Strengthening the Infrastructure that Enables Scalable Quantum Technology
Quantum systems rely on more than qubits. They depend on control and readout electronics — the hardware and signal-delivery systems that connect room-temperature electronics to quantum devices operating at cryogenic temperatures.
Control and readout electronics determine whether quantum systems can scale.
Without reliable, scalable control and readout infrastructure, quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum networking systems cannot mature beyond laboratory prototypes.
Why Control and Readout Electronics Matter
Quantum processors operate at millikelvin temperatures while interfacing with classical electronics at room temperature. The systems that connect those two environments must:
- Minimize thermal load in cryogenic systems
- Maintain signal integrity across dense interconnect architectures
- Support integration of active and passive components
- Enable efficient testing and characterization
- Reduce size, weight, and power of room-temperature electronics
These are not peripheral challenges. They are system-level constraints.
As quantum processors scale, control and readout electronics become increasingly central to performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
The Control and Readout Electronics R&D Program
In 2022, QED-C launched a competitive R&D initiative to address priority needs identified by members in the roadmap:
Control and Readout Electronics for Quantum Systems. With up to $1.4 million in government matching funds, supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), QED-C member companies were selected to strengthen the control and readout electronics supply chain and expand its capabilities.
Participating companies included:
Program Goals Aligned to the QED-C Roadmap
Funded projects were required to address one or more of four roadmap priorities:
- Reduce Thermal Load and Physical Footprint in Cryogenic Environments: Advance interconnect systems that minimize heat transfer and reduce system size inside dilution refrigerators.
- Locate Digital and Mixed-Signal Electronics Closer to the Quantum Processor: Enable electronics architectures that improve integration and reduce signal latency within cryogenic environments.
- Enable Tighter Integration of Active and Passive Components: Support compact, manufacturable solutions that integrate filtering, attenuation, switching, and other signal-conditioning functions.
- Reduce Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) of Room-Temperature Control Electronics: Strengthen classical electronics systems that interface with quantum hardware to improve efficiency and scalability.
These goals reflect needs identified directly by QED-C members across the quantum computing ecosystem.
Capabilities and Products Emerging from the Program
The program delivered measurable improvements in size, performance, and integration across control and readout technologies serving multiple qubit modalities.
Outcomes include:
- High-density RF interconnect platforms designed for scalable cryogenic architectures
- Integrated flexline systems with embedded filtering and attenuation
- On-chip thermal diagnostics for improved device evaluation
- Manufacturable connector systems optimized for production environments
Several of these advances are transitioning into commercial offerings and expanded manufacturing capacity, strengthening the domestic supply chain for quantum-enabling technologies. By focusing on both technical performance and manufacturability, the program advanced not only research outcomes but also ecosystem readiness.
Strengthening Enabling Technology Supply Chain
Control and readout electronics form the bridge between classical systems and quantum processors. Through this initiative, QED-C:
- Identified and addressed supply chain gaps
- Accelerated product development
- Reduced integration barriers
- Fostered collaboration between industry and NIST
This work demonstrates how coordinated public-private collaboration can accelerate the maturation of critical quantum infrastructure. By aligning roadmap priorities with targeted R&D investment, QED-C helps ensure that the ecosystem develops in a scalable and competitive direction.
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