CCRAFT, an independent pure-play foundry dedicated to thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) PICs, announced a CHF 2.5 million ($3M) project supported by Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency. The project will take place over the next two years, aiming to accelerate CCRAFT’s in-house design and manufacturing capabilities and advance its proprietary TFLN platform to meet the growing performance and reliability demands of AI data centers. The project will further expand CCRAFT’s component library and enhance process reliability to satisfy the stringent qualification standards of hyperscale customers. Wafers at CCRAFT’s manufacturing facility in Switzerland. Image courtesy of CSEM. NEW YORK — Quantinuum, a quantum computing company, has launched Helios, which it called the world’s most accurate general-purpose commercial quantum computer. To accelerate generative quantum AI, Quantinuum is expanding its partnership with NVIDIA, integrating NVIDIA GB200 with Helios via NVIDIA NVQLink to create applications for targeted end markets. In addition, Quantinuum will switch to NVIDIA accelerated computing for Helios and future systems, using Quantinuum Guppy, a newly developed Python-based programming language, alongside the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform to perform real-time error correction critical to its roadmap. KISTA, Sweden — Sivers Semiconductors established a partnership with integrated photonics company, POET. The collaboration will pair Sivers’ distributed feedback laser technology with POET’s Optical Interposer platform to deliver high-performance, scalable, light-engine solutions to be used in pluggable transceivers and enable external light sources for co-packaged optics-based solutions. The partnership positions Sivers Semiconductors and POET Technologies to address the rapidly growing AI optical connectivity market. Prototypes are expected to be demonstrated to customers in the first half of 2026, with production readiness targeted for the end of 2026. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy allocated $625 million in funding to renew its five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers. As part of this funding, Brookhaven National Laboratory will advance quantum computing and sensing by improving materials used in quantum devices and developing modular approaches for superconducting and neutral-atom systems. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory will scale quantum devices based on superconducting microwave cavities. Argonne National Laboratory will advance algorithms and chip components to scale quantum operations on the same chip and across different labs and cities. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will enable large-scale quantum computers through improved error correction using neutral atom, ion, and superconducting circuits. Lastly, Oak Ridge National Laboratory will pioneer quantum-accelerated high-performance computing, developing open-source software for quantum-classical workflows. MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Aeva announced a $100 million investment of funds managed by Apollo Global Management to support Aeva’s commercial momentum and accelerate the adoption of frequency-modulated continuous wave 4D lidar across a broad range of applications. AEVA said it will use the capital to execute and scale existing programs and additional opportunities in automotive, industrial, robotics, and beyond. ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions opened a new Quality Excellence Center in Bloomfield, Conn. to strengthen manufacturing in the Northeast. Courtesy of ZEISS. MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions opened its Quality Excellence Center in Bloomfield, Conn., as part of its continuous expansion of support for U.S. manufacturers. The facility will provide advanced resources for precision metrology, technology demonstrations, and local experts who specialize in helping manufacturers solve industry challenges with innovative solutions. The 12,000 sq ft facility includes a dedicated 6050 sq ft space for advanced metrology technologies and software. Demonstrations will include ZEISS measurement and inspection technologies, including automation, multi-sensor coordinate measuring machines, industrial microscopes, optical 3D scanners, multi-sensor vision measuring machines, surface and special geometry instruments, and intelligent software solutions. Additionally, expert-led technology, software, and measurement training sessions and workshops will be held at the facility. FREMONT, Calif. — Aehr Test Systems, a supplier of semiconductor test and burn-in solutions, collaborated with ISE Labs, Inc., a provider of semiconductor engineering services, to deliver advanced wafer-level test and burn-in services tailored for high-performance computing (HPC) and AI applications. ISE Labs is a subsidiary of ASE, Inc., a provider of outsourced semiconductor assembly and test services. Handling a 200-mm wafer in Micronova at VTT. Courtesy of VTT. ESPOO, Finland — VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland completed the conversion of its cleanroom equipment in the Micronova cleanroom to 200-mm silicon wafer size from the previous 150-mm size. The funding for this upgrade has come from Business Finland, the Research Council of Finland, the EU PREVAIL project, as well as VTT’s own funds granted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The project has spanned several years, beginning in 2019 and continuing through 2025. The conversion reflects the widespread adoption of 200-mm silicon wafers in the semiconductor industry and provides compatibility with other European cleanroom wafer sizes, VTT said. CAMBRIDGE, England — Cambridge Photon Technology, a spin-out from the University of Cambridge, raised £1.5 million ($2M) in pre-series A funding to accelerate the commercialization of its photon-multiplier technology. The round combines private investment from international investors with an Innovate UK grant through the Clean Energy and Climate Technologies program. With the funding, Cambridge Photon Technology will expand R&D and move toward scaled trials of a drop-in solar upgrade capable of boosting panel output by up to 15%. PALO ALTO, Calif. — PsiQuantum and Lockheed Martin signed a memorandum of understanding to explore projects to develop quantum algorithms in support of real-world aerospace and defense applications for the U.S. government and allies. This includes supporting PsiQuantum’s development and deployment of the world’s first utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers. The news follows PsiQuantum’s announcement in September that it raised more than $1 billion in funding for its Series E round.