It is not only on artificial intelligence that French political decision-makers aim to make the country one of the world powers. Quantum computing is also one of the technological priorities of the France 2030 plan.
The national quantum strategy was initiated in 2021. On March 6, several political leaders and members of the government gathered at the National Library of France for a progress update.
Leading European country in fundraising
With a budget of 1.8 billion euros over 4 years, including 1 billion provided by the State, the French strategy aims to make France “a leader in quantum technologies”. Better still, it is the status of “center of gravity of the global quantum industry” that it is aiming for.
With 350 million euros raised by its startups, including 100 million for Pasqal (co-founded by Nobel Prize winner Alain Aspect), the country claims to be “the leading European country in terms of fundraising”. Globally, France ranks 3rd, behind the United States and Canada.
To rise to the rank of world power in quantum, several actions are planned, including strengthening the attractiveness of the French quantum sector. In this sector, the aim is to train 5,000 new talents.
The DGA is piloting Proqcima over 15 years
But France is also interested in the military uses of quantum. To develop them, the government announces the launch of the Proqcima program. Its management is entrusted to the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA).
In conjunction with the General Secretariat for Investment, the DGA’s mission is to acquire at least two prototypes of universal quantum computers by 2032. With a capacity of 128 logical qubits, these prototypes should be able to reach 2048 qubits in 2035.
With Proqcima, France intends to support research and public-private partnerships in quantum, but with a view to “competition between different companies.” This approach should therefore make it possible to select the “most efficient competitors.”
2048 qubits in 2035 and 400 million euros
The French program will take place in two phases. The first, that of the review, aims to measure the progress made. Five actors will participate. Then, the competition stage will begin. The principle is simple: after 4 years, “keep only the most promising solutions”, i.e. three of the competitors.
“At eight years, the competition will be limited to the two most efficient technologies which will continue the program until its end,” the government further specifies. The initiative, planned to extend over 15 years, brings together Alice & Bob, Pasqal,Quandela, C12 and Quobly.
In order to support the design of quantum computers, the government is allocating an envelope of 400 million euros over eight years. This amount includes investments from France 2030 and subsidies from ministries.