SEALSQ Corp., the post-quantum semiconductor company founded in 2022, is teaming up with quantum computing firm ColibriTD and secure chip design specialist Xdigit to develop a new quantum-powered tool aimed at improving wafer yields for sub-7 nanometer (nm) semiconductor nodes.
The three firms said Monday they’ve launched a six-month collaboration under SEALSQ’s Quantum Lab to create a proof-of-concept platform that uses quantum computing to address IR Drop — the voltage loss across power distribution networks that has emerged as a key obstacle to chip production at advanced nodes. If successful, the tool could significantly reduce design inefficiencies and manufacturing losses in next-generation chips used in artificial intelligence, automotive, and Internet-of-Things applications.
“Quantum computing opens a new dimension in precision modelling for semiconductor design,” said Carlos Moreira, CEO of Geneva-based SEALSQ. “This effort tackles one of the last remaining barriers to scalable, secure sub-7nm production.”
The joint platform will use ColibriTD’s Quantum-as-a-Service infrastructure, Xdigit’s mathematical modelling of IR Drop phenomena, and SEALSQ’s expertise in secure microcontrollers and post-quantum cryptography. Together, the companies aim to solve complex partial differential equations (PDEs) that govern power fluctuations on chips, using quantum processors to run simulations that would be computationally prohibitive with classical tools.
As transistors shrink, traditional IR Drop mitigation techniques have become less effective. Yield losses at nodes below 7nm can exceed 50%, according to industry data, increasing the cost per chip and delaying product timelines. The partners say their tool could help improve yields by enabling more accurate power distribution design during earlier stages of the chip development cycle.
The implications stretch beyond manufacturing efficiency. Better IR Drop control also improves security by minimizing the electromagnetic and power-side emissions that attackers can exploit to extract sensitive data from microcontrollers. SEALSQ’s QS7001 platform, a post-quantum secure microcontroller, is expected to benefit from the project.
Xdigit, founded in 2020, brings specific expertise in secure ASIC design, while ColibriTD, also launched in 2020, focuses on scalable quantum platforms. Both are headquartered in Europe, with SEALSQ also operating through WISeKey International Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: WKEY), its parent company.
A demonstration of the tool is planned for late 2025, with commercial deployment targeted in 2026. The collaboration is part of SEALSQ’s broader $20 million investment plan in quantum innovation and infrastructure, which includes initiatives across blockchain security and IoT ecosystems.
