Partnership between JYU and SemiQon boosts the development of quantum technology
SemiQon develops silicon-based quantum processors
SemiQon is a Finnish technology company, which develops scalable, silicon-based quantum processors. The company aims at enabling quantum computing applications that are efficient and can be produced on an industrial scale. SemiQon’s solutions are based on technologies that can be produced by existing semiconductor assembly lines.
“Quantum computing has long been a promising but hard-to-scale field,” says Chief Science Officer Janne Lehtinen from SemiQon. ”Using silicon-based solutions, we can make use of the existing infrastructure of semiconductor industries.”
Lehtinen is one of the most experienced experts of quantum technology in Finland. He completed his doctoral degree in physics at the University of Jyväskylä in 2014 and after has worked, among other places, at VTT.
Cooperation builds on dialogue between research and practice
The cooperation between the University of Jyväskylä and SemiQon started in 2023 when both parties saw the chance to bring together their expertise in the development of silicon-based quantum computing. Lehtinen praises JYU’s expertise in the field of quantum research.
“Professor Juha Muhonen from Jyväskylä is one of Finland’s leading experts of spin-qubits, and his experience and competence offered a natural basis for our partnership.”
Personal contacts helped launch the cooperation, but the actual reasons for the partnership agreement arose from research and business interests. The University’s research team needed commercially available components for their quantum technology experiments, whereas SemiQon found it important to gain in-depth insight into research to support the development of its devices. “We realised soon that we could help each other,” Lehtinen says. “We had devices that were unavailable to the University, and they had research competencies that benefit us in long term.”
The partnership has begun with active dialogue where SemiQon’s commercial goals and the University’s research-oriented questions complement each other.
“In the past, the prevailing notion might have been that research takes place at universities and then gets carried over to businesses,” Lehtinen says, describing the principles of their cooperation. “In our experience, such a big threshold between research and application isn't necessary.”
Mutual openness has great significance for cooperation.
“In this kind of research cooperation, trust is essential,” Lehtinen says. “We can share research data and expertise so that it benefits both parties.”
Cooperation yields a high-quality research apparatus and new competencies for the field
One of the most significant actions during the partnership is setting up an apparatus in JYU facilities which can be used for shared testing of spin-qubits. SemiQon contributed to the project by defining technical requirements for the devices and purchasing user time on the apparatus already before it was completed. Furthermore, SemiQon supplied components and chips for the research team, which are used in experimental work.
“This new infrastructure offers an excellent site for research activities,” Lehtinen says. “At SemiQon, we have our own measurement laboratory, but the upcoming apparatus in Jyväskylä is a special one. It can be used for high-quality basic research and demonstrations.”
Another significant measure is the recruitment of a postgraduate student to work for both these organisations. A postdoc researcher is also being recruited. Along with the close partnership, the postgraduate can learn about the academic world as well as the commercial environment.
“It’s an advantage for the whole country that new innovations developed at universities will not just remain within those institutions but are adopted for the benefit of society at large.”
In practice, the cooperation has advanced through frequent contacts and regular meetings, where the parties have jointly reconciled the use of research devices, technical requirements and research questions.
“We have discussed a lot what is required from the devices and how things can be arranged,” Lehtinen says. “We have been thinking together what research projects call for and where we can support each other.”
The partnership has enabled such research activities and measurements that the resources of either party alone could not have made possible. According to Lehtinen, the core of cooperation has derived from flexibility, open exchange of information and concrete action.
Cooperation brings results and increases expertise
The partnership has had many positive effects on the partners. Shared research devices provide plenty of potential for research, the recruitment of a postgraduate student generates new expertise, and everyday interaction continuously gives rise to new ideas.
According to Lehtinen, the biggest benefits are still to come: “Looking ahead, the greatest benefit from the cooperation will be the fact that we will have postgraduates who have skills and knowledge in this field. This way we can grow an ecosystem for the field of quantum technology in Finland.”
In two years, a good basis has been laid for the partnership. As regards the years ahead, Lehtinen has a clear view:
“Things are now rolling nicely forwards,” Lehtinen says. “In the future, we want to conduct demonstrations with the new research apparatus, enable field-related research, and expand the research team.”
It is also important to make the research team and ecosystem of the entire field better known.
“At present, there are globally less than half a dozen places that profile in this field. In my opinion, it would be great if Jyväskylä would be among these in the future.”
In conclusion, Lehtinen wants to encourage other technology companies to engage in cooperation with universities.
“If a company has a need for deeper technological expertise, it’s absolutely worth exploring possibilities for cooperation,” Lehtinen says. “I have personally noticed that researchers often like to engage themselves in cooperation when a suitable opportunity emerges.”
