On 19 October in Paris, more than 80 decision-makers, scientists and quantum specialists gathered at an event organised by the French Directorate-General for Enterprise and the CSF “Trusted Software and Digital Solutions”. Throughout the day, the specialists exchanged views on the topic of innovation through quantum and hybrid computing. The MaQuEst team took part and is sharing its key takeaways here.
A day dedicated to gaining a better understanding of innovation through quantum computing
The aim of the event was to help shape the sector by promoting the sharing of knowledge and best practice, and by bringing together complementary stakeholders. The programme was structured around three objectives:
- to gain a better understanding of the French quantum computing ecosystem;
- to identify the challenges where it can deliver real added value;
- to discover how to access quantum computing infrastructures and their services.
To address these questions, the event brought together a diverse range of participants: decision-makers, scientists and quantum specialists, including industry players such as Alice & Bob, manufacturers such as Servier France, and representatives from several ‘Maisons du Quantique’ from other regions. Thematic round-table discussions organised by sector facilitated more focused exchanges, including one dedicated to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, which was moderated by MaQuEst.
Chemistry and pharmaceuticals: three key takeaways
Alongside Alice & Bob and Servier France, MaQuEst led the roundtable discussion dedicated to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. From these discussions, we have identified three key takeaways.
- Computing power is a limiting factor for these industries. Many challenges are constrained by current computing capabilities. In this context, even a modest improvement can represent a significant gain.
- This is a long-term investment. Companies in the sector are currently in a preparatory phase, looking ahead to future applications.
- This preparation is already bearing fruit. By rethinking a problem to adapt it to quantum computing, some are discovering new, more efficient ways of tackling it using classical computing.
Practical exchanges between participants
The day was a resounding success. Many discussions centred on sharing best practice, to better understand this technology and explore its use cases. This type of event enables us to collectively identify what needs to be done in the near future to benefit from these technologies. We believe this is essential, and we are already keen to take part in future events.
Businesses in the Grand Est region: the MaQuEst call for projects is open
Are you a business based in the Grand Est region looking to explore quantum computing? The MaQuEst call for projects is open until 16 November. Full details can be found here.