France Acquires Alice & Bob Cat-Qubit Quantum Computer for National Research Infrastructure

Insider Brief

GENCI and Alice & Bob have signed an agreement for France to acquire an 18-cat-qubit quantum computer, marking the first deployment of a cat-qubit quantum system worldwide.

The system will be installed at the TGCC and integrated with the Joliot-Curie supercomputer, with user access expected to begin in 2027.

The project is part of France’s National Quantum Strategy and aims to support research into quantum error correction and hybrid HPC-quantum computing workflows.

PRESS RELEASE — Following the announcements made by the President of the French Republic on 22 May at the CEA’s Très Grand Centre de Calcul (TGCC) regarding the second phase of France’s National Quantum Strategy (SNQ), GENCI (Grand Équipement National de Calcul Intensif) and French quantum computing company Alice & Bob signed an agreement at VivaTech on 17 June, in the presence of representatives of the French government, for France’s acquisition of an 18-cat-qubit quantum computer.