QUDORA selected for EuroHPC Quantum Grand Challenge to roadmap NFQC integration with European HPC

German QUDORA Technologies has been selected as one of 13 European quantum companies chosen under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) Quantum Grand Challenge. In the awarded project, NEQTAR, the company will develop a technical and financial roadmap to scale its proprietary Near Field Quantum Control (NFQC) technology and integrate it into European high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. QUDORA has also received the EU STEP Seal.

Overview

NEQTAR is a project to explore how QUDORA’s NFQC technology can be scaled to practical sizes and incorporated into EuroHPC supercomputing environments. The roadmap will cover not only technical development but also the financing plan required for industrial-scale deployment. NFQC replaces the large laser systems typically used in trapped-ion quantum computers with on-chip microwave electronic circuits. Designed for standard semiconductor fabrication processes, the approach aims to improve control-system scalability while maintaining high-precision qubit control and long coherence times. There were 30 proposals for the Quantum Grand Challenge; experts evaluated 27 proposals that met the requirements and selected 13 for funding, with 3 placed on a reserve list. In the first phase, the programme will provide roughly €4 million in Horizon Europe funding across projects to support the development of technical and financial roadmaps that include proof-of-concept work and early prototypes. From January 2027, first-phase participants can apply to the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s Venture Debt Platform. Companies that pass the EIB review could become eligible for loans aimed at scaling up and commercializing their technologies. The specific grant amounts to QUDORA and the details of any loans have not been disclosed.

Key points

QUDORA’s NEQTAR was selected as one of 13 projects in the EuroHPC JU Quantum Grand Challenge.
The project will produce a technical and financial roadmap to extend NFQC and integrate it into European HPC infrastructure.
NFQC controls trapped-ion qubits using on-chip microwave circuits manufactured via semiconductor processes, replacing large laser systems.
Phase 1 receives Horizon Europe support; in Phase 2, projects passing review may be eligible for EIB venture debt to support industrialization.
Specific qubit counts, performance metrics, HPC integration timelines, and commercial system delivery dates have not been disclosed.

Technical and business implications

On the technical side, the project is significant because it examines moving the laser-based control systems that can hinder scale-up in trapped-ion architectures to on-chip circuits, leveraging semiconductor manufacturing for greater scalability. The project also targets not just standalone quantum processors but configurations intended for integration into European HPC environments. From a business perspective, the initiative combines EU-funded roadmap development with potential EIB financing to support industrialization in stages. However, this announcement does not indicate completion or deployment of a commercial system, and QUDORA’s specific funding allocation or performance targets remain undisclosed.

What to watch next

Key items to follow are how far NEQTAR advances proof-of-concept work and early prototypes, and whether it publishes metrics that allow assessment of NFQC performance and scalability. It will also be important to see whether connection methods to HPC and integration timelines are specified, and whether QUDORA passes the EIB review process after January 2027 to become eligible for financing. For assessing commercial prospects, confirm whether the roadmap includes system scale and delivery timelines.

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Source

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