Research project
CRYOFAST: democratizing access to sub-kelvin temperatures for quantum technologies
2024–2026 · Funded under the EIC Accelerator
What CRYOFAST set out to do
CRYOFAST set out to make the very low temperatures needed for quantum development simpler and more convenient to access. The project expanded our Cryogenics as a Service (CaaS) model into a centralized facility for advanced cryogenic measurements on sensitive devices, with the aim of cutting testing times from weeks to days and opening cryogenic characterization to startups, SMEs, and researchers without the capital or expertise to run their own low-temperature equipment.
An expanded characterization lab
Through CRYOFAST, we expanded our Characterization Lab, the facility where service measurements are carried out. We now run four dedicated L-Type Rapid cryostats, measurement electronics, and a semi-automatic wire bonder. Researchers work in a fully equipped laboratory, without the lead times, setup, or investment of building their own.
Measurement packages
CRYOFAST established a set of predefined measurement packages. Samples are sent to kiutra, and our application engineers handle sample preparation, wire bonding where needed, the measurements, and delivery of the data. Each package covers a common low-temperature characterization need:
Resistance measurements
Resistance as a function of temperature, to extract critical temperature or low-temperature transport behavior.
IV measurements
Current–voltage characteristics of semiconducting devices such as transistors and diodes, or superconducting devices such as Josephson junctions.
Resonator measurements
The RF response of superconducting resonators, to determine quality factors and material properties.
Thermometer calibration
A thermometer's resistance calibrated against a standardized, calibrated temperature sensor.
RF transmission
The forward transmission (S21) of RF components as a function of frequency, to characterize their performance at low temperatures.
Impact
CRYOFAST also lowers the environmental cost of cryogenic testing. The L-Type Rapid is cryogen-free and energy-efficient: compared with conventional equipment, its speed advantage can cut energy use by a factor of 2.6 for a quick test — around one hour at 100 mK — reducing carbon emissions by up to 8.5 tCO₂eq per year and device. Sharing cryostats across many users multiplies that advantage, and running the facility on green electricity from hydropower cuts over 97% of CO₂ emissions against the EU-28 grid baseline.
Project information
| Grant agreement ID | 101188707 |
|---|---|
| DOI | 10.3030/101188707 |
| EC signature date | 20 November 2024 |
| Start date | 1 November 2024 |
| End date | 31 October 2026 |
| Funded under | The European Innovation Council (EIC) — EIC Accelerator |
| EU contribution | € 2 499 962,50 |
| Coordinated by | kiutra GmbH, Germany |
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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