Quandela to launch Belenos, the world’s most powerful photonic quantum computer

• An exponential growth: 4,000 times more powerful than the previous generation
• A new technological milestone just two years after the launch of the first photonic quantum computer in the cloud
• Qubits expected to double within a year, multiplying power by 16 million

Paris,  May 22^nd 2025 – Quandela, the leader in quantum computing, announces the launch of Belenos, the world’s most powerful photonic quantum computer. This is a key milestone in the company’s Roadmap 2030, which is on track to meet its ambitious timeline. Accessible to commercial and industrial partners in the cloud, Belenos offers 4,000 times more computing power than the previous generation, unveiled just two years ago with the launch of the first photonic quantum computer in the cloud. The first fully integrated version will be delivered in a supercomputer at the end of 2025.

Exponential growth in computing power

Based at Quandela’s headquarters in Massy near Paris, Belenos is now available in the cloud to more than 1,200 researchers and partner companies in 30 countries: nearly two-thirds of them are European (40% French), with a significant share of the user base located in North America and Asia.

This new generation of quantum computer, with its 12 photonic qubits, represents a major technological advance compared with the previous 6-qubit version launched at the end of 2022. This progress far exceeds Moore’s Law, which predicts a doubling in the performance of conventional processors every two years.

The next generation, called Canopus, expected in just one year’s time, will double the number of qubits once more, resulting in a 16 million-fold increase in computing power. Within three years, Quandela plans to develop a quantum computer with more than 40 qubits, whose power will exceed the simulation capabilities of any conventional computer.

Revolutionary real-life applications

This technological leap means that innovative algorithms can now be tested on physical machines to speed up certain AI calculations, such as image classification and generation, as demonstrated during the BMW-Airbus challenge which Quandela won in December 2024. As a result, hundreds of international researchers working on the company’s cloud platform can now explore new frontiers, particularly in the field of quantum machine learning (QML).

While education and research represent a solid basis for the activity of Quandela’s partners, the business community is showing promising momentum, and already accounts for 25% of uses, illustrating the accelerating adoption of quantum technologies in the private sector.

The following use cases already identified by EuroHPC will benefit from HPC-Quantics coupling: electromagnetic simulation, structural mechanics, combustion in engines, materials simulation, meteorology and earth observation.

A first integrated version will be delivered to EuroHPC/GENCI and operated at the CEA’s Très Grand Centre de Calcul (TGCC) by the end of 2025.

A timeline that delivers on its promises with an ambitious vision

The commissioning of Belenos demonstrates Quandela’s ability to meet its bold agenda. This step is in line with the technological roadmap to 2030 unveiled last autumn (see press release of 11 October 2024).

« We are extremely proud of this new development. Cloud access to Belenos now offers to our partners the possibility to explore use cases where the speed of calculation and the number of computational operations per data point are essential; these capabilities, offered by Belenos, are inaccessible to the competition. This paves the way for concrete applications in machine learning and at the interface between AI and quantum, in sectors that are as varied as they are strategic for the future », declares Niccolo Somaschi, co-founder and CEO of Quandela.

Paris, April 29, 2025 – Quandela, a European leader in quantum computing, announces the appointment of Professor Alberto Peruzzo as VP NextGen Quantum Computers. Alberto is an internationally recognized expert in quantum photonics, quantum algorithms, and scalable quantum computer architectures. He joins Quandela to accelerate the development of scalable, fault-tolerant quantum processors, as part of the company’s roadmap toward large-scale universal quantum computing. 

At 46 years old, Alberto Peruzzo brings over 18 years of experience at the cutting edge of quantum technologies. Most recently, he served as Head of Quantum Computing at Qubit Pharmaceuticals, where he focused on applying quantum algorithms to molecular modeling and drug discovery. Previously, he held academic and leadership roles as Director of the Quantum Photonics Laboratory in Melbourne, Principal Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, and Node Director within the same network. Throughout his career, he has combined scientific leadership with strategic vision to advance quantum technologies, contributing both to fundamental research and to practical applications in quantum computing. 

Alberto Peruzzo, VP NextGen Quantum Computers at Quandela 

“I am thrilled to join Quandela at a time when the foundations of large-scale quantum computing are being laid. Photonics is particularly well positioned to deliver scalable quantum systems, and I look forward to working with the team to make fault-tolerant quantum processors a reality,” said Alberto Peruzzo, newly appointed VP NextGen Quantum Computers at Quandela. 

Alberto is known for his ability to combine deep scientific expertise with a strategic vision for the commercialization of quantum technologies. At Quandela, he will lead the Next Gen Quantum Computers team, coordinating the definition and implementation of the architecture for future scalable quantum processors. 

“Alberto is a leading figure in the quantum photonics community and brings a rare combination of academic excellence and system-level vision. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing our roadmap toward the development of large-scale fault-tolerant quantum processors,” said Niccolo Somaschi, co-founder and CEO of Quandela. 

“Quandela is one of the most exciting quantum companies in the world, leading the race in quantum photonics. I’m excited to join this exceptional team and contribute to the development of the next generation of quantum processors — pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing,” concluded Alberto Peruzzo. 

Paris, April 15^th, 2025 – Quandela, European leader in quantum computing, announces the appointment of Michel Paulin to its Board of Directors. Michel, a recognized expert in the digital industry, was previously CEO of telecommunications pioneer SFR and European sovereign cloud leader OVHcloud. He will bring his experience to Quandela and enrich the company’s strategic vision.

Michel Paulin has spent most of his career in the tech and telecom sectors. In particular, he was previously CEO of OVHcloud, SFR and Neuf Cegetel.

Today, he is Chairman of the Logiciels et Solutions Numériques de Confiance (Trustworthy Software and Digital Solutions) cluster, which brings together software, quantum, AI, cloud and metaverse players.

Recognized as a leading figure in the digital industry, he has been a Director of the Board of the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (INRIA) since 2022, by decision of the Minister for Industry.

Michel Paulin is a graduate of École Polytechnique (1981) and Télécom ParisTech.

Michel Paulin, new member of Quandela’s Board of Directors

“Michel has exceptional expertise in the telecoms and cloud sectors, as well as a proven track record in leading strong growth companies. His advice will be extremely valuable as Quandela embarks on its international expansion and the ramp-up of quantum computer production. I am honored to have him join us as a new member of the Board of Directors,” says Niccolo Somaschi, co-founder and CEO of Quandela.

“I’m honored to join Quandela’s Board of Directors. Quantum computing undoubtedly represents one of the next major technological revolutions, and strategic positions for the next decades are being defined today. France is at the forefront of this quantum technological race, thanks to outstanding research and exceptional talent. With Quandela, our country has a world-leading technological champion in photonic quantum computing. I’m looking forward to contributing to Quandela’s development in this exciting new quantum revolution,” says Michel Paulin, a new member of Quandela’s Board of Directors.