① French quantum computer startup Pasqal has reached a partnership with oil giant Saudi Aramco to install and operate a 200-qubit quantum computer in Saudi Arabia; ② Saudi Aramco says its goal is to be the first to use quantum computing in the energy sector; ③ This will be the first quantum computer deployed by Saudi Arabia, and is expected to make a significant contribution to the country's digital economic growth.
AFP, May 20 (Editor Zhou Ziyi) French quantum computer startup Pasqal announced on Monday (May 20) that it has signed a partnership with Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco to deploy its first quantum computer in the country.
Under the agreement, Pasqal will install, maintain and operate a 200-qubit quantum computer, which is scheduled to be deployed in the second half of 2025.
The agreement represents an important step towards diversification by Saudi Aramco as one of the world's leading integrated energy and chemical companies. Furthermore, this quantum computer is also significant for Saudi Arabia, as it will be the first quantum computer installed in Saudi Arabia and is expected to contribute to the country's digital economic growth.
Scientists have predicted that one day, some aspects of quantum computers will calculate millions of times faster than current fastest supercomputers.
Testing new technologies in the energy sector
Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, Saudi Aramco's executive vice president of technology and innovation, said, “In a rapidly evolving digital environment, we believe it is critical to seize the opportunities brought by new and influential technologies. Our goal is to be the first to use quantum computing in the energy sector.”
George-Olivier Reymond, CEO and co-founder of Pasqal, said, “Through this partnership, we will be at the forefront of accelerating the commercial adoption of this transformative technology. This is not just a quantum computer; it will also be the most powerful tool for industrial use, opening a new era of innovation for businesses and society.”
According to information, Saudi Arabia has an ambitious vision of becoming a quantum research powerhouse. This will promote collaboration with leading academic institutions and aims to promote breakthroughs in quantum algorithm development—a critical step in unlocking the true potential of quantum computing.
Meanwhile, Alain Aspect, one of the founders of Pasqal, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2022 for experiments in quantum mechanics. These experiments laid the foundation for the company's quantum computation. Pasqal has sold two quantum computers to France and Germany.
In fact, Pasqal has long had ties with Saudi Arabia. The company signed a memorandum of understanding in 2022 to cooperate on quantum computing capabilities and applications in the energy sector, and set up an office in Saudi Arabia in 2023. In 2023, Saudi Aramco's venture capital firm Wa'ed Ventures participated in Pasqal's Series B financing.