French-Singaporean Quantum Symposia kick off in Singapore

Attendees at FSQS 2024. Scientific sessions at the symposium delved into topics such as energy and resources for quantum technologies, computing and sensing with spins, neutral atoms - from many body physics to quantum computing, from algorithms to industrial use cases, and quantum communication. 

CQT is proud to be one of the organisers for the French-Singaporean Quantum Symposium (FSQS) 2024. From 5 to 7 November, over 170 delegates gathered in Singapore to discuss how strategic quantum partnerships could be built between the two countries.

The inaugural symposium was held at Copthorne King's Hotel Singapore. Two more editions are planned with FSQS 2025 taking place in Paris, France, and FSQS 2026 in Singapore.

The symposia build upon the longstanding academic collaborations between quantum researchers from France and Singapore, which can be traced back to 2005. The early ties grew into MajuLab, a French-Singaporean International Research Laboratory hosted at CQT at the National University of Singapore and the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at Nanyang Technological University.

MajuLab and Quantonation, the first investment fund dedicated to quantum technologies, were the two other co-organisers of FSQS 2024. CQT Visiting Professor and Director of MajuLab Alexia Auffèves led the local organising committee.

The series of symposia is supported by the national quantum strategies of France and Singapore through the Secretariat General pour l’Investissement and National Quantum Office respectively. FSQS 2024 was supported by Singapore’s Quantum Engineering Programme and also benefited from the help of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) through its various institutions such as the regional office and CNRS@CREATE. The sponsors of the symposium this year were Quantum Machines, Keysight Technologies, OptoSigma and the Embassy of France in Singapore.

Connecting the French and Singaporean ecosystems

FSQS 2024 had three kinds of sessions – scientific sessions, institutional sessions and an industrial round table. Some 33 speakers presented at the scientific sessions, which covered topics including energy and resources for quantum technologies, computing and sensing with spins, quantum communication, and quantum computing.

The attendees had a chance to gain insights into the French quantum strategy and the ecosystems of the two countries. CQT Director José Ignacio Latorre and Principal Investigators Alexander Ling and Manas Mukherjee, who lead Singapore’s national quantum platforms also presented in these institutional sessions.

In the industrial round table, Olivier Tonneau, Partner at Quantonation, moderated a panel discussion featuring representatives from quantum startups Atomionics, Pasqal, Quandela, Quobly and SpeQtral, and the multinational technology company ST Engineering. They discussed the current standing of quantum technologies hardware, its future trajectory and practical applications.

Arnaud Cadoux, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of BPI France, France’s Public Investment Bank, also presented on how BPI France supports quantum technologies and the potential instruments of collaboration between French and Singaporean companies in deep tech.

BPI France will host FSQS 2025 from 24 to 28 November at The Hub at BPI France. Alain Aspect, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2022, will deliver the opening talk.

“This series of symposia is a great opportunity to consolidate the French-Singaporean bond in quantum, and to boost it with an industrial component,” says Alexia. “In a context where quantum technologies are considered a matter of national sovereignty, holding such an event has a strong meaning and the commitment of both ecosystems to make this event a success has been amazing. It is now on all of us to turn the event into new strategic collaborations, and we are currently working on it!”

(From left) Olivier Tonneau and Alexia Auffèves announcing FSQS 2025. See you in Paris!