Infineon and ZuriQ have demonstrated the largest two-dimensional trapped-ion array of its kind to date: a 3×3 grid of nine individually controlled ions, which they will now push toward significantly larger qubit counts under an expanded partnership announced today.

ZuriQ, a quantum computing company spun out of ETH Zurich, contributes the qubit architecture. Infineon contributes semiconductor manufacturing muscle — advanced photonics and semiconductor processes that the partners say can move the technology from laboratory demonstration to volume-manufacturable hardware.

"Through our collaboration with Infineon we are turning ZuriQ's technological progress into scalable, manufacturable quantum hardware," said Pavel Hrmo, co-founder and CEO of ZuriQ.

What makes the architecture different?

Conventional trapped-ion quantum computers arrange their ions in one-dimensional chains. ZuriQ instead built a natively two-dimensional Penning micro-trap architecture that uses electric and magnetic fields to move ions directly across the chip.

The design sidesteps complex junction structures — the intricate intersections that make scaling ion-trap chips hard to fabricate. Removing them makes it easier to accommodate larger qubit arrays on a single device.

Why is Infineon involved?

The German chipmaker's role centers on integrating ZuriQ's trap design with its advanced photonics and semiconductor processes. That integration, according to the companies, is central to accelerating the transition from lab-scale demonstrations toward fault-tolerant quantum processors and commercial applications.

The partnership pairs two complementary positions:

• ZuriQ: native 2D Penning micro-trap architecture and qubit control expertise from ETH Zurich research
• Infineon: high-volume semiconductor manufacturing, process control and photonics integration

What comes next?

The nine-ion demonstration establishes feasibility. The stated next step is scaling the technology to significantly larger qubit counts — the specific targets remain a roadmap item rather than a confirmed figure.

If the 2D approach scales as intended, it offers a path toward precise, scalable quantum processors suited to fault-tolerant quantum computing and commercial deployment, with Infineon's fab capability determining how quickly laboratory progress converts into manufacturable hardware.