Prof. dr. Dragan Mihailović has secured another European Research Council (ERC) grant. Following his previous ERC Advanced Grant, he has now been awarded an ERC Proof of Concept Grant, which supports the validation of the innovation potential of research results. This marks Professor Mihailović’s fourth ERC grant.
He has received funding for the project FEMTOGAPENGINE – Femtosecond Laser Superconducting Circuit Gap Engineering, which will be carried out at the Jožef Stefan Institute and the Centre of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – Nanocenter, in collaboration with the Slovenian company miDALIX d.o.o.
The FEMTOGAPENGINE project introduces an innovative approach to controlling superconducting circuits using ultrafast femtosecond laser pulses. The patented technology enables precise patterning and real-time tuning of superconducting properties, reducing interference and significantly improving the performance of quantum processors.
In collaboration with miDALIX d.o.o., the project aims to develop a prototype device for the real-time modification and testing of superconducting circuits. It will investigate laser processing parameters and their long-term stability, while also demonstrating the repair and optimisation of superconducting test circuits. In doing so, the project will establish the first platform for local laser-based processing of superconducting circuits.
If successful, FEMTOGAPENGINE could have a transformative impact on the quantum computing industry by providing a scalable solution for controlling quasiparticles in quantum processors, detectors, resonators, and hybrid devices. The technology also has the potential to actively suppress noise caused by external disturbances, representing an important milestone in the advancement of quantum computing.
Links to the published articles:
- https://www.gov.si/novice/2026-06-30-dr-dragan-mihailovic-prejemnik-ze-cetrtega-projekta-evropskega-raziskovalnega-sveta
- https://www.delo.si/novice/znanoteh/za-slovenskega-raziskovalca-se-cetrti-erc-projekt
- https://www.sta.si/3572679/dragan-mihailovic-bo-s-projektom-erc-razvijal-tehnologijo-za-zmanjsanje-motenj-v-kvantnih-procesorjih
- https://info07.si/sl/raziskovalnik/znanost/dragan-mihailovic-prejel-cetrti-projekt-evropskega-raziskovalnega-sveta
- https://megafon.si/po-domace/dragan-mihailovic-bo-s-projektom-erc-razvijal-tehnologijo-za-zmanjsanje-motenj-v-kvantnih-procesorjih
- https://vesti.si/sl/raziskovalnik/znanost/dragan-mihailovic-prejel-cetrti-projekt-evropskega-raziskovalnega-sveta
- https://znanjeteka.si/sl/znanost/dragan-mihailovic-prejel-cetrti-projekt-evropskega-raziskovalnega-sveta