MESA+ Institute of the University of Twente – Photonics for Quantum (P4Q)
Strengthening Europe’s independence in quantum technologies
Europe is investing heavily in its technological independence in quantum innovation. The project Photonics for Quantum (P4Q), coordinated by prof. Pepijn Pinkse of the MESA+ Institute of the University of Twente, establishes a pan-European pilot line for the development and manufacturing of next-generation photonic integrated circuits (PICs), so-called ”superchips”. These chips are essential for quantum computing, secure communication, and high-precision sensing. By strengthening Europe’s own chip manufacturing capabilities, P4Q directly contributes to reducing dependency on the United States and Asia in critical quantum technologies.
Photonic superchips
At the core of P4Q are photonic chips that use light particles instead of electrons to process information. Compared to conventional chips, these photonic superchips are significantly more energy-efficient, generate far less heat, and offer higher security. The project focuses on translating this technology from the lab to real-world use by making the chips reliable in practice: not functioning once, but performing consistently and reproducibly over time.
To achieve this, P4Q sets up a distributed European pilot manufacturing facility, bringing together leading universities, research institutes, and industrial partners. Nearly 30 partners collaborate to stabilise production processes, develop design and assembly toolkits, and validate chips in concrete quantum applications. The pilot line aims to increase reliability and manufacturing readiness, enabling photonic quantum chips to be produced repeatedly at high quality.
The project has secured € 50 million in funding, with half provided by the Chips Joint Undertaking and the other half co-funded by national governments of participating partners. The budget is distributed across all partners, while the University of Twente leads the consortium and oversees overall execution.
The role of Hezelburcht
Hezelburcht supported the consortium during the preparation of the Specific Grant Agreement (SGA) proposal, with a focus on structuring the work packages, aligning budgets and strengthening the overall approach and implementation strategy. The project received an excellent evaluation, confirming both its technological ambition and its robust execution plan. In particular, evaluators highlighted the strength of the work plan and implementation, awarding Criterion 3 – ‘Quality and efficiency of implementation’ a score of 4.7 out of 5.
In such a large project, the workload in preparing a proposal and streamlining all the partner input is huge. Hezelburcht worked closely with our own research and support office as a joint and effective team In managing the overall process and ensuring we stayed on track, while also providing in depth input on the workplan. - Project coordinator Prof. P. Pinkse
