About the NCCR SPIN
The National Centre of Competence in Research "Spin Qubits in Silicon" (NCCR SPIN) focuses on developing small, fast, and scalable spin qubits in silicon and germanium exploring the fundamental quantum physics of the qubits and architectures connecting them to build a practical quantum computer.
Our Goals
Quantum computers are capable of solving complex problems far beyond what present-day computers can achieve, thus holding great potential for society. There are currently a range of different physical realizations of a quantum bit of information – the qubit – in the race to develop a quantum computer. Silicon transistors have been scaled by the semiconductor industry over the past decades, allowing billions of transistors to be integrated onto a single square centimeter chip, thereby giving birth to today’s information era. In fact, transistors have become so small that they can hold a single charge, such as an electron or a hole, in place. This charge has a magnetic moment – known as spin – and is a leading contender with excellent scaling prospects, building on decades of semiconductor nanofabrication.
The main objective of the National Centre of Competence in Research "Spin Qubits in Silicon" (NCCR SPIN) is to develop small, fast, and scalable spin qubits in silicon and germanium, exploring the fundamental quantum physics of the qubits and architectures connecting them. These two main projects build the foundation for a future technology with qubits of high fidelity and excellent scalability.
Our Network
The multidisciplinary effort involves physicists, materials scientists, engineers, and computer scientists working together on the full stack of quantum computing, spanning from hardware to algorithms and software. This collaboration includes researchers from EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, the University of Konstanz, and the University of Basel as the home institution of the NCCR. Additionally, we are partnering with industrial leaders IBM Research, and Roche.
Funding Scheme
The National Centers of Competence in Research (NCCRs) are a flagship funding scheme of the Swiss National Science Foundation to seed and promote long-term research excellence networks, receiving SNSF funding for up to 12 years, in areas of strategic importance for Swiss science, the economy, and society. After the first phase ran from 2020 to 2024, the NCCR SPIN has entered its second phase in August 2024 and it set to run for another 4 years, with an increase in support of 20% funded at 20.4 million CHF from the Swiss National Science Foundation.
