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France's CEA, Alice & Bob partner on quantum-supercomputing software - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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France's CEA, Alice & Bob partner on quantum-supercomputing software

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 17, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: September 17, 2026

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France's CEA, Alice & Bob Advance Quantum-Supercomputing Software Collaboration

Strategic Partnership to Diversify Quantum Computing Software Ecosystems

By Leo Marchandon

Overview of the Collaboration

Sept 17 (Reuters) - France's Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and quantum startup Alice & Bob said on Thursday they would develop software linking quantum processors with traditional supercomputers, arguing the industry should avoid the kind of dependence on a single software ecosystem that helped cement Nvidia's dominance in artificial intelligence.

Enhancing Open-Source Solutions

They will seek to improve the largely open-source Qaptiva software developed by state-owned supercomputer maker Bull, aiming to broaden the range of tools available to quantum developers alongside Nvidia's CUDA-Q.

Importance of Multiple Software Frameworks

Executives at CEA told Reuters that having multiple software frameworks alongside Nvidia's CUDA-Q would help avoid the kind of software bottleneck that developed around CUDA in artificial intelligence.

Industry Perspectives and Strategic Goals

Software as a Key Enabler in Quantum Computing

Alice & Bob said software is the part of quantum computing that makes the technology usable. "The more alternatives there are, the faster the whole field moves," Alice & Bob US General Manager Juliette Peyronnet said. 

Boosting France's Quantum Industry

CEA, a research centre with an annual budget of nearly €6 billion ($6.9 billion) that notably oversees France's nuclear deterrent, said the programme aimed to boost the domestic quantum industry by becoming an early customer for French startups and granting them access to its computing facilities.

Integrating Quantum and Classical Supercomputers

The aim is to link conventional supercomputers and quantum processors, assigning the quantum machine only the parts of a problem for which it may eventually offer an advantage.

CEA has already installed quantum computers from French companies Quandela and Pasqal alongside its classical supercomputer and will add Alice & Bob's in 2027.

Additional Information

($1 = 0.8714 euros)

(Reporting by Leo Marchandon in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)

Key Takeaways

  • CEA and Alice & Bob are developing software to integrate quantum computers with classical supercomputers using Bull’s Qaptiva platform, aiming to avoid dependence on Nvidia’s CUDA‑Q (boursorama.com)
  • CEA will leverage this initiative to support French quantum startups and provide them access to its HPC infrastructure; Alice & Bob’s quantum system will be added at CEA in 2027 (boursorama.com)
  • Qaptiva is a hardware‑agnostic quantum application platform enabling developers to write once and deploy across different quantum backends, fostering interoperability and industrial readiness (cea.fr)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of the partnership between CEA and Alice & Bob?
Their goal is to develop software that links quantum processors with traditional supercomputers and expand available frameworks beyond Nvidia's CUDA-Q.
Why is having multiple quantum software frameworks important?
Having multiple frameworks helps avoid software bottlenecks and reduces dependence on a single ecosystem, fostering innovation in quantum computing.
What role does Qaptiva play in this collaboration?
Qaptiva, an open-source software developed by Bull, will be improved to provide more tools to quantum developers alongside Nvidia CUDA-Q.
How is CEA supporting French quantum startups?
CEA is boosting the domestic quantum industry by acting as an early customer and granting startups access to its supercomputing facilities.
When is Alice & Bob's quantum computer expected to be installed at CEA?
Alice & Bob's quantum computer is planned for installation at CEA in 2027.

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