Quantum: where do we really stand? A joint interview with Camille Georges and Lionel Martellini (EDHEC Quantum Institute)
The global race for quantum supremacy, billions invested, Sino-American rivalry… recent months have firmly established quantum technologies within the global economic, technological and geopolitical landscape. EDHEC, with its dedicated institute, intends to play a leading role in this quantum revolution: we meet Lionel Martellini, its founder, and Camille Georges, its new deputy director.
At a time when France has just announced an additional one billion euros for its quantum ambitions by 2030, and when the United States and China are treating this technology as a matter of global power, the EDHEC Quantum Institute (EQI) is establishing itself as a unique player.
Launched in early 2026 by Lionel Martellini – who has led it ever since – this institute aims to “translate advances in quantum science into opportunities for economic growth and societal progress”. A new deputy director has just been appointed: Camille Georges. A graduate in physics (ESPCI Paris – PSL) and management (Collège des Ingénieurs), she has worked in the quantum start-up sector since 2023 and subsequently at the World Economic Forum. On 16 June, she spoke at the France Quantum 2026 conference (Station F, Paris) (1), of which she is an ambassador, and where she chaired a round-table discussion on international cooperation within the quantum ecosystem.
As the quantum era dawns, we meet these two enthusiasts, who are determined to ensure that the EDHEC Quantum Institute plays a leading role.
In the field of quantum, where do we really stand technologically? After years of promises, are we now seeing the first real breakthroughs?
Camille Georges: Technology is advancing significantly, but we must learn to interpret recent news with a critical eye. The example of IQM Quantum Computers (2), a Finnish company claiming “up to a thousand times fewer errors compared to existing methods with a comparable number of qubits (3)”, demonstrates the sector’s growing maturity, whilst also highlighting the need for a critical eye, as illustrated by the debates sparked by Microsoft last year (4). Such announcements are a double-edged sword: they maintain momentum and attract investment, but they also create expectations that reality sometimes struggles to meet. What really matters is seeing concrete use cases emerge with traditional businesses. The collaboration between Moderna and IBM is a telling example (5): using quantum computers to simulate the secondary structures of messenger RNA and improve the design of treatments.
Lionel Martellini: I'd say that we are in a transition phase that is both exciting and frustrating. The universal quantum computer—the one that will solve problems impossible for classical machines—is not here yet. But we’re getting closer. And certain areas of application are beginning to emerge clearly. PROQCIMA, one of the key programs of France’s national strategy, now aims for 1,024 logical qubits (6) by 2032: it’s an ambitious goal, but a credible one if current trends continue.
Which sectors stand to benefit the most from this quantum revolution?
Lionel Martellini: Finance is often cited first because the calculations involved in portfolio optimisation or derivatives pricing are immense. And for EDHEC, players in this sector are, of course, obvious partners. But honestly, the gains from quantum computing in finance will likely remain incremental. Where quantum computing could truly be a game-changer is in healthcare and pharmacology. Drug design relies on simulating the behavior of molecules, which is a fundamentally quantum problem (7). Today, we still rely heavily on trial and error. A quantum computer would make it possible to systematically identify the most effective molecules and predict how a given compound will interact with a specific receptor. The expectations are enormous. The same goes for materials: quantum digital twins could revolutionise metallurgy, semiconductors, and batteries.
Camille Georges: I’d like to add a dimension that’s often underestimated: quantum sensing and secure communications. Companies like SandboxAQ and Q-CTRL are already working on quantum sensors that improve cardiac diagnostics and navigation in environments where GPS is unavailable. And post-quantum cybersecurity is an absolutely critical issue: quantum computers could render current encryption methods obsolete. Players like AXA, which uses quantum computing to optimise reinsurance, or QuSecure, which focuses on post-quantum cryptography, show that the transition is already underway in certain sectors.
How does EQI position itself relative to universities, engineering schools, and consulting firms that are also investing in quantum technology?
