In a report delivered to the government at the beginning of 2020, Representative Paula Forteza laid out France’s roadmap for quantum computing. Entitled, “Quantum: the technology revolution that France won’t miss,” this report, which proposes a €1.4 billion investment over 5 years in the domain, clearly identifies Grenoble as central to France’s quantum strategy.

The report proposes creating 3 quantum technology hubs (Paris, Saclay & Grenoble), which would centralize the efforts of researchers in quantum physics, theoretical & applied computer science, computer engineers, the tech industry and end users.

In Grenoble, these skills are all coordinated within QuEnG (Quantum Engineering Grenoble), launched 3 years ago and financed by IDEX QuEnG. The close ties that are being created between INRIA, the CEA Leti, CEA List around AI computing architecture, in addition to the organic synergy between CNRS-NEEL, CEA Leti, CEA IRIG and the UGA, not to mention the presence of computing giant Atos, foreshadow the Grenoble quantum hub.

In addition, the report recommends supporting Quantum Silicon Grenoble, a research program that is looking to build a universal quantum silicon-based computer. Quantum Silicon brings together about 50 Grenoble-based researchers from Institut Louis-Néel-CNRS, the CEA (fundamental research – IRIG and Leti) and Université Grenoble Alpes, to work on the composition of a silicon-based quantum computing machine. Their goal is to build a universal quantum computing machine. This program has been operational since the beginning of 2019 under the name QuCube, winner of an ERC Synergy grant.