French start-up Alice & Bob has just raised an exceptional €100 million to accelerate the development of its innovative quantum computer. This latest milestone marks a major turning point in the quantum computing race, positioning the company as a key player in the sector. Let’s delve into the details of this promising technological breakthrough and its implications for the future of quantum computing.
A major breakthrough in quantum computing
Alice & Bob stands out for its unique approach toerror-tolerant quantum computing. The company is developing “cat qubits”, a revolutionary technology that could significantly reduce the cost and complexity of quantum computers. These innovative qubits would enable the use of just a few thousand units where conventional approaches would require millions.
The startup, founded in 2020, has grown by leaps and bounds and now has 120 employees. Its ambitious goal is to build the first truly useful quantum computer by 2030. To achieve this, Alice & Bob is banking on an audacious roadmap, including the design of a 100 logic qubit “Graphene” chip by the end of the decade.
Here are Alice & Bob’s main development milestones:
- Improving quantum system performance
- Perfecting error correction
- Creation of the first error-corrected logical qubit
- Construction of a laboratory and production facility
Strategic funding for new quantum horizons
The recent €100 million Series B financing round was led by a consortium of renowned investors, including Future French Champions (FFC), Axa Venture Partners (AVP) and Bpifrance. This funding is a clear vote of confidence in Alice & Bob’s vision and potential in the field of quantum computing.
Historical investors such as Elaia Partners, Breega and Supernova Invest have also renewed their commitment to this new round. The funding also includes public players such as the EIC (European Innovation Council) and the Île-de-France Region, underlining the strategic importance of the project for the European technology ecosystem.
This massive injection of capital will enable Alice & Bob to :
- Accelerate the development of its chat qubit technology
- Expand its research and development capabilities
- Strengthen its position in the international quantum computing market
- Attract the best talent in the sector
Collaboration and innovation to shape the future of quantum computing
Alice & Bob is not content to develop its technology in isolation. The company actively engages in strategic collaborations with major players in industry and research. A notable example is the Optimized Energy for Quantum Circuits (OECQ) project, conducted in partnership with EDF, Quandela and CNRS.
This ambitious project aims to compare the energy consumption of traditional HPC (High Performance Computing) systems with that of quantum computers, and then optimize the latter. This initiative underlines the growing importance ofenergy efficiency in quantum computing, a crucial issue for the future of this technology.
Alice & Bob has also taken the important step of making its “Boson 4” quantum chip available on Google Cloud. This move enables researchers and companies around the world to access and experiment with this cutting-edge technology, similarly accelerating innovation in the field.
| Collaborator | Project | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| EDF, Quandela, CNRS | OECQ | Energy optimization of quantum circuits |
| Google Cloud | Boson 4 | Cloud access to the quantum chip |
| Sopra Steria | Strategic partnership | Support for technological development |
Future prospects for Alice & Bob and quantum computing
With this record-breaking round of financing and its technological advances, Alice & Bob is positioned as a potential leader in the quantum revolution. Based in Paris and Boston, the company is strategically positioned to conquer the European and North American markets.
The cat qubit technology developed by Alice & Bob could well represent a decisive turning point in the history of quantum computing. By drastically reducing the number of qubits needed to achieve the desired computing power, this approach promises to make quantum computers more accessible and practical for a wide range of applications.
The challenges remain numerous, but Alice & Bob’s ambition to build the first truly useful quantum computer by 2030 seems more realistic than ever. If the company succeeds in delivering on its promises, we could be witnessing a veritable revolution in fields as varied as pharmaceutical research, climate modeling, cryptography and artificial intelligence.
The future of quantum computing looks exciting, and Alice & Bob seems well positioned to be one of its main architects. It remains to be seen how the French company will capitalize on this exceptional fund-raising to realize its bold vision and transform the global technological landscape.
