Reinventing the Finnish ecosystem to support chips targets

Jussi Tuovinen, CEO of Kvanttinova, explains how Finland has transformed its technology ecosystem and is becoming a global leader in chip development.

The key role of critical technologies is recognized worldwide. Among these important technologies are semiconductors and microelectronics, or in short, chips. The European Union declared its position in 2022 through the Chips Act.

Finland excels in specialized manufacturing and integration processes and complex system-on-chip designs. Both have been nurtured through intimate interactions between academic research, applied research, and industry efforts to develop research results into thriving businesses.

From our perspective, artificial intelligence (AI) is a major factor in new semiconductor circuits and their power efficiency. Another area of ​​the circuit is the 6G telecommunications network for resilient connections and sensing communications. Part of this is, for example, antenna beam steering capacity. In addition to defense and space applications, the health and health sector is also an important growth area for us. In recent years, Newcomer Technology has been hit by public awareness. Quantum technology for invisible possibilities for computing and sensing. For us, Quantum Technology has been part of our RDI and commercial portfolio for over 30 years.

The Finland semiconductor industry currently employs around 7,000 professionals, with revenues totaling 2 billion euros. By 2035, the industry is aiming to more than triple these numbers. Companies cover the entire industrial value chain, with their main customer segments being telecommunications, automotive, industrial automation and health technologies.

Kvanttinova: R&D hub for microelectronics and quantum technology

We present Kvanttinova, the future ecosystem of chips and systems, inspire innovation and enjoy doing it, to continue Finland’s progress, support growth goals, and build on the existing strong foundation. This is a unique environment that offers research and development of new products, from design to proof of concept verification, and providing pilot lines for small to medium capacity manufacturing of 200mm and 300mm wafer sizes, i.e. lab-to-FABS scaling. Innovative circuit designs and advanced materials gather at Kvanttinova to create new new devices and products. The application fields of Kvanttinova technology are, for example, 6G, Health and Medicine, Aerospace and Defense, AI and quantum computing.

“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the future,” said Jussi Tuovinen, CEO of Kvanttinova. “Together with our partner network, we are building even stronger collaborations in research and industry, promoting critical R&D and design site investments, and even attracting investments in manufacturing sites. A sparkling ecosystem means thriving the business and enormous number of new jobs.”

Kvanttinova is born locally from Otaniemi in Espoo and has global influence and outreach.

Growth is a collaboration

Kvanttinova is a collaboration between the VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland, the city of Espoo, and the VTT Technical Research Centre entering the Finland semiconductor industry. It can open up possibilities for international experts, businesses and investments.

Aalto University is a multifaceted, higher education and research powerhouse. VTT has strong expertise in specialized microelectronic processes and quantum technology. Of particular note is the setup of VTT national and international joint projects and the expertise of major projects, combining research with industry needs. ESPOO’s innovation ecosystem supports the growth of large and large companies by connecting investments and partners to an ecosystem.

Kvanttinova is based on Micronova, an established RDI hub well known in the Finland microelectronics community. This model has already been introduced in academic and applied research, co-hosted in collaboration with the existence of industry. The Micronova Cleanroom is used by Aalto University and VTT. This involves several companies that engage in development or manufacturing.

Espoo Innovation Community Accelerates Success

There is a unique recipe and is now expanding. Instead of a single clean room where businesses utilize Aalto University or VTT-owned equipment, they offer businesses the possibility of having their own clean rooms, either large or small. Cleanrooms are internally connected to shared facilities, allowing businesses to seamlessly integrate operations into larger infrastructure.

Micronova RDI Hub is a vibrant springboard for hosts of attractive and groundbreaking technology companies such as IQM and Semiqon, attracting companies to further develop nearby innovations such as Dispelix. Micronova’s multi-user semiconductor pilot environment supports the processing of a variety of technologies, including microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and microoptromechanical systems (MOEMS), quantum devices, radio frequency (RF) components, integrated optical nick devices, 2D materials, and 2D camouflage components.

The Finland ESPO innovation community provides world-leading quantum technology and semiconductor expertise, talent and infrastructure, and will in the future become one of Europe’s key quantum and semiconductor industry hubs.

IQM Quantum Computers: Global Leader in Superconducting Quantum Computers

Aboard the Espoo light rail tram will quickly transport you to perhaps the world’s most concentrated quantum technology expertise. Within several tram stops, you can reach many of Finland’s major quantum players. One of these is IQM Quantum Computers (IQM), the global leader in superconducting quantum computers.

IQM was founded in 2018 and was spun by VTT and Aalto University. Today, the company has its own quantum computer manufacturing facility, design, software and one of the largest quantum engineering teams in the world. IQM designs, builds and sells on-premises full-stack quantum computers. IQM provides a cloud platform that allows customers to access computers anywhere in the world.