Camille Georges: What sets us apart is our close relationship with end users. We don’t do fundamental physics—there are research labs for that. What we do is bridge the gap between quantum technologies and the practical needs of businesses, decision-makers, and regulators. EDHEC is studying the implications of this quantum revolution to develop solutions for business, finance, insurance, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and healthcare.
Lionel Martellini: The integration of diverse fields of knowledge is now at the very core of EDHEC. The question we’re asking is this: What should a business school look like in the quantum era? Ensuring high-quality quantum education is not only a geostrategic necessity - it’s a societal imperative. It fosters critical thinking and the ability to make informed decisions in an increasingly complex technological landscape. When ESCP announces the launch of its own School of Technology, it’s not a “negative” sign, it’s proof that this shift is inevitable. The real question is how to do it right.
How can we teach quantum physics to students who are neither physicists nor engineers?
Lionel Martellini: This is at the heart of our educational challenge, and I strongly believe that quantum theory can be taught to non-specialists. The key is to distinguish between two types of complexity: technical complexity and conceptual complexity. Technically, quantum mechanics relies largely on discrete systems that can be approached using tools taught in high school: matrix calculus and complex numbers. The real challenge is conceptual, because quantum theory invites us to grapple with a logic that diverges from our classical intuitions. That is precisely where its educational value lies. Instead of the mantra “shut up and calculate,” which has governed physics education for far too long, I advocate the opposite approach: “let’s stand up and think.” It is a quantum walk, not a quantum leap.
Camille Georges: And this open educational approach also ties in with the broader issue of women’s role in science. If we don’t make a deliberate effort to include women in this revolution, we risk embedding gender biases in the very foundations of quantum economics - and we would then be depriving ourselves of essential resources. Especially since quantum science isn’t a field reserved for physicists or engineers: it’s actually an ecosystem that also requires salespeople, managers, lawyers, communications professionals… both men and women.
How do students react to these various topics relating to quantum physics?
Lionel Martellini: With a mixture of enthusiasm and apprehension. During the first few lectures, I can see a great deal of interest in the room: quantum physics captures the imagination. But the fear of not understanding anything is also very much present. What encourages me is the growing number of spontaneous requests: students who want to take part in research projects, who ask me about links to cryptocurrencies and applications in finance. EDHEC’s programmes, and first and foremost its MBA programmes, are gradually incorporating quantum computing. It’s not easy to implement, but the programme management has opened the door, just as it did previously for AI and climate change.
Camille Georges: What is also remarkable is when students who were not originally planning to pursue technical careers realise that quantum physics is directly relevant to them: a future sales director in the healthcare sector, a future lawyer specialising in intellectual property… They need to understand what lies ahead so as not to be left behind by their own clients or competitors. And training these professionals will be one of EDHEC’s major contributions.
References
(1) Conférence France Quantum, replays 2026: https://www.francequantum.fr/content/program-2026
(2) IQM announces a new approach to quantum error correction and moves closer to fault-tolerant quantum computing (AFP), June 2026 - https://www.afp.com/en/infos/iqm-announces-novel-quantum-error-correction-approach-toward-fault-tolerant-quantum-computing
(3) Qubit: the basic unit of information used to encode data in quantum computing. It differs from the classical bit (which can only take two values, 0 and 1) in its ability to represent a superposition of several possible states. It is this property that gives quantum computers their unique computing power.
(4) Informatique quantique : les annonces de Microsoft critiquées par la communauté scientifique - https://fr.cnet.com/informatique-quantique/5057/informatique-quantique-les-annonces-de-microsoft-critiquees-par-la-communaute-scientifique
(5) Scaling the limitations of classical computing in mRNA development - https://www.ibm.com/case-studies/moderna
(6) An assembly of several physical qubits that enables the correction of errors caused, in particular, by decoherence, thereby increasing the time available for a quantum computation. The number of physical qubits required to create a logical qubit ranges from one to several tens of thousands, depending on their quality and the error-correcting codes used.
(7) Jumeaux numériques en santé Enjeux, définitions et problématiques éthiques (sept. 2025) - https://esante.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/media_entity/documents/jumeaux-numeriques-en-sante.pdf
