2025 retrospective of the PEPR Quantum

Publications, innovation, awards, new projects, scientific and public events, and communication initiatives: 2025 was a busy year for the PEPR Quantum! Find here its 2025 retrospective, covering all the highlights of the programme over the past year.

Scientific impact

Publications

In 2025, more than 200 publications were published as part of the PEPR Quantum. Several represent world-class advances that pave the way for further progress in the field of quantum technologies. Here are a few examples:

LDPC-cat codes for low-overhead quantum computing in 2D

Ruiz, D., Guillaud, J., Leverrier, A., Mirrahimi, M., & Vuillot, C., Nature Communications. Published 26/01/2025.

The concatenation of qubits enables the definition of a new quantum computer architecture (based on a concatenation of cat qubits with a conventional LDPC code).

This study represents a major breakthrough in quantum error correction codes, which has led to a drastic reduction in hardware requirements.

Collaboration between the NISQ2LSQ and RobustSuperQ projects of the PEPR Quantum, with the start-up Alice & Bob

Quantum cryptography integrating an optical quantum memory

Mamann, H., Nieddu, T., Hoffet, F., Bozzio, M., Garreau de Loubresse, F., Kerenidis, I., Diamanti, E., Urvoy, A., & Laurat, J., Science Advances. Published 19/09/2025.

First international demonstration of the integration of a cold atom optical quantum memory into a quantum cryptography protocol.

This work demonstrated the fundamental and functional role of quantum memories. It paves the way for tamper-proof digital tokens and secure quantum networks with transmission time management.

Collaboration between the Qmemo and QCommtestbed projects of the Quantum PEPR, with the start-up Welinq

Standardisation of the HQC algorithm

This year, NIST standardised the French HQC encryption scheme. The post-quantum HQC algorithm, based on error-correcting codes and originally developed by researchers at the XLIM laboratory and the Bordeaux Institute of Mathematics (IMB, Bordeaux INP/CNRS/University of Bordeaux), has been selected as a new international security encryption scheme. A major advance for post-quantum cybersecurity, since HQC guarantees the protection of communications, transactions and sensitive data against threats from quantum computers.

Involvement of the PEPR Quantum PQ-TLS project, with the start-up CryptoNext Security.

Innovation

Since the programme was launched in 2022, nine source codes and software programmes have been developed, and 48 patents and declarations of invention have been filed.

Awards & grants

New projects launched in 2025 & recruitment

In 2025, the eight new projects selected under the latest PEPR call for proposals were officially launched. This call for proposals sought to incorporate themes complementary to those already covered by the PEPR into the programme. The eight new projects have therefore joined one or more of the programme’s four research areas..

Since the launch of the PEPR in 2022, 14 super post-doctoral chairs, 74 doctoral students and 49 post-doctoral researchers have been funded by the PEPR!

PEPR Quantum Actions

On board to Synergy 2025

On 2 and 3 September 2025, the CNRS headquarters in Paris hosted On Board to Synergy 2025 (OBTS’25), the PEPR’s annual event. The objectives of this event were to:

Bring the community together
Promote the 8 new projects
Highlight the younger generation
Connect to national programmes with similar themes
Establish a forward-looking approach

On this occasion, the 22 PEPR projects were showcased by their coordinators. Several of our partners were also present: PEPR Cybersecurity, PEPR Electronics, PEPR Networks of the Future, PEPR SPIN, as well as the atomQTRL, CRYONEXT and Q-Loop programmes of the National Quantum Strategy.

OBTS’25 key figures

130 participants
30+ PhD students and post-docs, including:
- 18 who gave a flash presentation of their work within the programme
- 15 who presented a poster during the dedicated sessions

Scientific and general public events

2025 has also been proclaimed International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ’25) by the UN. To mark the occasion, the PEPR Quantum has provided support for 31 scientific events organised this year.

Find out more about the actions carried out by the programme

Among the events funded is the performance SUPRACONDUCTEUR! Created in 2022 by the Service de Physique de l’État Condensé (SPEC, CEA/CNRS) and the theatre company Les Ateliers du Spectacle, group n+1, this show features CEA researcher Hugues Pothier and actor and director Mickaël Chouquet, exploring the themes of superconductivity and quantum physics. It has already been played 51 times throughout the country in theatres, secondary schools, high schools and universities, and more dates are planned for 2026!

This year, CNRS Physics, the GdR Technologies Quantiques (TeQ) and the Quantum PEPR offered quantum science researchers the opportunity to give talks in schools. To date, more than 100 lectures have been given by around 60 scientists, both in mainland France and overseas, as well as abroad via videoconference. More than 4,000 students have benefited from this initiative!