KRIBB Expands Bio R&D Cooperation with France... Joint New Drug Development through Quantum Computing

Collaboration across Three Fields: Plant Science, Synthetic Biology, and Bio-Quantum Technology
Pursuing New Drug Candidate Discovery with Quandela Using AI and Quantum Computing

The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology is joining forces with French research institutes, universities, and a quantum computing company to expand the scope of its joint research from plant science and synthetic biology to new drug development through quantum computing.

The Institute announced on the 10th that, taking advantage of the President's state visit to France, it had signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in Paris on September 7 and 8 (local time) with the Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), INSA Toulouse (National Institute of Applied Sciences in Toulouse), and quantum computing company Quandela.

Kwon Seokyun, Director of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Florian Frugier, Director of IPS2 (Paris-Saclay Plant Science Institute) in France, are taking a commemorative photo after signing a memorandum of understanding in the field of plant science. Provided by the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology

In particular, the collaboration with Quandela will focus on developing technology that applies AI and quantum computing to biotechnology research to reduce the time and cost required to discover new drug candidates. Quandela, a photonic quantum computing company established in 2017 based on research outcomes from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Université Paris-Saclay, launched Europe’s first commercial photonic quantum computer production facility in 2023.

With IPS2, the institute will expand cooperation to AI-based functional genomics research, building on its current joint research with Seoul National University on drought- and heat-resistant plant non-coding RNA. With INSA Toulouse, it plans to pursue joint research and academic exchanges in the fields of enzyme engineering, synthetic biology, and broader biotechnology. Under INSA Toulouse, the Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI) developed PET bottle biodegradation enzyme technology in partnership with French company Carbios.

Kwon Seokyun, Director of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, commented, "Although plant science, biotechnology, and quantum technology are distinct fields, they all serve as core pillars of the future bioindustry. I hope these agreements will mark a turning point that leads to tangible achievements in joint research."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.