en.Wedoany.com Reported - French photonic quantum computing company Quandela and Safran Tech, the research and technology center of Safran Group, jointly announced in Paris on May 7, 2026, the official launch of the AQeFLU research project, dedicated to developing quantum algorithms for complex fluid flow modeling. The project has received funding from the Île-de-France Region's "PAQ Quantique" program, marking a crucial step for the application of photonic quantum computing technology in the aerospace industry.
Quandela CEO Niccolo Somaschi stated that the aviation industry is one of the most promising areas for quantum computing to achieve commercial value. Through the collaboration with Safran, the company can leverage world-class aerospace expertise to test whether photonic quantum technology can address real-world fluid dynamics challenges. Jean-Michel Hillion, Vice President of Research and Technology at Safran Group, pointed out that exploring and mastering quantum technologies is crucial for maintaining a leading position in the global aerospace market. The AQeFLU project enables Safran to assess whether quantum methods can accelerate and deepen the understanding of physical phenomena, which is vital for the group's innovation.
According to the project plan, AQeFLU will be advanced in three phases. The first phase focuses on validating the effectiveness of quantum algorithms using standard academic benchmarks, establishing a methodological foundation; the second phase shifts to applied research targeting industrial application scenarios, adapting the algorithms to the precision and scale required for real aerospace product design; the third phase will concentrate on optimizing engine performance parameters and substantially promoting fuel consumption reduction in next-generation aircraft. This "three-step" roadmap gradually guides quantum algorithms from theoretical validation to industrial implementation.
The complementarity of the two parties' technical routes forms the basis for this collaboration. Quandela provides its quantum computing technology based on photonic qubits, a solution that can operate at room temperature without relying on expensive ultra-low temperature cooling equipment and can seamlessly integrate into existing data center infrastructure. Safran Tech contributes its decades of technical accumulation in the field of fluid mechanics. Together, they will solve partial differential equations critical to the design of propulsion and combustion systems, aiming to break through the long-standing computational resource bottlenecks in aerodynamic simulation.
The core objective of AQeFLU is to systematically increase the weight of numerical simulation in the aviation R&D process, thereby gradually reducing reliance on high-cost wind tunnel experiments and large-scale classical supercomputers. By introducing quantum computing methods into airfoil design, the research team expects to significantly enhance the fineness and computational speed of airflow numerical models, enabling engineers to complete aerodynamic shape iterations at lower cost and faster speed, fundamentally reshaping the R&D process for aircraft engines and vehicles.
Applying quantum algorithms to industrial-grade fluid mechanics simulation is one of the most promising application directions in the current quantum computing field. Aerodynamic problems are essentially about solving nonlinear partial differential equations, where computational complexity increases exponentially with precision requirements, and quantum algorithms theoretically have the potential to surpass classical computing. This collaboration pushes quantum algorithms from the laboratory into real industrial scenarios, and its phased validation strategy also provides a referenceable path for quantifying the actual commercial value of quantum computing.
The collaboration between Quandela and Safran is a microcosm of the accelerating maturation of France's quantum computing industry ecosystem. Quandela has previously received support from the Île-de-France Region's "PAQ Quantique" program, the "France 2030" investment plan, and the European Innovation Council. It has currently deployed five photonic quantum computers globally and won the DIGITALEUROPE Future Unicorn Award in 2026. At the end of 2025, Quandela signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to jointly build a quantum technology development center, further expanding into the Asian market. As a major global supplier of aerospace and defense technologies, Safran Group has long been deeply involved in fields such as aircraft propulsion systems, avionics equipment, and landing gear, possessing profound technical accumulation and rich industrial data in fluid mechanics simulation. The active involvement of such an industry giant provides clear demand traction and a validation ground for the commercial implementation of quantum computing in the critical vertical sector of aerospace.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
