Roubaix – March 18th 2024 – OVHcloud, the European Cloud leader, today brought together the European Quantum ecosystem in Croix France to inaugurate the commissioning of the first Quantum computer available from a European Cloud service provider. At a time when European’s countries express a growing aspiration in spearheading innovation, regaining control over their future, preserving sovereignty and upholding their values, OVHcloud fully plays its role as a technological leader, investing in state-of-the-art solutions to support Europe’s strategical autonomy.

In presence of Sylvie Retailleau, Minister of Higher Education and Research, Marina Ferrari, Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, and Thomas Skordas, Deputy Director-General DG CNECT at European Commission, the event celebrated the commissioning of Quandela MosaiQ Quantum Computer at OVHcloud’s facilities hinting at what the future of innovation in Europe could look like, leveraging talents and technologies available locally.

Paving the way for the future of cloud computing with Quantum

Demonstrating firm commitment towards innovation, OVHcloud purchased the Quandela Quantum computer in March 2023, sending a clear message of support to the whole Quantum ecosystem through the “Choose French Tech” program. The Group is committed to developing and promoting a robust ecosystem of players united by the same values of innovation, data protection and openness. The MosaiQ system was the first Quandela computer to ship from the factory, was delivered to the datacenter at the end of 2023 and has now been set up and configured accordingly. Today, it is one of the few Quantum computers currently available in the cloud.

“Through the acquisition of the MosaiQ quantum computer developed by the French start-up Quandela, the French company OVHcloud illustrates the strengthening of our digital sovereignty. It embodies the dynamism of our quantum research ecosystem. OVHcloud's approach is remarkable, at the cutting edge of technology and innovation, and will also benefit selected French higher education and research establishments to benefit from computing hours” said Sylvie Retailleau, Minister of Higher Education and Research

The MosaiQ system is one of the first of its kind and uses beams of lights thanks to photonics principles to run quantum applications. OVHcloud is now leading the way for European organisations to invest in Quantum technology, which can be applied in areas including optimization, simulation and security. The Group aims to use the Quantum compute power for its internal research and development efforts to advance new security techniques, test new concepts and further lay down the groundwork for tomorrow’s European technologies to be used by industrial players. Quantum computing is expected to provide solutions to unsolvable problems in the fields of cryptography, simulation of new medicines or complex molecular systems as well as optimization of transport and logistics.

“With the inauguration of this computer, quantum computing will be more accessible and closer: our businesses must seize MosaiQ to accelerate their calculations and exploit its full potential. It is thanks to the innovation and boldness of cloud providers such as OVHcloud and startups like Quandela that our country will be able to consolidate its position as European leader in quantum technologies in an increasingly competitive global ecosystem.” said Marina Ferrari, Secretary of State for Digital Affairs.

“We are extremely proud that the first quantum computer manufactured in our factory is now installed in one of OVHcloud datacenters and now connected to their cloud. It’s a major step to develop use of our technologies within the European quantum and research communities. It confirms both our ambitions and our commitment to democratize access to quantum compute for the industry, research and the whole academic community in order to build a strong European ecosystem.” said Niccolo Somaschi, co-founder and CEO Quandela.

Granting Universities access to Quantum Computing through the Cloud

OVHcloud is proud to announce an educational program to grant select students from higher education institutions and universities, including the members of the QuanTEdu-France consortium such as Telecom Paris. As a result, after reviewing their applications, students will get free access, through the Cloud, to OVHcloud’s Quandela QPU. Students will get 80 hours of access to the Group’s unrivaled lineup of Quantum notebooks including Alice & Bob, C12, Eviden, Pasqal and Quandela notebooks.

Through this new educational program, that was praised by Bettina Stark-Watzinger, German Federal Minister of Education and Research, the Group is actively contributing to the development of talents and skillsets at a European level. It offers students unique and groundbreaking technology to help develop European software for new use cases and new challenges.

“We are convinced that Quantum is a technology for the future and we have shown unwavering support to ensure Europe doesn’t miss the next technological revolution. With the arrival of this first Quantum Computer in our datacenter we are pleased to make it accessible to students through the cloud, sending a clear signal of support to the broader ecosystem, playing our part in strengthening Europe’s strategic and technological autonomy.” said Michel Paulin, CEO OVHcloud.