Ultra-Accurate Optical Fiber Arrays for Photonics Quantum Computers and Beyondbroad
QABLE · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-07-01–2028-06-30
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02 · scheme HORIZON-EIC-ACC · topic HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-OPEN-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
MicroAlign develops and manufactures ultra-accurate fiber arrays tailored to the needs of photonic quantum computers, a type of quantum computer using photons as a representation of qubits. Fiber arrays are components made of multiple optical fibers bundled in a cable with a single connector. In a photonic quantum computer, they are essential for transporting photons within the computer architecture, including the photonic chip used for computation. Precise alignment between the fiber arrays and the photonic chip is crucial to prevent photon loss and signal degradation. Currently, no company provides fiber arrays with the alignment accuracy required for photonic quantum computers, making MicroAlign's technology essential for their realization. Our innovation lies in a patented micro-manipulation technology developed by our founders. This technology uses a comb of micro-actuators, each as large as a fingernail, to independently move each fiber with nanometer-scale resolution. This alignment process is rapid and scalable. Our product has been developed in collaboration with potential customers. We have conducted technical validations and received Letters of Intent from leading quantum computer manufacturers. They all have confirmed that no competitor offers a technology remotely comparable to ours. Our innovation has reached TRL 6 (both as a product and as a manufacturing/system process), and will reach TRL 8 by the end of the EIC project. Besides the quantum computing industry, in the future our product will find application in many other sectors in the quantum and photonic domains where high-performing photonic connections will become crucial. Ours is an innovation with a huge market potential (a single large-scale photonic quantum computer can require up more than €1 million worth of fiber arrays) and of strategic importance for the EU. The EIC fund will be invaluable to support our company with patient capital and derisk the investment of European private VCs.
Beneficiaries (1)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICROALIGN BV | NL | coordinator | €2,499,743 | Yes |
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