The sound of the 90-tonne drilling machine working away at DTU's Ørsteds Plads is unmistakable. Work is now underway to drill deep underground to build Nanolab Phase 4: a new state-of-the-art facility providing access to advanced equipment and environments for developing and fabricating quantum chips.
The new building will expand and improve DTU Nanolab's existing facilities and will include a 700 m2 cleanroom to be equipped with the latest generation of nanofabrication tools and instruments.
Here, researchers and businesses will be able to develop and produce physical components for quantum sensors, quantum encryption devices, or quantum computers requiring extremely precise and controlled nanofabrication environments. It will help strengthen Denmark's position as a leading nation in quantum technology and innovation.
The technology is important because it can break the boundaries of what we thought was technologically possible. This can accelerate research into new materials, medicine, and chemical processes, among other things.
"Top-class facilities are needed to produce quantum chips in Denmark. That's why our focus in Nanolab Phase 4 is clearly on fabrication. The new building will not only serve as a boost for research and development, but also for small-batch production and scaling-up towards industrial manufacturing. We will cover the whole spectrum—from basic research and prototyping in nanotechnology and quantum technology to developing industrial production processes. The goal is to keep both startups and the emerging industry in Denmark," says Jörg Hübner, Director of DTU Nanolab.
Among the world's leading cleanrooms
Nanolab Phase 4 started out as an idea in 2019 and has since evolved into a key part of Denmark's strategic investment in quantum technology. The building will meet the growing demand from researchers and businesses working with nanotechnology, quantum chips, and advanced sensors.
The backdrop is a growing need for more advanced and flexible cleanroom facilities as technologies become increasingly complex and require extremely controlled environments. The cleanroom will be one of the world's leading open-access facilities of its kind.
This means that businesses can also install their own equipment and move from research to small-scale production. In addition, they will gain access to specialized machinery and technologies which would be expensive and complex for them to install themselves, and, in addition, they will be close to DTU's research environments and become part of a larger ecosystem in Greater Copenhagen.
The Danish Government's national strategy for quantum technology has designated the Copenhagen region as central to Denmark's investment in quantum technology. The area is characterised by strong collaboration between several universities, startups, established businesses and investors working to bring quantum technology from lab to market.
In addition to DTU's strong research environments, the community includes the Niels Bohr Institute, Sparrow Quantum, Microsoft, UCPH Ventures, as well as a large number of startups and the research and production facility Quantum Foundry, which also manufactures specialized quantum chips and uses DTU's facilities for connecting and packaging.
In recent years, DTU has seen a remarkable development in the innovation and production of quantum chips, and the University has become a sought-after partner both internationally and in Denmark. Today, DTU is home to some of Europe's leading research environments in quantum physics and quantum technology.
The University actively participates in international collaborations and EU projects and contributes to developing both quantum hardware and software for future quantum systems. At the same time, DTU educates specialists to ensure Europe's technological leadership position.
