Posco to develop quantum computing tech with Pasqal, Qunova

Posco Holdings will develop quantum computing technology with France’s Pasqal and Korea’s Qunova Computing, the company said Thursday.

Georges-Oliver Reymond, left, Pasqal CEO, and Kim Ji-yong, director of Posco's N.EX.T Hub research center, pose for a photo after their meeting on May 23 at the Posco N.EX.T Hub in western Seoul. [POSCO HOLDINGS]

Posco Holdings will develop quantum computing technology with France’s Pasqal and Korea’s Qunova Computing, the company said Thursday.

Posco Holdings, a holdings company of steelmaker Posco, entered a collaboration with Pasqal and Qunova during the Quantum Korea 2023 tech fair held in Dongdaemun Digital Plaza in eastern Seoul.

Pasqal is a quantum computer startup founded in 2019 by Noble Physics Prize winner Alain Aspect. The company develops hardware and software for quantum computing.

Qunova Computing, established in 2022, specializes in quantum computing software for drug and material designs.

Posco Holdings hopes to optimize hydrogen production and develop materials for electric vehicle batteries using its artificial intelligence capabilities and Pasqal’s quantum computing technology.

With Qunova, Posco Holdings plans to cooperate in bolstering the local quantum computing sector, the company said.

This year’s Quantum Korea event, hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, ran for three days through Thursday.

Posco Holdings is currently leading a consortium for a three-year government-funded project to develop a quantum computing-based simulation program for eco-friendly material design.

Quantum computing is capable of solving certain types of problems — especially those involving many variables — much faster than classical computers.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]