Quandela Targets South Korea for Quantum Manufacturing Partnerships

Quandela, a French company specializing in photonic quantum computing, announced its intention to spend the next two years cultivating strategic partnerships in South Korea. These collaborations will focus on quantum chip manufacturing, system integration, and real-world operational applications. CEO Niccolo Somaschi unveiled this plan during a press conference in Seoul’s Jongno district on September 28, as Seoul Economic Daily reports. This initiative connects a European quantum hardware developer with Korea’s robust semiconductor industry, and leverages the manufacturing precision essential for the mass production of photonic quantum computers.

Quandela’s Objectives

Quandela’s quantum computers operate using photons, a distinct approach from systems based on superconducting circuits or trapped ions. The scalability of this hardware relies heavily on semiconductor-grade fabrication and inspection processes, which is why the company is targeting Korean manufacturers and research institutions. Though Somaschi described the two-year period as a “search phase,” Quandela has already established agreements with several Korean entities.

Specifically, Quandela has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KAIST and KRISS regarding photonic quantum computing. Additionally, the company signed a separate MOU with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which supports the establishment of a quantum technology development center in the city. The company’s proposed cooperation spans three primary areas:

• Manufacturing: This includes advanced packaging, wafer-level inspection, and precision optical alignment, all aimed at assessing the mass production capabilities of photonic modules.
• System Integration: The goal here is to reduce computational latency by combining cryogenic control with high-speed control devices.
• Operations: This encompasses error correction, the linking of quantum processing units (QPUs) to GPUs, high-performance computing (HPC), and cloud services. A proof-of-concept for connecting QPUs with HPC in Korea is also in the plans.

Quandela is also exploring the formation of a Korean quantum manufacturing consortium. Under this proposed structure, each participating institution would retain its existing intellectual property, while new IP generated would be shared based on each party’s contribution. Potential corporate partners, according to Seoul Economic Daily, include Samsung, SK hynix, and LG Innotek. However, Quandela has not yet confirmed commercial terms, funding, or procurement details with any of these companies.

South Korea’s Role in Quandela’s Strategy

Quandela’s prior collaboration with NVIDIA to connect its QPUs to GPUs demonstrates its established approach of integrating quantum hardware with existing computational infrastructure. Korea’s strength in fabrication capabilities perfectly complements this strategy.

The quantum sector is inherently reliant on cross-border supply chains; a global study highlighted the industry’s significant dependence on suppliers distributed across various countries. Somaschi aligned this cooperative vision with Korea’s three quantum clusters: quantum computing in Seoul, quantum communications in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region, and quantum sensing in Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province.