Press Release

July 10, 2024: CMC Microsystems, Canada’s leading hardware technology facilitator and accelerator, and Pasqal, a global leader in neutral atoms quantum computing, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance Canada’s quantum ecosystem. Under the partnership agreement, Pasqal will provide its proprietary Quantum Discovery Platform to CMC’s team of quantum scientists. In turn, CMC will provide use cases, development and training.

The partnership will begin with a comprehensive Canada-wide survey targeting academic researchers and SMEs to assess current applications and interest in neutral atoms quantum computing. The survey aims to enhance awareness of quantum computing and identify potential collaborators.

Following the survey, CMC Mycrosystems and Pasqal will host a free workshop designed to train Canadian researchers and developers on Pasqal’s technology, enabling participants to initiate new quantum computing projects.

There are high expectations around quantum computing to overcome the existing limitations of supercomputer capabilities, as well as to reduce their energy consumption. Quantum computers process information in a completely different way compared to classical computers. First, they can perform complex calculations much more efficiently than classical computers. They are also well suited to solve optimization problems – problems that require finding the best solution out of many possibilities. Quantum applications can help tackle some of humanity’s most pressing issues, including creating life-saving medications and advancing efforts towards climate neutrality. Nonetheless, the widespread adoption of quantum technology remains an opportunity of the near future.

Pasqal & Quantum Discovery Platform

Founded in 2019, Pasqal’s quantum technology uses highly focused lasers, “optical tweezers”, to trap and manipulate neutral atoms individually to create 2D and 3D arrays in arbitrary configurations. In quantum processors, each quantum bit (qubit) is encoded into two energy levels of an atom, each atom in these arrays represents a qubit. This technology has already demonstrated its capability to operate with more than 300 qubits and Pasqal is on track to deliver a 1,000-qubit quantum computer in the 2026-2027 horizon.

Pasqal’s e-learning platform is a cloud-based web platform designed to give businesses and their employees an opportunity to enhance their understanding of quantum computing. It is team-oriented and encourages groups of employees to take part in the program together, explore real-world use cases, and gain insight into the potential of quantum computing applications for their business.

CMC: Providing Quantum Access for All

CMC has been supporting and delivering cutting-edge semiconductor technology for forty years for researchers and industry. Since 2020, they have offered quantum services, with a strategy to democratize access to state-of-the-art quantum hardware and software technologies to the different sectors of the Canadian quantum ecosystem. CMC’s quantum team offers coding services for industrial applications, training on a variety of platforms, as well as design and fabrication services for superconducting devices.

“Pasqal takes quantum technology out of the lab and puts it in the hands of business” says Udson Mendes, Quantum Team Leader at CMC. “The Quantum Discovery Platform is a powerful, accessible way for business to experience how quantum can take them to new levels of growth.”

“CMC’s quantum programming expertise and experience working on a variety of use cases and customers will fuel our vision to push the boundaries of quantum computing” says Raphaël de Thoury, CEO Canada at Pasqal. “Furthermore, connecting the international quantum ecosystem is a vital part of our commitment. By partnering with CMC, we are building relationships with key players from across the Canadian quantum ecosystem.”

Both firms work out of the Espace Quantique 1 of DistriQ – Quantum Innovation Zone in Sherbrooke, QC and are proud to be part of this hub of quantum innovation.

Our joint survey can be accessed here.

About Pasqal

‍Pasqal is a leading Quantum Computing company that builds quantum processors from ordered neutral atoms in 2D and 3D arrays to bring a practical quantum advantage to its customers and address real-world problems. Pasqal was founded in 2019, out of the Institut d’Optique, by Georges-Olivier Reymond, Christophe Jurczak, Professor Dr. Alain Aspect – Nobel Prize Laureate Physics, 2022, Dr. Antoine Browaeys and Dr. Thierry Lahaye. Pasqal has secured more than €140 million in financing to date. To learn more about us, visit www.pasqal.com

About CMC Microsystems

CMC Microsystems is a not-for-profit organization that accelerates research and innovation in advanced technologies including microelectronics, photonics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and quantum software and hardware. Founded in 1984, CMC lowers the cost and complexity of technology adoption by creating and sharing platform technologies including access to state-of-the-art design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities. CMC enables research, development, and the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) for an international network of over 10,000 researchers and more than 1,200 companies developing innovations in advanced technologies.