Quandela Delivers Lucy, The Most Advanced Photonic Quantum Computer Worldwide, To EuroHPC And GENCI At CEA's TGCC

Quandela, GENCI and CEA today announced the delivery of Lucy, a 12-qubit universal digital photonic quantum computer, to the Très Grand Centre de calcul (TGCC) of CEA. The system, delivered by the French-German consortium Quandela – attocube systems AG, was procured by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking in the context of the consortium EuroQCS-France.

A new European quantum capability
Lucy, the most powerful photonic quantum computer ever deployed in a European computing centre, has just been delivered to the TGCC. Equipped with 12 photonic qubits, the system offers researchers and industrial users an unprecedented platform to experiment with quantum algorithms, explore hybrid HPC–quantum workflows and develop early-stage applications in fields such as optimization, chemistry, and machine learning.

Lucy is strongly focused on end-user engagement. Hosted and operated at CEA’s TGCC, where it will be coupled to the Joliot-Curie supercomputer, Lucy will be made accessible to a wide community of European users. Initial application areas include energy grid optimization and renewable integration, financial portfolio optimization and risk modelling, logistics and supply chain management, as well as aerospace design, materials, and trajectory optimization.

By enabling these use cases, Lucy strengthens Europe’s position at the forefront of quantum research while preparing industry for future breakthroughs.

A quantum computer made in EU
Lucy was acquired by EuroHPC in the context of the consortium EuroQCS-France.[1] Building on the successful deployments at OVHcloud in 2023 and Exaion’s datacentres in Canada in 2024, it marks a new milestone in Europe’s quantum journey. Assembled in just twelve months at Quandela’s facilities, the system showcases the strength of European collaboration: cryogenic modules engineered by attocube systems AG near Munich, quantum devices manufactured in Quandela’s semiconductor pilot line in Palaiseau, and final integration at Quandela’s factory in Massy. With 80% of its components sourced in Europe – including all of its critical parts – Lucy exemplifies Europe’s capacity to design and deliver sovereign quantum technologies.

Early remote access to drive adoption
The system has entered an acceptance phase before its opening to European researchers at the beginning of 2026. To accelerate adoption and enable the European research community to prepare for this new capability ahead of Lucy’s full deployment, EuroHPC and GENCI have already provided remote access to other Quandela photonic quantum processors hosted in Massy, with computing resources granted by the GENCI’ eDARI web portal^[1]. Users can program and run algorithms directly using Quandela’s Perceval and MerLin (tailored to address Quantum Machine Learning problems) environments, ensuring a smooth transition to on-premises access when Lucy becomes fully operational.

In parallel, GENCI, CEA and Quandela are already delivering webinars^[2] and dedicated training sessions to prepare user communities. These initiatives cover practical access to the cloud QPU (Quantum Processing Unit), quantum machine learning use cases, and hands-on training on Lucy at TGCC. By combining early access with training, the objective is to foster a broad adoption of quantum computing across academia and industry.

Lucy will be the second QPU integrated in the TGCC supercomputing environment, emphasising CEA’s expertise in mastering the complexity of large computing infrastructures. This is a major step in enabling hybrid quantum computing for high performance applications.

Quandela
“The delivery of Lucy is not just a new milestone – it is a key building block for Europe’s hybrid computing future. In collaboration with attocube systems, we built a photonic quantum processor that will interface with the Joliot-Curie supercomputer, enabling real hybrid HPC-quantum workflows. By providing this capability to a broad community of European researchers and industrial users, we are empowering them to explore new frontiers in simulation, optimization, and machine learning. This achievement strengthens Europe’s technological sovereignty and demonstrates the power of cross-border collaboration to shape the next generation of computing.”
Niccolo Somaschi, Co-founder & CEO, Quandela

GENCI
“In the global race to develop quantum computers, the delivery to the CEA of Lucy, Europe’s most powerful photonic quantum computer, manufactured by the French company Quandela, represents a major step forward in French and European quantum ambitions. GENCI and the HQI program are particularly proud to have contributed to EuroHPC’s acquisition of this sovereign technology, which will then be connected to the Joliot-Curie supercomputer and, in 2026, to Alice Recoque, the Franco-European exascale supercomputer, in order to multiply the synergies between HPC environments and quantum computing, all in the service of world-class research for academic and industrial researchers” declared Philippe Lavocat, CEO and President, GENCI

CEA
“As a key player in quantum computing, from the most fundamental research to system implementation, CEA is pleased to welcome a second Quantum Processing Unit to its computing centre. This milestone is a new step on the road to Fault Tolerant Quantum Hybrid Computing. It marks the progress of the HQI platform, entrusted to the CEA as part of France’s national quantum strategy. The Lucy machine integrates into the shared HPC and quantum computing environment of the TGCC, bringing a rapidly advancing photonic-qubit technology with strong future potential. The CEA is eager to make Lucy available to researchers and industry, and proud to continue supporting leading French start-ups in their development” said Jean-Philippe Verger, Director of the CEA DAM Ile de France center.

About GENCI
Created by the public authorities in 2007, GENCI (Grand Équipement National de Calcul Intensif) is a major research infrastructure. This public operator aims to democratise the use of digital simulation through high performance computing associated with the use of artificial intelligence, and quantum computing to support French scientific and industrial competitiveness.

GENCI is in charge of three missions:
To implement the national strategy for the provision of high-performance computing resources, storage, massive data processing associated with Artificial Intelligence technologies and quantum computing, for the benefit of French scientific research, in conjunction with the 3 national computing centres (CEA/TGCC, CNRS/IDRIS, France Universités/CINES).

Supporting the creation of an integrated ecosystem on a national and European level

Promoting digital simulation and supercomputing to academic research and industry

GENCI is a civil company 49% owned by the State represented by the Ministry in charge of Higher Education and Research, 20% by the CEA, 20% by the CNRS, 10% by the Universities represented by France Universités and 1% by Inria.

CEA
The CEA is a public research organization that supports public policy decision-making and equips French and European businesses and communities with the scientific and technological means to better navigate four major societal transitions: energy transition, digital transition, future healthcare, and national/global security. Its mission is to ensure France and Europe maintain scientific, technological, and industrial leadership, contributing to a more secure and controlled present and future for all. The CEA is guided by three core values: curiosity, cooperation, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Learn more at: www.cea.fr/english

France 2030
The French part of this acquisition is supported by the Secrétariat Général pour l’Investissement (SGPI) via the France 2030 program in the context of the French National Quantum Strategy. GENCI and CEA, together with Inria, have set up a hybrid HPC-Quantum computing infrastructure called HQI (France Hybrid HPC Quantum Initiative) in which various quantum technologies will be coupled to the Joliot Curie supercomputer hosted and operated at TGCC (project HQI-Acquisitions ref. ANR-22-PNCQ-0001).

^[1] Led by GENCI with CEA, the University of Bucharest (UPC), ICHEC and Forschungszentrum Juelich (FZJ)

^[1] www.edari.fr

^[2] https://www.canal-u.tv/chaines/genci/webinaire-access-the-quandela-cloud-via-genci