Pasqal, a French quantum computing company, is striving to compete with leading firms in the United States and China. The name Pasqal honors Blaise Pascal, a renowned French philosopher and mathematician, with the "q" representing quantum. Based in Palaiseau on the Saclay plateau, Pasqal operates in an area known for its concentration of scientific and technological innovation, often called the "French Silicon Valley." Other quantum computing companies, such as Alice&Bob, Quandela, and C12, also have a presence in the region. Pasqal's technology uses rubidium atoms to encode information. These atoms are trapped, moved, and manipulated with lasers in an ultra-vacuum environment. This vacuum, which has a pressure similar to that on the moon's surface, helps preserve the quantum properties of the atoms, such as superposition and entanglement. These properties allow quantum bits, or qubits, to represent multiple states at once, enabling faster and more efficient solutions to specific computational problems. The quantum processors developed by Pasqal are housed in large black boxes to prevent contamination. These boxes are controlled by electronic systems that manage the intensity, direction, and polarization of light. A layer of software coordinates the processors' operations, much like an operating system in a classical computer. The processors can be integrated into traditional data centers and work alongside conventional processors (CPU) and specialized processors (GPU). Pasqal's quantum computing applications are diverse, spanning industries such as healthcare, energy, logistics, and finance. In healthcare and chemistry, quantum computing can simulate molecular structures, potentially speeding up drug discovery and battery design. In energy, it aids in managing smart grids and integrating renewable energy sources. In logistics, it can optimize maritime shipping and supply chains, while in finance, it improves credit risk analysis and portfolio optimization. Pasqal recently became the first French quantum computing company to list on the American stock exchange, raising $360 million. However, its stock value fell significantly following its initial public offering. Despite these financial challenges, the company plans to double its production capacity within 24 months, increase its workforce by nearly 20%, and invest heavily in research and development to create an advanced fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2030. The French Public Investment Bank (BPI) has supported Pasqal as part of the "France 2030" strategic investment plan, which aims to enhance industrial competitiveness and future technologies with a total investment of 54 billion euros over six years. The company also plans to list on the Paris stock exchange in 2027, following its Nasdaq listing.