Quantum photonic integrated circuits are advancing rapidly from laboratory demonstrations toward manufacturable technologies for quantum computing, communication, sensing, networking, and precision measurement. Achieving this transition requires more than high-performance individual devices. It demands scalable materials, reproducible fabrication, validated process design kits, heterogeneous integration, wafer-scale testing, robust packaging, and system-level control.

This topical collection will highlight research that bridges the gap between fundamental quantum photonic devices and practical, foundry-ready quantum systems. It will bring together the quantum optics, materials, photonics, semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and systems communities.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on topics including:

• Integrated single-photon and entangled-photon sources
• Photonic quantum computing, communication, networking, and sensing
• Programmable and reconfigurable quantum photonic circuits
• Quantum frequency conversion and nonlinear quantum photonics
• Two-dimensional materials, quantum emitters, and van der Waals heterostructures
• Diamond, silicon carbide, III–V quantum dots, and wide-bandgap materials
• Thin-film lithium niobate, silicon, silicon nitride, and emerging platforms
• Hybrid and heterogeneous integration of quantum materials and photonic circuits
• Foundry-compatible quantum photonic platforms
• Multi-project-wafer fabrication and quantum-photonic process design kits
• Compact models, component libraries, and photonic design automation
• Process variation, yield, reproducibility, and design for manufacturability
• Wafer-scale testing, calibration, trimming, and reliability
• Electronic–photonic co-integration and integrated control
• Cryogenic, fiber, free-space, and system-level packaging
• Photonic chiplets, 2.5D/3D integration, and modular quantum systems
• Artificial intelligence, inverse design, and automated circuit control
• Benchmarking, standardization, pilot-line development, and commercialization
• Field-deployable, space-based, and application-driven quantum photonic systems

Submissions that connect quantum performance with fabrication scalability, material integration, packaging, reliability, or system deployment are particularly encouraged.

Contributions from universities, national laboratories, semiconductor foundries, startups, and established technology companies are welcome.

Submission Information:

Authors should select the appropriate Collection title “Quantum Photonic Integrated Circuits: Emerging Materials, Foundry Readiness, and Scalable Systems” under the “Details” tab during the submission stage.

Second generation quantum technologies will have a major impact on education and training in the field of quantum physics. The progress in quantum computing, simulation, sensing, and communication will lead to the emergence of new industries with a corresponding workforce demand. In quantum industry, new job types will appear which require specialized qualifications. A certain understanding of quantum physics will be a necessary prerequisite to work in these professions. It will have to be taught to a much wider and much more diverse group of stakeholders than is the case today. Expanding audiences will include engineering, information sciences, pharmaceutics, finance and insurance, but also salespersons, CEOs and policymakers. Providing appropriate education and training offers tailored to the needs of these audiences will be a considerable challenge for both academia and providers of upskilling programs.

This topical collection aims to focus on novel approaches to address these educational challenges and their relevance for the quantum industry. Appropriate contributions to this topical collection include:

• discussion of new topics relevant for the teaching of modern quantum physics • new teaching methods and ideas, including the use of multimedia and new media • implementation of demonstration and student experiments • empirical results on learning difficulties and the effectiveness of novel approaches • results on the effectiveness of communicating quantum technologies to broader audiences and the general public • novel methodologies for workforce training and lifelong learning in quantum technologies • methodological considerations of the current and emerging infrastructures and ecosystem related to the workforce development pipeline

Every article submitted to the collection is expected not only to present new concepts and ideas but also to (a) include at least initial results of an empirical evaluation, and (b) make a case for the relevance of their work to the development of the quantum industry.