INNOVATION: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF QUANTUM COMPUTING AT OVHCLOUD

INNOVATION: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF QUANTUM COMPUTING AT OVHCLOUD

Since 2021, OVHcloud is developing its quantum program, a groundbreaking initiative that positions the company as a frontrunner in quantum computing in France. This ambitious project highlights OVHcloud's commitment to innovation, offering its employees a unique opportunity to shape the future of quantum computing in the Cloud, as detailed by Fanny Bouton, Quantum Lead at OVHcloud.

“The 20th century was atomic. The 21st century will be quantum”: for Octave Klaba, founder of OVHcloud, it is obvious that the future of computing will be written in qubits. Although quantum computing may seem out of reach to the uninitiated, it is becoming a reality and is anticipated by many as the next industrial revolution. Quantum computers, which look nothing like traditional computers, use the quantum properties of elementary particles (atoms, electrons, photons) to achieve computational power far exceeding that of supercomputers.

Similar to how micro-computing technologies and artificial intelligence have seamlessly integrated into our daily lives despite their complex technological underpinnings, quantum computing will soon be everywhere, ensures Fanny Bouton, Quantum Lead & Startup Program Leader at OVHcloud. “Quantum computing is the next big leap in computing and it will be inevitable” she asserts. “Today, we see the wave of AI, but in 10 to 15 years, quantum might be even more significant.”
“The computational power of quantum will allow us to solve certain complex problems that we cannot tackle even with our supercomputers” explains Fanny Bouton. This will impact various sectors by addressing issues related to optimization or simulation, such as energy consumption optimization, banking portfolio optimization, and the simulation of new materials or molecular interactions to develop more complex drugs in much shorter timeframes.

MOSAIQ: OVHCLOUD'S FIRST QUANTUM COMPUTER

The following year, in March 2023, OVHcloud acquired MosaiQ, a photonic computer built by Quandela - the first quantum computer produced by this French company. “Every year, we try new things”, Fanny Bouton describes. “What started as a small project has grown, and we continue to accelerate because innovation is crucial.”
Inaugurated this year, MosaiQ is currently “used for internal R&D and to understand how a quantum computer operates in our data centers”. Fanny Bouton is also about to present a new security product, developed in collaboration with the PU WEB and under the guidance of Miro Klaba, Director of R&D.

SUPPORTING FRENCH INNOVATION

As the only French company to have acquired a quantum computer, OVHcloud is also committed to supporting the development of these technologies within France. “For Octave (Klaba), buying the machine was important, but so was investing in and helping these French startups thrive. It supports the whole ecosystem, increasing the chances that French technology will be bought worldwide”, explains Fanny Bouton.

Thanks to the Startup Program and OVHcloud's purchase of MosaiQ, Quandela secured a second round of funding of 50 million euros in 2023. The Startup Program, which provides technical support and cloud and infrastructure credits, has also backed Pasqal, another French startup working on building quantum computers. Since 2015, the program has supported around 5,000 startups in various sectors worldwide.

FOSTERING A EUROPEAN QUANTUM ECOSYSTEM

What the quantum program reflects is OVHcloud’s intrinsic value of innovation. “We are still in the deployment and discovery phase, and it's not something that will be immediately profitable”, Fanny Bouton explains. “But we are developing tools to educate and create our future clients, to build this user community and to be ready. The goal is not to miss the next industrial revolution, which will be quantum, and for that, we need to get started now.”

This is why OVHcloud is also working to develop a French and European quantum ecosystem through hackathons, major events like France Quantum, and the association Le Lab Quantique. “Pooling resources is important and smart. Sharing these machines gives more people access and sustains an ecosystem. Moreover, placing these machines in the Cloud is a real financial and ecological challenge”, Fanny Bouton adds.

TRAINING TOMORROW'S TALENT

The quantum computer program largely relies on Fanny Bouton at the moment, but it’s also because it’s the result of cross-team collaboration, involving AI, Web, and communication teams, among others. Ultimately, quantum computing “will impact all our professions” she assures. “We will need interface development, software, engineers in our data centers, and even communication and sales roles.”

“Whether internally or externally, quantum computing attracts people because few companies are involved in it for now. It's like the Wild West; we're searching for gold nuggets” Fanny Bouton enthuses. “More and more teams are asking me how they can contribute to the project, and we’re discovering synergies.” To meet this curiosity, Fanny Bouton has started training several internal teams. At the same time, the group is developing certified training videos for those who would like to learn to use these emulators, both internally and externally.

“We are at the beginning of an adventure, but it is becoming more structured. It is also the strength of this type of company to excel at integrating unexpected opportunities that can accelerate projects at the right moment. It will require several more years of research and development, and that is both interesting and stimulating!”