Dynamic Duo Alice & Bob Partner with PROQCIMA

Alice & Bob, the innovative French startup specializing in fault-tolerant quantum computers, has received a prestigious invitation from the French Ministry for Armed Forces to take part in France's groundbreaking PROQCIMA initiative.

This initiative is part of the larger €1 billion French National Strategy for Quantum, aimed at advancing quantum technologies. The PROQCIMA program specifically focuses on developing a universal fault-tolerant quantum computer demonstrator with 128 logical qubits by 2030, with plans for industrialization into a 2048-logical-qubits computer by 2035.

The selected companies for the PROQCIMA program, including Alice & Bob, PASQAL, Quandela, C12, and Quobly, will collectively have access to a substantial funding pool of €500 million. These companies will engage in both competition and collaboration to drive the French quantum ecosystem forward.

Over the next decade, the PROQCIMA program will unfold as a competitive journey. Initially, five candidates are in the running, with only three set to continue after the first four years. Ultimately, after eight years, only two winning companies will secure ongoing funding to advance their quantum endeavors.

Quantum computers come in various forms, such as analogue, noisy, and fault-tolerant. The latter, which are built with error-corrected logical qubits, are anticipated to enable universal quantum computation at its full potential.

Alice & Bob's proprietary technology, known as the "cat qubit," represents a novel quantum bit designed to expedite the development of fault-tolerant applications. This innovative approach is poised to revolutionize the quantum computing landscape.

"We are deeply appreciative of France's commitment to investing in fault-tolerant quantum computing," remarked Théau Peronnin, CEO and co-founder of Alice & Bob. "This initiative not only solidifies our global leadership but also propels the growth of the entire quantum ecosystem. We are eager to contribute our cat qubit fault-tolerant architecture to PROQCIMA, fostering innovation and unlocking the true potential of quantum computing."

Alice & Bob's cutting-edge technology addresses a critical challenge in quantum development: error correction. Their cat qubit is engineered to mitigate bit flips, thereby streamlining the error correction process by focusing solely on correcting phase-flips.

Recent research conducted by Alice & Bob in collaboration with Inria, the French national research institute for digital science and technology, showcases a remarkable 200-fold reduction in the resources required to execute complex quantum algorithms, including applications in cryptography, compared to existing methodologies.

Established in 2020, Alice & Bob is a burgeoning start-up with operations in Paris and Boston, dedicated to realizing the world's first universal, fault-tolerant quantum computer. With €30 million in funding, a workforce exceeding 90 employees, and promising experimental outcomes, the company is making significant strides in the quantum computing realm.

By demonstrating the efficacy of their cat bit architecture, Alice & Bob has illustrated the potential to reduce hardware demands for constructing large-scale, practical quantum computers by up to 200 times when compared to alternative approaches. This breakthrough underscores the transformative impact of their innovative technology on the future of quantum computing.