Compound Semiconductor Centre
Research organisation · Cardiff
IQE and Cardiff University joint venture that led QFoundry, a £4m consortium for an open-access UK foundry making VCSELs and single-photon devices.
Completed Consortium
QFoundry: UK National Foundry for Quantum Components
A consortium led by the Compound Semiconductor Centre in Cardiff to set up an open-access foundry for quantum semiconductor components.
Project data last updated 11 October 2026
About this project
QFoundry started in September 2020. It focused on manufacturing platforms and supply chains for single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and for single-photon emitters and detectors.
VCSELs are used in atomic clocks and magnetometers. Single-photon devices are used in quantum communications, computing, imaging and sensing. The aim was to use standard semiconductor methods to make these parts at scale in the UK.
Lead organisation
Partners (10)
Bay Photonics
Company · Paignton
Cardiff University
University · Cardiff
Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult
Research organisation · Newport
CSconnected
Ecosystem and network · Cardiff
IQE
Company · Cardiff
Microchip Technology Caldicot
Company · Caldicot
NPL
Research organisation · Teddington
Toshiba Europe
Company · Cambridge
University of Cambridge
University · Cambridge
University of Sheffield
University · Sheffield
Funders
UK Research and Innovation
Funder · Swindon
Innovate UK
Funder · Swindon
In the news
Quantum Zeitgeist articles naming the lead organisation or partners. They may not be about this project.
Researchers Bound Extended Source Imaging Error by 74%, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
A weighted variance just 7% from fundamental limits demonstrates how entangled photons can dramatically outperform conventional optical interferometry. Previously restricted to single or dual telescopes, this work extends that advantage to M-station arrays, achieving roughly ten times better perform
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Researchers Detect Relationships in Quantum Data with 15% Greater Accuracy, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Perfect test accuracy was achieved on a two-state quantum system using just 500 measurements. This contrasts with existing methods which struggle as complexity increases, requiring substantially more computational effort for even simple tasks. An adaptive learning framework utilising photonic system
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Florida International University to get IonQ’s 256-qubit computer by late 2027, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Florida International University will gain access to the IonQ Superion system, a 256-qubit quantum computer, by late 2027.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
IonQ tests quantum AI on real satellite image data, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
IonQ researchers tested a quantum generative machine learning model on satellite radar data, revealing potential for insights where classical methods struggle.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Sources
- Gateway to Research: UK National Foundry for Quantum Components (QFoundry) (gtr.ukri.org)
- CSA Catapult: QFoundry (sc.catapult.org.uk)
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