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The race to create quantum computers that can deliver significant business improvements is accelerating. Among those leading the charge is a French startup that believes it has found a way to achieve the scale and power to make quantum computing useful.
Founded in 2019, Pasqal leverages technology developed at the Institut dOptique in Palaiseau, France, and is based on a process called neutral atoms. According to co-founder and CEO Georges-Olivier Reymond, this technique has allowed the company to build processors up to 200 qubits, moving ever closer to the coveted quantum advantage.
We have shown that quantum computing power is here, Reymond said. The next step is to deliver it, which means building devices, developing a quantum computing as a service offering, and delivering the power on the cloud.
Above: Pasqals founders, right to left: Antoine Browaeys, Georges-Olivier Reymond, ThierryLahaye, Christophe Jurczak (missing Alain Aspect)
The company is the underdog in an increasingly crowded arena that includes heavyweights like Google and IBM.
Race to the finish
Last year, for example, IBM drew up an ambitious quantum roadmap that includes the debut of its 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle processor this year and a 1,000-qubit processor by 2023. Startup IonQ announced a new 32 qubit quantum computer available in private beta. October.
So when Pasqal claims to have a 200 qubit processor, that’s no small feat. These advances led to a partnership late last year with Atos, which is incorporating Pasqals technology into its quantum computing efforts to accelerate its use with enterprise customers.
Additionally, Reymond said he has already sold two quantum processing units to high-performance computing centers.
The company is making these advances through the natural atom process. In many quantum computers, atoms are ionized, which means they are charged and more difficult to place in a stable state. Quantum computers can use a lot of energy and require super cool environments to make atoms into a state where they can process data.
Using neutral atoms requires less energy and avoids the need for deep freezing, Reymond said. The ability to position atoms in various two- and three-dimensional states allows some corporate clients to perform tasks such as quantum simulation and optimization.
The company is now focused on building quantum computers for on-premise customers, as well as a cloud-based quantum service that would allow companies to start experimenting with the technology. IBM has been using a similar cloud-based and on-premise approach for several years.
Full steam ahead
To bolster these efforts, the company just raised $ 30.5 million in a round led by Quantonation, a venture capital firm that focuses on quantum, and the Defense Innovation Fund run by French state-owned bank Bpifrance. Other participants in the round included Runa Capital, Daphni and Eni Next. The European Council for Innovation Fund (EIC) had also previously announced that it would support Pasqal.
While there has been solid debate over whether increasing funding for quantum startups is justified and just when the technology will truly deliver results, Reymond said the excitement is justified.
I think it’s realistic, he said. Twenty years ago I never imagined creating a company like Pasqal. Now it’s here. I can see all the progress everywhere. It really gives me confidence.
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