French quantum computing startup Quandela has unveiled Belenos, a 12-qubit photonic quantum computer that it claims delivers 4,000 times more computing power than its predecessor.
The first integrated version is set to be delivered to EuroHPC/GENCI and operated at the CEA’s Très Grand Centre de Calcul (TGCC) before the end of 2025.
Currently, Belenos is accessible via the cloud to over 1,200 researchers across 30 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Instead of relying solely on local deployments, this cloud availability enables researchers to explore hybrid HPC-quantum use cases in fields such as structural mechanics, meteorology, and materials science.
Quandela has ambitious plans to double the qubit count by 2026 with the launch of Canopus. Within three years, the company aims to develop a photonic quantum computer with more than 40 qubits, continuing its focus on systems that avoid cryogenic cooling by using photonics-based methods instead.
‘Our cloud-accessible Belenos system lets partners work on tasks where computing speed and operations per data point are crucial — areas where competitors fall short,’ said co-founder and CEO Niccolo Somaschi.
The platform is designed for practical applications in machine learning and at the AI-quantum interface, which Quandela views as strategically vital sectors for the future.
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