Xanadu, ASML Partner to Study Photonic Chip Manufacturing
Xanadu and ASML announced a collaboration on September 9, 2026, to develop lithography processes for Xanadu’s photonic quantum chips. Their stated goal is to investigate how patterning influences optical loss, a technical challenge that exists between photonic quantum processors and error correction. This initiative is a research collaboration focused on exploring manufacturing methods.
Details of the Agreement
According to the September 9 press release, Xanadu, a Canadian photonic quantum computing company listed on NASDAQ and TSX as XNDU, will work with ASML on advanced lithography for its chips. ASML provides photolithography systems to the semiconductor industry, including EUV and DUV machines used in the production of conventional microchips. The companies plan to examine how lithography and process conditions affect line edge roughness and the subsequent optical losses.
This collaboration is framed as an exploratory endeavor. According to the announcement, the two companies will “identify manufacturing approaches” that could enhance patterning control and support fault-tolerant photonic hardware.
Optical loss is a significant impediment to photonic quantum computing. Photons that escape from a chip during computation degrade the results, and reducing this loss is crucial for achieving error correction at scale. Rougher edges on a chip’s optical structures exacerbate these losses, which highlights why patterning precision is important to Xanadu. Leveraging ASML’s lithography expertise is a logical step toward improvement.
Understanding the Scope
Xanadu’s own statements maintain a conditional tone. Christian Weedbrook, the company’s founder and CEO, remarked:
“Collaborating with ASML gives Xanadu the opportunity to explore advanced, industry-leading lithography processes that will support the continued development of our photonic quantum hardware.”
ASML’s Stan Baron used similar language, describing the work as a chance to “better understand” how its technology could support photonic applications “as the technology matures.” Neither party has promised a product.
The press release outlines Xanadu’s mission to build “useful and available” quantum computers and its pursuit of utility-scale quantum computing. These are aspirations, not current capabilities. Xanadu has other notable partners, including AMD and Lockheed Martin, for fluid-dynamics research. This collaboration with ASML adds a semiconductor toolmaker to that list. What this partnership will yield, and whether it will sufficiently reduce loss for error correction, remains to be seen.