Insider Brief:
- Quandela has just inaugurated its first factory for manufacturing quantum computers in Massy (Essonne, France).
- The grand opening took place on June 20th, 2023, in the presence of Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Digital Transition and Telecommunications, Nicolas Dufourcq, CEO of Bpifrance, and Alain Aspect, 2022 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics and member of Quandela’s scientific board.
- It marks a major milestone for the company as it begins its industrialization phase.
PRESS RELEASE — Paris, June 26, 2023. Quandela, a leader in optical quantum computing, has just inaugurated its first factory for manufacturing quantum computers in Massy (Essonne, France). The grand opening took place on June 20th, 2023, in the presence of Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Digital Transition and Telecommunications, Nicolas Dufourcq, CEO of Bpifrance, and Alain Aspect, 2022 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics and member of Quandela’s scientific board. It marks a major milestone for the company as it embarks on its industrialization phase.
The opening represents a remarkable achievement for Quandela and positions the company at the forefront of the quantum computing industry. With its new production capabilities and stringent quality processes, the company is equipped to meet industry-grade standards.
Quandela, the first actor in the European Union — and to date one of the global few — to make its quantum computers publicly available on the cloud, continues to push boundaries. In the coming months, Quandela will deploy two additional quantum computers on the cloud and will be expanding its portfolio of cloud-based quantum solutions.
Thanks to its new factory, Quandela will be able to scale up its production and supply quantum computers, both for on-premise sales and for its quantum cloud platform, enabling an increasing number of industrial players to leverage this technology for addressing industrial use cases.
“Having released our first generation of quantum computers on the cloud, the next logical step for Quandela was to move towards the industrialization of these computers. Thanks to this factory, located on the doorstep of the Plateau de Saclay, we are confident in tackling the upcoming challenges to further increase the computational capabilities of our computers and the number of industrial applications.”
— Valérian Giesz, co-founder and CEO of Quandela.
“I’m delighted to announce that Quandela is laureate of the France 2030 “Première Usine” call for projects, operated by Bpifrance. The company, now a major European player in photonic quantum computing, perfectly embodies our strategy of reindustrialization, based on support for innovative technologies developed by startups and industrial SMEs. This CNRS spin-out has made the transition from the laboratory to the factory over a period of 5 years, with Bpifrance providing support on 8 occasions as the project developed. It’s the perfect example of the deeptech continuum we’ve been creating in France since 2019.”
— Nicolas Dufourcq, CEO of Bpifrance.
“The inauguration of this first quantum computer factory marks Quandela’s scaling up from fundamental research to industrialization. Through various programs such as FT2030 and the France 2030 “Première Usine”, the French government is supporting Quandela at every stage of its development, in particular through a €9.5 million grant. We’re very proud to have such high-quality researchers and entrepreneurs in France, who will help us make France a deeptech nation.”
— Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Digital Transition and Telecommunications.
Finally, in line with its technological roadmap, this new factory will also enable Quandela to develop more powerful quantum computers for its customers. In addition to the factory inaugurated today, Quandela is finalizing the installation of its cleanroom on the Plateau de Saclay, where semiconductor components for photonic qubit generation are produced.
This new milestone confirms Quandela’s leading position in photonic quantum computing in Europe.
About Quandela
Quandela, leader in quantum photonics, develops full-stack optical quantum computers, available both on cloud and on-premises. Quandela is a complete player in photonic quantum computing and currently employs more than fifty PhD and engineers in algorithms, semiconductors, quantum optics, quantum information and computer science. In 2022, Quandela released its photonic computer programming and simulation software, Perceval, and signed a hosting partnership with OVHcloud to strengthen the user community. Today, the company offers a cybersecurity enhancement solution with a 2-qubit processor and made its first 6-qubit NISQ quantum computer available in the cloud in the fall of 2022. In March 2023, OVHcloud purchased a first on-premise Quandela quantum computer that will be delivered this fall. Quandela also supports and advises companies and organizations, such as EDF, MBDA and ONERA, in the exploration and development of the first use cases.
About Bpifrance
Bpifrance finances companies at each stage of their development, providing credit, guarantees and equity. It supports them with their innovation projects and international expansion. Bpifrance also offers a wide range of products to help companies with their exports. The services it provides to entrepreneurs include advice, education, networking and an accelerator program for start-ups and small and mediumsized businesses. Bpifrance and its 50 regional units ensure that entrepreneurs have a single, effective contact person close by to help them deal with their challenges.
About France 2030
The France 2030 investment plan:
— Has two ambitions: transforming key sectors of our economy for the long term (healthcare, energy, automotive, aerospace and space) through technological innovation, and positioning France not just as a participant but as a leader of tomorrow’s world. France 2030 supports the whole innovation life cycle through to industrialization: from carrying out fundamental research and fostering new ideas to producing a new product or service.
— Is unprecedented in terms of scale: €54 billion will be invested to help our companies, universities and research organizations achieve successful transitions in these strategic sectors. The aim is to provide a competitive response to the challenges posed by tomorrow’s world in terms of the environment and economic attractiveness, and to bring through future champions in the sectors in which we excel. France 2030 is defined by two cross-cutting targets, allocating 50% of its expenditure to decarbonizing the economy and 50% to funding emerging innovators without carrying out any environmentally damaging expenditure (in line with the “Do No Significant Harm” principle).
— Will be implemented collectively: designed and deployed in conjunction with economic, academic, local and European participants, which will help determine its strategy and key initiatives. To receive state support, entities developing projects are invited to submit applications via procedures that are open, demanding and selective.
— Is overseen by France’s Office of the Secretary General for Investment, on behalf of the Prime Minister. Press Contacts Marine Xech-Gaspa — Quandela: [email protected] / +33 (0)6 85 58 95 50 Pierre Cejka — Bpifrance: [email protected] /
SOURCE: Quandela
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