Like many other VTT and Aalto spinoffs, IQM employs strong ties with Espoo’s open innovation community. Along with VTT, IQM launched Finland’s first quantum computer in 2021. In 2023, we announced the 20 quit Quantum system. Currently, the two are building a 50-kut computer set to be released in the second half of 2025.

Semiqon: Helps make future quantum computers more affordable and scalable and sustainable

Based on Espoo with its Micronova roots, Semiqon will help develop silicon-based quantum processors, making future quantum computers more affordable and scalable and sustainable. The startup was spun from VTT in early 2023.

Semiqon’s technology is based on decades of development and know-how from the semiconductor industry, making silicon processors commercially competitive and suitable for mass manufacturing. The company believes that quantum and semiconductor marriages not only effectively expand quantum computing, but also strengthen manufacturing, build resilience and support technological sovereignty. Support from the local quantum and business ecosystem was crucial to the company’s success.

Dispelix: Finland’s Augmented Reality (AR) Pioneers at the forefront of the evolving wave pipe display market

The reality of Espoo’s joint innovation provides the perfect environment for technological development. One of the tech developers in this ecosystem is Disdilix, a pioneer of Finland’s Augmented Reality (AR), headquartered in Espo. Dispelix transforms the future of AR through WaveGuides, a transparent display technology used as see-through displays in a variety of AR applications. Dispelix display technology can be applied to, for example, close-up eyes of smart glasses or headsets, or head-up displays in vehicles and aviation.

For high-tech companies like Dispelix, Espoo’s innovation ecosystem features its collaborative culture, international atmosphere and facilities like Micronova’s largest cleanroom in Scandinavian, providing an open and supportive environment for success.

Dispelix’s pioneering technology is supported by an extensive IP portfolio and skilled personnel of around 100 talented employees. Last year, Dispelix celebrated its 200th patent in a book on WaveGuide Display Display Technology. Today, the number has increased by more than 230, with over 230 additional patent applications pending. These types of milestones are suitable for science-driven companies at the heart of ESPOO’s innovation ecosystem. The innovation player is the sixth in Europe to file a patent, earning 60.5% of all Finnish patent applications last year.

Reinventing the ecosystem and enjoying it while doing it

The core of the Kvanttinova infrastructure is a shared use facility that hosts cutting-edge equipment for chip development and pilot production of 200mm and 300mm wafers, offering great advantages in improving process reliability and repeatability. The equipment is part of a Chip JU (Joint Work) pilot line focusing on Insulator (FD-SOI) Technology (FD-SOI) Technology, Heterogeneous System Integration and Assembly (APECS), Sub-2NM System-on-Chip (SOC) Technology (NANOIC), and Photonic Integrated Circuits (Pixeurope).

The facility offers specific features in material development, including high-fire and piezoelectric materials, integration and packaging, superconducting and RF components, and integrated photonics. These pilot lines allow for the generation of ideas and scaling with minimal capital for the first entrepreneurs.

Just as important as this engaging new facilities and infrastructure, we are even more excited to encourage our community, old and new friends to meet, learn and collaborate, leading to the growth of all of us. A well-known fact is that together we are becoming stronger. Together we can actually eat the cake and eat it. Kvanttinova provides the environment and support to grow into a major semiconductor hub for innovation and expand science-based innovation into your business.

Kvanttinova welcomes all aspects of microelectronics into a single community. This is a hot spot for encounters and co-creation. We want to work within the RDI hub and achieve a sense of unity among the different actors in our community through arranging various events and co-creation, or taking part in random encounters.

Kvanttinova works with educational institutions at all levels to find answers to the general challenges of where you can gain skills and talent to achieve ambitious goals in the semiconductor industry. We are determined to work hard from the early days to promote the field to potential students in order to convince young people of the importance of microelectronics, chips and systems. By already taking students into study, we can ensure their future of prosperity and strengthen our understanding of potential careers. Going further, it aims to support educational institutions in outlines new educational concepts to enhance and reskill existing workforce.

We strongly believe that sustainable chip technology will lead to industrial vertical vitality and competitiveness that seeks to improve the level of digitalization by integrating chips and systems into products and products. By increasing profits while increasing awareness of the availability of services for chip design and processing, new users and customers bring new users and customers to the services and businesses that produce chips and systems.

Kvanttinova helps you find funds through the R&D Consortium and its connections. With our partners at the Finnish Chips Competence Centre (FICCC), we are able to bring our pilot lines, design centres and European-level competency networks closer to everyone who works with us.

We welcome all stakeholders and work with the ecosystem, Kvanttinova.

This article will also be featured in the 21st edition of Quarterly Publication.