SemiQon and VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland, have won first prize in the “Impact Expected” category of the EARTO awards for their cryogenic CMOS chip innovation. The solution enables the full capacity of advanced CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) functionalities at cryogenic temperatures, which is intended to unlock new possibilities for quantum computing and space applications.
The cryogenic CMOS chip is designed to address energy consumption and heat dissipation issues in cryogenic environments. The company claims that the chips can reduce the cost and volume of quantum computer readout infrastructures by up to 30% in the short term, and by more than tenfold in the long term. The technology is also intended to enable more sustainable supercomputers and data centers, with a potential to save $20-30 billion globally in annual cooling costs.
The technology was originally developed at VTT, and production of the chips takes place in European pilot line foundries Micronova and, in the future, at the forthcoming Kvanttinova hub. This innovation is intended to strengthen the European semiconductor industry and support Europe’s strategic autonomy in critical technologies. SemiQon has secured €2.5 million ($2.9 million USD) in a competitive, non-dilutive grant from the European Innovation Council and an additional €15 million ($17.47 million USD) in equity-based ear-marked funding.
Read the full announcement here.
October 15, 2025
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