Quandela took part in the French President’s state visit to South Korea, marking 140 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. On this occasion, Quandela reaffirmed its commitment to building a long-term partnership with South Korea as a key hub for quantum technologies, with a focus on accelerating research, talent development, and the industrialization of photonic quantum computing.
Strengthening a Strategic Presence in South Korea
Early April, the French president Emmanuel Macron traveled to South Korea for a state visit, marking 140 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. At this occasion Niccolo Somaschi, Chief Executive Officer at Quandela met with the Korean Quantum ecosystem and was part of the presidential delegation, highlighting our commitment to strengthening our presence and cooperation to accelerate the industrialization and adoption of photonic quantum computing.
CEO Niccolo Somaschi participated in the 3rd France–Korea Economic Dialogue, contributing to discussions on bilateral cooperation and the role of quantum technologies in industries. Alongside Clara Chappaz, ambassador for digital affairs and AI, the CEO of Qunova Computing, or the chairperson of the Korean Quantum Industry Association, he confirms our commitment to position as a key technological and industrial partner in South Korea.
“The country is considered “our main hub in Asia. Our goal is to build an ecosystem where research, innovation and industrial applications of quantum technologies are closely connected and accessible.”
— Niccolo Somaschi, cofounder & CEO at Quandela.
From research to application: building an integrated approach
On the sidelines of the visit, Quandela has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with active institutions in the field of quantum research. Together, these partnerships must span research, device development, and early-stage industrialization.
“South Korea combines world-class semiconductor expertise with cutting-edge research institutions, making it a natural gateway for our photonic quantum systems.”
— Niccolo Somaschi, cofounder & CEO at Quandela
The first is a tripartite MoU with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), which brings together complementary strengths across the quantum value chain. The agreement implements a cooperative framework for working on joint research programs in photonic quantum computing and co-development of components: while KAIST provides advanced research infrastructure, including its open quantum fabrication capabilities, KRISS shares expertise in precision measurement and standards and Quandela contributes its photonic quantum computing platforms and cloud-based tools.
The second MoU establishes a collaboration with the Seoul National University’s (SNU) Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center to explore how semiconductor-based processes can support quantum hardware development. This includes work across design, fabrication, and validation, alongside training programs and hands-on collaboration for students and researchers.
A renewed commitment to expand scientific cooperation
Quandela attended the 9th Korea–France Joint Committee on Science and Technology, which gathered leading institutions from both countries to encourage collaboration in research, academic exchange, and joint R&D projects. Seoul and Paris reiterated their position as essential partners in advanced strategic technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
As part of this event, Jean Senellart, Quandela’s Chief Product Officer, and Prof. Young-lk Sohn from KAIST, presented our ongoing bilateral work, highlighting new practical applications and the progress of joint initiatives between our company and Korean partners.
Supporting Talent and Collaboration
Beyond its technological and industrial partnerships, Quandela is actively contributing to strengthening scientific collaboration between France and South Korea. The company is committed to fostering connections between research, talent development and industry, in order to support the long-term growth of innovation ecosystems.
In this perspective, Quandela co-sponsored the creation of a new Franco-Korean science prize alongside Airbus and the Académie des Sciences. The distinction recognizes scientific excellence and encourage collaboration between the two countries, supporting the next generation of researchers.
Toward practical quantum applications
Across these initiatives, a central focus is the transition from research to real-world applications. Photonic quantum computing is particularly well suited to hybrid approaches, opening the way to concrete use cases in areas such as:
- Cybersecurity, for securing critical industrial and governmental infrastructures
- Energy optimization, where even marginal efficiency gains can translate into significant economic impact
- Integration with AI and HPC environments, enabling new hybrid computing approaches
By leveraging South Korea’s strengths in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, these collaborations aim to accelerate the deployment of quantum technologies and make them more accessible and relevant for industrial use.
Conclusion
Quandela’s recent activities in South Korea reflect a coordinated effort to deepen collaboration across research, industry, and policy. Through partnerships with leading institutions, participation in high-level dialogue, and support for scientific initiatives, the company is contributing to a growing quantum ecosystem in the region.
South Korea is emerging as a key location within this network – where strong research capabilities, industrial expertise, and international cooperation create favorable conditions for the development and application of photonic quantum technologies.