Alice & Bob Acquires SQUID-6 UHV System to Advance Industrial Quantum Chip Production

Alice & Bob, a quantum computing company, and PLASSYS-BESTEK, a supplier of vacuum deposition systems, have announced the delivery of the SQUID-6 UHV deposition system to Alice & Bob’s new advanced quantum lab in Paris. This delivery is part of the ULTRACAT project, which is supported by France’s Defense Innovation Agency (AID). The SQUID-6 UHV is a new, fully automated, ultra-high vacuum (UHV) deposition system designed to enable next-generation quantum chip nanofabrication. It employs a modular cluster architecture working around a central UHV distribution chamber, allowing for the serial processing of multiple wafers up to 8 inches in diameter. This design is intended to minimize chip exposure to cross-contamination, which is essential for developing reliable and scalable Quantum Processing Units (QPUs). The project is a strategic effort to address the immaturity of quantum processor manufacturing processes. The technological advance brought by ULTRACAT is intended to accelerate the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers in France and across Europe. The AID-backed initiative supports positioning France as a leader in fault-tolerant quantum computing, with the SQUID-6 UHV system representing a crucial advance toward industrial production. Read the full announcement here. October 23, 2025