New Copenhagen facility to strengthen Europe's quantum manufacturing capabilities

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The state-of-the-art quantum facility will strengthen Europe’s ability to design, manufacture and scale next-generation quantum chips, helping to position the continent as a global leader in quantum technology.

Today, Quantum Foundry Copenhagen and the Novo Nordisk Foundation announce plans to establish a new 5,300 m² quantum chip fabrication facility in Copenhagen. The facility will develop and scale the advanced manufacturing equipment needed to produce the next generation of quantum chips and strengthen Europe’s position in an increasingly competitive global quantum landscape.

While Europe has built one of the world's strongest research environments in quantum science, global leadership in quantum technologies will ultimately depend not only on scientific breakthroughs, but also on the ability to turn these breakthroughs into commercial products at scale. The fabrication of high-quality quantum chips, the specialised core processing units inside a quantum computer, is a crucial part of that process.

“Europe’s quantum ambitions depend on our ability to turn scientific excellence into industrial capability. Strengthening European capacity to develop and manufacture quantum chips is essential for our competitiveness, resilient supply chains and technological sovereignty. Building on the European Chips Act and the Quantum Europe Strategy, and looking ahead to the forthcoming Quantum Act, initiatives such as Quantum Foundry Copenhagen can contribute to the industrial ecosystem Europe needs to scale quantum technologies,” says Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

Quantum technologies have the potential to solve problems that are beyond the reach of today’s most powerful computers. In the future, they could help researchers develop new medicines faster, design more sustainable materials, optimise energy systems, and strengthen cybersecurity.

Martin Lidegaard, Denmark’s Minister of Business and Competitiveness, says: “Technological breakthroughs happen when we succeed in turning new knowledge into value for both society and businesses. Quantum technology offers solutions to challenges that were once thought impossible, opening up entirely new possibilities in areas such as healthcare, energy, security, and beyond. With today’s announcement, we are once again strengthening quantum research, innovation, and manufacturing in Denmark, creating even greater opportunities for Danish companies. This provides both Denmark and Europe a solid foundation to become global leaders in quantum chips, with significant potential for current and future generations alike.”

Owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Quantum Foundry Copenhagen is a specialised technology company developing proprietary tools, materials and processes for quantum chip manufacturing. The company’s new facility will uniquely combine laboratory space for nanofabrication of quantum materials, advanced characterisation, testing, chip assembly and packaging with ultra-high vacuum manufacturing capabilities and through this offer wafer fabrication for quantum technology vendors globally on commercial terms.

“Our vision is to become a world-leading quantum chip manufacturer, supplying Europe with advanced, next-generation quantum computing processors and enabling quantum companies to scale production. We aim to build state-of-the-art quantum production lines and support a sustainable deep-tech industry that can help shape the future of quantum technology,” says Peter Krogstrup, CEO, Quantum Foundry Copenhagen.

Quantum Foundry Copenhagen is built on the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s long-term commitment to quantum technologies. The Foundation has committed more than DKK 2.9 billion (EUR 390 million) to the field, including the Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Programme at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen. The aim of the Programme is to develop Denmark’s first fully functional fault-tolerant quantum computer before 2034. The new chip facility will collaborate closely with the Foundation’s quantum programme, creating a unique link between frontier research, talent development and industrial manufacturing capabilities.

“At the Novo Nordisk Foundation, we believe quantum technologies will be one of the most defining scientific and technological fields of this century. That is why we have made a significant long-term commitment to building a world-class quantum ecosystem in Denmark and Europe. Quantum Foundry Copenhagen is an important part of that ambition, helping connect investments in research with the industrial capabilities needed to support Europe’s ability to transform quantum breakthroughs into technologies that can benefit society, strengthen competitiveness and address some of the world’s most complex challenges,” says Professor Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Both Denmark and the European Union are currently intensifying efforts to strengthen quantum innovation and industrial capacity. Through the Quantum Europe Strategy, the forthcoming Quantum Act, and a growing focus on technological sovereignty, the European Union is prioritising the commercialisation, manufacturing and deployment of quantum technologies. At the same time, Denmark’s forthcoming quantum strategy From quantum research to quantum industry reflects this same transition, positioning Denmark to play a leading role in uniting Europe’s capabilities into a resilient, scalable and globally competitive industrial platform.

“Quantum technologies are expected to become a foundational technology platform for the future, much like semiconductors, computing and the internet have been in previous generations. If Europe is to succeed in quantum, it must not repeat the pattern from earlier technology waves, where fundamental science was strong in Europe but industrial scale-up, platforms and global champions emerged elsewhere. Developing this capacity marks an important step towards positioning Europe centrally in the global quantum ecosystem and building resilience,” says Lene Oddershede, Chief Scientific Officer, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The new facility is expected to open in 2027.

About Quantum Foundry Copenhagen
Founded in 2023 by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Quantum Foundry Copenhagen develops tools, materials and processes for next-generation quantum chip manufacturing in close collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Programme (NQCP). The foundry manufactures quantum materials and devices using Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) techniques and bottom-up engineering to achieve extreme purity and atomic precision.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.

Media inquiries:
Laura Balleby Brogaard, Communications Specialist, Novo Nordisk Foundation, LBB@novo.dk