While on his visit to the Netherlands in April 2023, President Macron highlighted Franco-Dutch cooperation in quantum technologies, exploring in particular advances in photonics and semiconductors, the Erasme Descartes conference focuses in 2023 on Quantum Leap Preparing Europe for Technological Sovereignty .
At this conference, Félix Givois, project engineer in quantum computing, represented GENCI in the discussion dedicated to the transfer of quantum development to society and its multiple applications.
He emphasized that GENCI is one of the leaders of the initiative French quantum Hybrid HPC (HQI) which comprises 2 core components:
- the installation and hybridization of quantum computers of different technologies in a high-performance computing center
- a research and development program on the power of this hybridization and the resulting possible industrial use cases. This program brings together several players from the French research ecosystem, including CEA CNRS INRIA and various universities. It aims to create a platform for French open research where they will be able to use the power of hybridized Quantum HPC.
Felix explained: "Our status today is the access given to a quantum system emulation capability using the power of HPC. In spring 2024, researchers will have access to a 100-qubit hybridized quantum system. Even though today our platform is limited, we have already seen some collaboration emerge around industrial cases used to prepare for the arrival of the quantum neutral atom system."
He stressed that quantum activity has an impact on economic competitiveness and geopolitical power dynamics, as quantum supremacy revolutionizes industrial processes and decision-making. For example, quantum chemistry is proving to be a geopolitical asset in the discovery of new drugs, as evidenced by vaccines against COVID-19.
Mastering this technology is therefore becoming a powerful vector of attraction: for capital and talent. This is what we call soft power...