Café is always open and why we’re organising meet-ups on the first and second days – see the programme: https://lnkd.in/dn4A2QvT
🛜 There’s free Wi-Fi for everyone, so if you need to join that conference call or finish that paper, you can do so at our Open Quantum Café.
🪞 Would you like to showcase your company’s products or your team’s breakthroughs? We invite you to bring small exhibits or presentations to share with others at our large table in the Quantum Café (but we really want to keep AFQC a place for sharing ideas, not selling them)
01
High-performance infrastructure
State-of-the-art cleanrooms and laser laboratories equipped with the latest technology. Alongside these, there are offices and co-working spaces, as well as a globally unique community comprising quantum start-ups, researchers and industrial users.
02
Supported
User Facility
Expert support from the DLR QT-IMN team in the development and integration of processes across entire process chains, from the starting material to the finished component.
03
Development
in-house IP
Flexible cleanroom processing enables the further development of critical in-house IP blocks for chip prototypes, small-batch production and application-specific process development.
04
The move
towards the foundry
Professional process management enables the transfer of processes and technologies to foundry services.
Our cleanroom
At the Hamburg Innovation Centre, we offer start-ups and companies a world-class technical infrastructure.
300 m² cleanroom, 130 m² at ISO 5
150 mm process line for the development and manufacture of ion traps
Comprehensive analysis and characterisation methods
Support from DLR QT-IMN in microsystems technology, miniaturisation/scaling and process integration.
Our success stories
Universal Quantum
Toccata & Legato
“At the Hamburg Innovation Centre, we have access to first-class cleanroom and laser laboratory facilities. The precision of this equipment is crucial to the development of our quantum processors.
In the cleanrooms, we can prototype and further develop ion trap components with a high degree of control over the integration process, and iterate on designs quickly. This shortens development times and reduces risks associated with scaling. With our quantum laboratories right next door, the transition from ion trap integration to system-level testing is seamless. All of this strengthens our path to scaling.”
Sameed Muhamed
Universal Quantum
QSea I & QSea II
EleQtron · NXP · ParityQC
“The Pilot Line at the Hamburg Innovation Centre provides us with excellent facilities for developing our QPUs. We use it primarily to characterise our ion traps, which is an essential step in quality control. The facilities are state-of-the-art, and the collaboration with the DLR team is very productive. The short distances between the cleanroom, the laboratory and the office are particularly valuable: they reduce risks and support efficient processes.”
Claus Gärtner
eleQtron
Get in touch
Alain Pierrot answers all questions about the QCI Pilot Line, its cleanroom features and opportunities for collaboration.
pilotline@qci.dlr.de
