French Quantum Firm Alice & Bob to Invest $50M in Paris Quantum Computing Center
French quantum computing startup Alice & Bob is making a major leap toward commercializing fault-tolerant quantum computing with a $50 million investment in a new quantum computing facility in Paris. This initiative marks a pivotal transition for the company as it moves beyond research and into the development of scalable, real-world quantum technologies.
The new 4,000-square-meter center will serve as a hub for the development of Alice & Bob’s next-generation quantum chips. Central to this effort is the company’s proprietary cat qubit technology, which is designed to significantly reduce quantum errors—one of the key challenges in building reliable quantum computers.
To equip the facility, Alice & Bob has partnered with two leading players in the quantum ecosystem: Bluefors, a supplier of cryogenic systems, and Quantum Machines, a provider of hybrid quantum-classical control solutions. These collaborations will provide the advanced infrastructure needed to support the company’s long-term goal of building a large-scale quantum computer, known as Graphene, which is expected to feature 100 logical qubits by 2030.
The facility will include a nanofabrication cleanroom for prototyping quantum processing units (QPUs), as well as a cryostat farm with 20 Bluefors dilution refrigerators. These ultra-low-temperature systems are critical for testing and developing quantum chips. Quantum Machines will supply the control systems that manage the complex interactions between quantum and classical computing components, ensuring optimal performance.
Cat Qubit Technology: A Hardware-Efficient Breakthrough
Alice & Bob’s cat qubit technology is at the heart of its approach to fault-tolerant quantum computing. Unlike traditional qubits, cat qubits are resistant to bit-flip errors, which are a major obstacle to scaling quantum systems. This innovation allows the company to build more powerful quantum computers with significantly less hardware and energy consumption. According to Alice & Bob, their approach could reduce the hardware requirements for large-scale quantum systems by as much as 200 times compared to conventional methods.
CEO Théau Peronnin emphasized the importance of the new facility for both the company and France’s broader quantum ambitions. “Our lab will allow Alice & Bob to develop technology that can be tested by real clients and end users, as our company’s focus moves from exclusive research to commercialization,” he said.
Collaboration and Innovation at the Core
In addition to its technical capabilities, the new center will serve as a collaborative space for engineers, researchers, and business teams. The facility includes modern workspaces designed to foster innovation through brainstorming sessions and interdisciplinary workshops.
Partners Bluefors and Quantum Machines see the collaboration as an opportunity to advance the frontiers of quantum technology. Dr. Itamar Sivan, co-founder and CEO of Quantum Machines, praised Alice & Bob’s hardware-efficient approach. “Their method offers a novel route to fault-tolerant quantum computing and could significantly reduce the resources needed for effective quantum error correction,” he said.
David Gunnarson, CTO of Bluefors, echoed this sentiment. “Alice & Bob’s cat qubit is a very interesting application for our cryogenic solutions, which are essential for building stable and efficient quantum systems,” he noted.
Strengthening Europe’s Quantum Leadership
The launch of the new center also underscores Europe’s growing role in the global quantum race. François Charbonnier, Investment Director at Bpifrance, called the initiative a major milestone for the French quantum ecosystem. “Alice & Bob’s accelerated development cycle positions both the company and Europe as serious contenders in the race to practical quantum computing,” he said.
Founded in 2020, Alice & Bob has already raised over €130 million in funding and employs more than 100 people across its Paris and Boston offices. The company’s cat qubit technology has drawn interest from major technology firms, including Amazon, and has demonstrated superior performance compared to industry leaders like Google and IBM in early trials.
With the opening of its new Paris facility, Alice & Bob aims to fast-track the development of commercial quantum chips and bring fault-tolerant quantum computing closer to everyday application.
