Insider Brief
- Pasqal has opened its first North American quantum computer factory in Sherbrooke, Québec, and sold a 100-qubit processor to Distriq, strengthening Canada’s position in the global quantum ecosystem.
- The facility will manufacture next-generation neutral-atom quantum processors, supported by $15 million in financing from Investissement Québec and housed in the Espace Quantique 1 building.
- The newly sold QPU, funded by multiple public and private partners, will give Canadian researchers and industries access to an industrial-grade quantum system for real-world applications.
PRESS RELEASE — Pasqal, a global leader in neutral-atom quantum computing, today announced two significant milestones in its Canadian operations: the opening of its first North American quantum computer manufacturing facility in Sherbrooke, Québec, and the sale of a 100-qubit quantum processing unit (QPU) to Distriq, Quantum Innovation Zone.
This new factory is Pasqal’s second worldwide, following its flagship facility in France, and follows the company’s global industrialization and technology deployment strategy. The plant, located within the 50,000-square-foot Espace Quantique 1 building in Sherbrooke, will produce Pasqal’s next-generation quantum processors to serve growing demand in North America and is poised to position Québec as a key hub in the global quantum economy.
Pasqal’s rapid progress in Canada builds on a strategic plan first announced in 2023, when Investissement Québec granted the company a $15 million loan to support the construction of its Sherbrooke factory. As a result of this expansion and continued investment, Pasqal is now one of the largest quantum computing companies operating in Canada.
Coinciding with the factory’s inauguration, Pasqal has finalized the sale of a 100-qubit QPU to Distriq. This computer will be fully manufactured and installed in Sherbrooke, making quantum computing resources accessible to Canadian researchers and industries.
In a collaborative effort to position Québec as a global leader in quantum innovation, the QPU purchase by Distriq was made possible through a combined funding including a $9.6 million loan from the Québec Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) and Investissement Québec, $2.4 million in financing from the National Bank of Canada and $1.2 million from CED (Canada Economic Development for Québec regions).
“The opening of our first North American factory and the sale of another QPU to a leading innovation zone are not just milestones, they are proof points”, said Pasqal’s Executive Chairman, Wasiq Bokhari. “Pasqal is executing on its industrial roadmap, scaling production, and creating tangible value for customers today. These achievements signal to the market that quantum computing is no longer a future promise – it has become a reality today. We’re proud to partner with Québec, through Distriq, in making it a recognized center for quantum innovation.”
“The acquisition of Pasqal’s quantum computer by Distriq represents a major milestone in equipping Québec with cutting-edge quantum technologies,” said Mehdi Bozzo-Rey, Vice President Growth and Partnerships at Distriq. “Manufactured in Sherbrooke, this computer will support the development of an ecosystem focused on industrial applications of quantum computing.”
Fueling Research, Industry, and Collaboration
The new QPU will serve as a cornerstone for advancing quantum research and industrial applications in Québec. It will provide researchers with access to an industrial-grade quantum system for developing impactful algorithms in fields such as healthcare, energy, logistics, advanced materials, and finance. Industries will be able to explore the potential of quantum computing to address complex computational challenges, optimize processes, and advance artificial intelligence.
