NATO-backed Ephos announced today the opening of a production facility dedicated to glass-based quantum photonic chips — a world first, according to the startup.
These chips can power quantum applications in computing, sensing, and communications, as well as improve the performance of classical computing.
Founded in 2022, Ephos has developed a proprietary manufacturing process that enables it to move away from silicon and build photonic chips with glass substrates — the same material used in optical fibres.
Photonic chips use photons (simplified, these are tiny light particles) to carry and process information. They also rely on optical fibres to enable connections with other optical in-chip components, or to interface with devices such as sensors.
“[We build on] the same material used in optical fibres because light transmission is most efficient within a single material,” Andrea Rocchetto, co-founder and CEO at Ephos, told TNW.
“By computing on the same substrate that light travels through, we minimise signal loss.”
Signal loss represents a major challenge in building quantum computers.
“Quantum information, such as that encoded in photons, cannot be copied,” Rocchetto said. “Therefore, whenever a signal is lost at a too high rate it will make the quantum computer inoperable.”
According to Rocchetto, the startup’s technology reduces signal loss by 20 times per chip facet compared to industry standards for photonic chips.
“And because in a modular architecture, the number of chips can be very significant, the total advantage conferred by Ephos’ chips can ultimately increase by orders of magnitude,” he said.
Full control over production process
Ephos is building its chips entirely in-house, which Rocchetto described as “a unique advantage.”
“Our new facility makes Ephos one of the very few quantum hardware companies that fully control their fabrication process. “
The startup’s supply chain is also based entirely in the EU and the US.
Ephos’ focus on a strategic technology like quantum combined with the ability to manufacture it in the West has, naturally, attracted the interest of NATO.
In 2023, the company joined the first cohort of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). In September this year, it also received €450,000 non-dilutive funding as part of the programme.
The initiative supports companies developing dual-use technologies — those that can have both civilian and military applications. Quantum is one of them, poised to enable advanced sensing and communication systems for defence and security.
Ephos’ alignment with DIANA’s mission lies in “building the essential infrastructure for the future of computing,” Rocchetto said.
$8.5mn in new funding
The startup also announced today that it has raised $8.5mn in seed funding.
The capital has helped accelerate the launch of its new manufacturing facility, located at the Milano Innovation District (MIND). It will also support the operation and expansion of its team in San Francisco.
US-based Starlight Ventures led the funding round. The investment also saw participation from a series of VC firms such as Collaborative Fund and Exor Ventures, as well as angel investors Joe Zadeh (former vice president at Airbnb) and Diego Piacentini (former senior vice president at Amazon).