On the occasion of an exceptional week for the Deeptech ecosystem, marked by France Quantum (June 10 at Station F) and Vivatech (from June 11 to 14, Porte de Versailles), the program Why Quantum Matters brought together two key figures of the French quantum landscape. Sabine Mehrrepresentative of Gum (large national intensive calculation equipment)central structure of high performance calculation in France, came to share behind the scenes of the national strategy for acquiring and integrating quantum calculators. By his side, Fanny buttonQuantum Lead, PM, R&D Open Innovation at OVHCLOUD and CO founder of France Quantum, has shed light on industrial uses and dynamics at work in the sector.
The week promises to be dense with France Quantum which will welcome more than 1000 participants for round tables, Keynotes and presentations of use cases, and Vivatech which will consecrate an entire area, the Quantum Zoneto the quantum ecosystem, with many French startups present, educational demonstrations, and discussions on the next stages of the national strategy.
A long -term public strategy
Created in 2007 under the leadership of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, GENCI plays a central role in the provision of high performance calculation resources (HPC) to the scientific and industrial community. Its mandate has recently expanded to the integration of quantum calculators in national calculation centers (TGCC at CEA, Idris at CNRS, Cines for universities). Sabine Maire recalls that this mission is part of a logic of public service: “Our role is to acquire the supercomputer, to install them in national centers, and to make them accessible to open research”.
With the rapid development of technologies, Génci now incorporates massively parallelized ia partitions (GPU), but also quantum systems, within the framework of the HQI program (France Hybrid HPC Quantum Initiative), in partnership with CEA. The quantum is not discussed as a break, but as a complementary brick with high added value.
Concrete machines, European alliances
Two machines are being deployed. Ruby, based on cold atoms technology of the Pasqal startup, is in the final installation phase. Lucy, a photonic machine developed by Candela, must be delivered at the end of 2025. These investments are part of a European program carried by EuroHPC, making it possible to pool funding and open access to European researchers.
“These systems are seen as coprocessors integrated into the classic calculation,” says Sabine Mehr. The HPCQS project, carried out jointly with Germany, made it possible to initiate this approach. The idea is to enrich simulation capacities, without claiming an immediate substitution. Génci also ensures that these systems are selected in connection with national scientific forces: “We have a very powerful photonics community in France, hence the choice of Quandela”.
A meeting between two cultures
The deployment of these machines is also a process of organizational transformation. Quantum startups, from the academic world, must adapt their systems to the industrial requirements of a calculation center. Conversely, the HPC operating teams discover radically different architectures. “These are UFOs in the machine rooms,” says Sabine Mehr. “But there was a real will on both sides to learn, a mutual curiosity”.
This collaboration extends at European level. At the request of EuroHPC, six countries merged their projects to develop a common HPC-Quantic integration program. France has been appointed coordinator. “There was nothing on paper which guaranteed that it would work, but the shared will made it possible to get there,” she adds.
Open research, engaged industry
Access to calculation resources distributed by Genci is free, but subject to a condition: the results must be published. “Open research” is not limited to public laboratories. It also concerns manufacturers and startups which agree to contribute to collective knowledge. “The small obstacle is that some still confuse open research and academic research,” notes Sabine Mehr. However, companies like EDF, Totalenergies or Thales, with strong digital simulation crops, already use these resources.
The challenge lies in identifying parts of a complex HPC code that can be transferred to quantum, even partial units. This requires a skills rise effort, an adaptation of algorithms and technical anticipation. “We need industrial users agreeing to test, even if technology is not yet mature. This makes it possible to bring back precious returns to the manufacturers. »»
An ecosystem that is structured
On the HQI stand in Vivatech, the gum is hosting thirteen startups this year. A space dedicated to “houses of the quantum” presents regional ecosystems, while educational conferences and demonstrations are offered to the general public. The objective is twofold: to show the diversity of possible professional trajectories in the sector, and to promote the appropriation of technology.
France today has a coherent and visible ecosystem. “Not only do we have several hardware technologies carried by startups, but also a set of industrial players ready to offer use cases, to publish, to collaborate,” explains Sabine Mehr. The country benefits from an interconnected fabric, from research to industrialization.
A moment not to be missed
For Fanny Bouton, the main brake remains cultural. “We tend to wait for it to work,” she says. However, quantum calculation is part of a long time. “You have to set up teams, develop algos, secure machines. If we do not consume our own European technologies, they will disappear. »»
Internationally, China and the United States have already set up massive funding. France has a temporary asset: being among the first to structure a sovereign national sector, in connection with Europe, remains to transform this advantage into real adoption.
