UC3M and Arquimea lead the PERTE Chip EPIQ Chair to apply photonics and integrated electronics to the quantum revolution
12/3/24
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and the engineering company Arquimea have received one of the 17 grants awarded by the Spanish government under the "Cátedras Chip" (Chip Chairs) programme to advance the application of photonics and integrated electronics in quantum technology research, promoting their adoption by industry. These fields are essential for ensuring the security and technological development of future industries.
The PERTE Chip EPIQ chair was granted by Spain’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation through the State Secretariat for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures. It is funded by the European Union's Next Generation funds and Arquimea. Additionally, the programme is part of the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE in the Spanish acronym), a strategic initiative aimed at developing the scientific, design, and production capabilities of Spanish industry.
The EPIQ chair will leverage the joint capabilities of UC3M and Arquimea’s Research Center (ARC), which has more than 500 employees. Its goal is to accelerate the adoption of emerging quantum technologies, enhancing their societal benefits in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced robotics, photonics, electronics and quantum technologies.
The chair is led by Cristina de Dios Fernández, Associate Professor in UC3M’s Department of Electronic Technology, overseeing research on quantum sensing, and Marta Portela, from the same department, who leads research on quantum cryptography. The chair’s team comprises 18 researchers from UC3M, including members of the Electronic Technology Department (SITec group, Microelectronics group), the Physics Department (QUEST group) and the Mathematics Department. The ARC will have 10 researchers and engineers specialising in photonics, electronics and quantum technologies involved.
A meeting was recently held to present the project, with the participation of the CEO of Arquimea Research Center, Rubén Criado, and the head of its Quantum and Photonics (Orbital) Division, Borja Jerez, both of whom hold doctorates from UC3M and are alumni of the university. Numerous team members also attended and the challenges the project will face during its initial four years of funding were highlighted, which primarily involve strengthening research in emerging technologies and contributing to the competitiveness of the global high-tech market in strategic areas such as microelectronics.
The chair also includes an educational plan that includes the awarding of eight annual scholarships for master’s students and four industrial PhD fellowships co-funded by Arquimea. These initiatives aim to train the next generation of experts in microelectronics and quantum technologies, equipping them with practical skills and experience in applied projects, which will lead to innovative solutions and faster integration of these technologies in industry.
