MetriQs-France, developing reference measurements for evaluation and standardization of quantum technologies

As part of the French National Quantum Strategy, MetriQs-France is the National Program on measurement, evaluation and standardization of quantum technologies. With the ambition to support technology development and establishment of a thriving and sustainable quantum industry, MetriQs-France aims at developing measurement capabilities of reference for reliable, comparable, and impartial characterization and performance evaluation of these emerging technologies. These are key to demonstrate indisputably the possible advantage of quantum technologies over existing ones and to enable their adoption by industry and market. These questions are all the more important in the context of the high promises of quantum technologies for many applications (from sensing to computing, passing through communications and cryptography) and regarding the related impacts in many sectors.
The program has three specific objectives: (1) Develop the reference measurement capabilities, which will be validated, harmonized, and recognized, for traceable, comparable, reproducible, and accurate device characterization and performance evaluation; (2) Test and evaluate the technologies using the above mentioned capabilities; (3) Promote worldwide the measurement capabilities and results through e.g., collaborations, scientific papers, good practice guides, metrology services, and importantly standardization.
The program addresses the measurement needs on different topics, like quantum computing, quantum sensing and enabling technologies. It involves actors of the whole ecosystem: research organizations, industry - from startups to large companies -, standardization development organizations, like AFNOR at the national level. MetriQs-France is coordinated by LNE, the French national metrology institute, which takes advantage of its expertise in metrology, including the delivery of high-level measurement services, its competencies in quantum technologies, and its status of independent and trusted third party.
Practically, the program comprises two complementary parts: (1) collaborative R&D projects about reference measurement capabilities, together with exploitation and promotion actions; (2) deployment of a measurement and testing infrastructure.
This infrastructure is based on an expert and independent quantum metrology platform hosted by the French national metrology network labs coordinated by LNE. The platform, which gathers unique metrology skills, state-of-the-art equipment and well-controlled experimental environment, addresses characterization of solid state qubits and their enabling technologies, including very low temperature thermometry, as well as characterization of quantum gravimeters and atomic clocks. The infrastructure will unfold through a network of trusted characterization and testing facilities for quantum technologies.
Regarding the R&D projects, the first project called BACQ [1], started in September 2023 and is dedicated to application-oriented benchmarks for quantum computing. Additional R&D projects are about to be started in 2025.
About standardization, MetriQs-France actively supports the activities of French experts in the European and International committees, like CEN-CENELEC JTC22 and IEC/ISO JTC3, through the growing French national committee on quantum technologies at AFNOR.

[1] https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.12205