French photonic quantum computing company Quandela plans to identify strategic partners in South Korea over the next two years for technology cooperation and joint development spanning quantum chip manufacturing, system integration, demonstration and real-world operation.
Niccolo Somaschi, chief executive of Quandela, announced the Korea business strategy and a medium- to long-term technology roadmap for fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) at a press conference held at Centropolis in Seoul's Jongno district on the 28th.
Quandela builds quantum computing systems that use photons, the particles of light. The company has recently worked with Nvidia to link quantum processing units (QPUs) with graphics processing units (GPUs), pursuing a hybrid combination of quantum computers and existing computing infrastructure. Because semiconductor-grade precision manufacturing and inspection capabilities are essential to mass-produce photonic quantum computers and scale their performance over the long term, the company intends to deepen technology cooperation with Korea and its manufacturing base.
"Combining Quandela's quantum computing expertise with Korea's semiconductor manufacturing technology would make a perfect match," Somaschi said. "Over the next two years, we will identify partners in Korea, review whether photonic modules are suitable for mass production, and reflect the results in our technology roadmap toward FTQC."
Quandela will pursue cooperation with Korean companies and research institutions across three broad areas: quantum hardware, or quantum chip, manufacturing; cryogenic control and system integration; and the quantum operating stack. In manufacturing, it will jointly develop mass-producible photonic modules using Korean semiconductor and photonic technology. The company plans to verify mass-production feasibility using advanced packaging, wafer-level inspection and precision optical alignment technology, and to draw up a joint manufacturing roadmap.
In system integration, the cryogenic environment and high-speed control devices required for quantum computers will be built into a single system. The aim is to create a control system that reduces latency in computation and an integrated environment in which it can be tested. In operations, Quandela will jointly develop error correction technology and technology that links quantum computers to existing computing infrastructure such as GPUs for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing (HPC) and cloud services. On that basis, it will also pursue a proof of concept (PoC) in Korea linking QPUs with HPC.
The company is also considering forming a quantum manufacturing consortium involving Korean companies and research institutions. Under the arrangement, Quandela would provide its own technology and system roadmap along with its experience building and operating QPUs in Europe, while Korean partners would contribute capabilities in semiconductors, photonics, advanced manufacturing and system integration. Existing intellectual property would remain with each institution, while newly developed IP would be shared according to each party's role and contribution. Cooperation with Korea's three main quantum clusters — Seoul, the Jeonnam-Gwangju region, and the southeastern region — was also raised as a possibility. "We see room for cooperation centered on quantum computing in Seoul, quantum communications in Jeonnam-Gwangju, and quantum sensing in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province," Somaschi said.
Samsung, SK hynix (000660) and LG Innotek (011070) were named as potential corporate partners. "There is potential for cooperation with each company in semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and module integration," he said. "We will build tangible cases of cooperation with Korean companies and research institutions, and over the long term develop Korea into a key hub for cooperation across Asia."
