SkyWater Technology (NASDAQ: SKYT) has launched OnRamp, a foundry initiative designed to help early-stage quantum hardware companies transition from laboratory prototypes to commercial manufacturing.
The program connects selected startups with SkyWater engineers to evaluate device designs, assess manufacturing requirements and develop foundry-validated roadmaps. Participants also receive early access to prototypes built on the company’s SP90, a 200-millimeter silicon nitride photonics platform designed for quantum applications.
The initiative addresses a challenge for young quantum technology companies: translating experimental devices into manufacturable products often requires access to specialized fabrication infrastructure, engineering expertise and processes that can accommodate commercial foundry requirements.
“OnRamp gives founders direct access to the expertise, infrastructure, and guidance needed to make informed decisions earlier and advance from lab to fab with confidence,” said Mihir Bhaskar, senior vice president and general manager of Quantum Solutions at SkyWater.
Lowering Barriers to Foundry Access
Commercial foundries typically operate under established design rules and may require customers to commit to production volumes that early-stage companies cannot yet support. OnRamp is intended to help startups evaluate these constraints before committing to larger manufacturing programs.
Through the initiative, SkyWater engineers work with participating teams to assess their designs, materials and packaging requirements. The resulting manufacturing roadmap can help companies plan development, prepare for production and support fundraising discussions.
Selected companies receive access to SkyWater’s engineering resources at no cost for this initial roadmap work. The company also says participants retain full ownership of their design and process intellectual property.
The program is intended to help founders identify manufacturing challenges earlier, when design changes may be easier to incorporate, rather than after a technology has advanced further through development.
SP90 Platform Targets Multiple Quantum Technologies
OnRamp is built around SkyWater’s SP90 platform, which uses 200-millimeter silicon nitride photonics technology. The company operates as an open-access foundry, supporting applications across trapped-ion and neutral-atom systems, photonic quantum computing, quantum networking and quantum sensing, alongside advanced classical photonics.
SP90 supports wavelengths ranging from 400 nanometers to more than 2,000 nanometers. Its capabilities also support integration with technologies including III-V lasers, superconducting single-photon detectors, thin-film lithium niobate frequency converters and diamond-based quantum memory. Cryogenically compatible optical packaging is another supported capability.
These integration options are relevant to quantum systems that require multiple optical, electronic and materials technologies to work together. Providing a manufacturing pathway for such components can help startups assess how their designs may translate into repeatable production.
Building on Quantum Manufacturing Experience
SkyWater said OnRamp builds on more than a decade of work with companies developing quantum and advanced photonics technologies. The company has shipped quantum wafers for customers pursuing sensing, networking and computing applications.
The new initiative extends that support to earlier-stage companies that may not yet be ready for conventional foundry engagement.
Quantum hardware commercialization remains dependent on translating laboratory performance into devices that can be manufactured reliably and at scale. OnRamp is designed to help startups evaluate that transition sooner, although the company has not disclosed participant numbers or manufacturing milestones.
