Pasqal Shifts French Public Collaboration Toward Commercial Quantum Computing

Insider Brief

• Pasqal is shifting its collaboration with French public authorities toward commercial applications and away from its participation in the LSQUARE/PROQCIMA defense program.
• The company completed the technological objectives of the first phase of PROQCIMA and has been invited to participate in civil public support programs now being defined.
• French authorities have asked Pasqal to submit an FTQC research and development program based on neutral atoms to support its commercial technology roadmap.

PRESS RELEASE —  Pasqal (NASDAQ: PSQL) is announcing an evolution of the areas of its collaboration with the French public authorities to now focus on commercial applications, in line with the company’s growth strategy and innovation priorities. 

This evolution includes the termination of Pasqal’s participation in the defense program LSQUARE (otherwise known as PROQCIMA), to which Pasqal participated in its first phase and successfully completed all the technological objectives. Pasqal thanks the French Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) of the Ministry of the Armed Forces for having supported it during the first phase of the defense program LSQUARE.

Pasqal is now invited to participate in the civil public support programs currently being defined. As a first step in this civil collaboration, the company has been requested by the French Secrétariat général pour l’investissement (SGPI) and the French Direction générale des entreprises (DGE) to submit a specific research and development program for fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) based on neutral atoms, and consistent with Pasqal’s advanced technology level and commercial maturity.

This focus on commercial-led development will provide further support to Pasqal to accelerate the implementation of its FTQC roadmap beyond the scope of the PROQCIMA program.

In just seven years, Pasqal has established itself as one of the global leaders in quantum computing, thus demonstrating the ability of French deeptech, with the support of public authorities, to bring forth world-class industrial champions. Pasqal operates the second largest fleet of complex quantum computers in the world, with world-leading companies among its customers.

Dr. Wasiq Bokhari, Chief Executive Officer of Pasqal, said: “We are excited about the evolution of our collaboration with the French public authorities. The visit by Nicolas Dufourcq, Chief Executive Officer of the French Public Investment Bank (Bpifrance), to Pasqal’s headquarters today is a testimony to our close relationship and Pasqal’s strategic importance to France as a sovereign technology asset.”