Pasqal and True Nexus partner to use quantum computing for protein functionality modeling in food

Pasqal has partnered with True Nexus to apply quantum computing to the challenge of modeling protein functionality, aiming to improve how alternative proteins are designed and used in food applications.

• Pasqal and True Nexus partnered to apply quantum computing to model protein functionality in food systems, focusing on properties such as gelation and texture.
• The collaboration is developing a fully vectorized 3D model of protein behavior, integrating molecular, processing and application data.
• The project aims to enable predictive, design-driven development of alternative proteins, reducing reliance on trial-and-error approaches.

The collaboration brings together Pasqal’s neutral-atom quantum computing technology and True Nexus’s computational intelligence platform, with the goal of addressing one of the most persistent technical barriers in the alternative protein sector: accurately predicting how proteins behave in real-world food environments.

Protein functionality, including properties such as gelation, texture and stability, remains difficult to model using conventional computational tools. This has limited the industry’s ability to replicate the performance of animal-derived ingredients and has contributed to ongoing challenges in product development.

“For decades, the industry has been constrained by a lack of true computational understanding of protein behavior,” said Dominik Grabinski, CEO of True Nexus. “Partnering with Pasqal allows us to model protein functionality at a level of fidelity that simply hasn’t been possible before. This is the breakthrough that can shift the entire sector from trial-and-error to true design.”

As part of the partnership, the companies are developing what they describe as the first fully vectorized, dynamic three-dimensional model of protein gelation. Gelation is a critical functional property in many food systems, influencing texture, structure and consumer perception across a wide range of products.

The model is designed to integrate multiple layers of data, including protein extraction parameters, molecular structure, processing conditions and environmental factors, as well as the requirements of specific end-use applications. By combining these inputs, the system aims to simulate how proteins behave under different conditions with a higher degree of accuracy than has been possible using classical computing methods.

Pasqal’s neutral-atom quantum processors are expected to play a central role in enabling this level of detail. Quantum computing can process complex, multidimensional interactions more efficiently than traditional systems, making it particularly suited to problems involving large numbers of variables and dynamic relationships.

“Quantum computing allows us to tackle complexity that has limited innovation for decades,” said Wasiq Bokhari, CEO of Pasqal. “Together with True Nexus, we’re helping enable a more scalable, design-driven approach to sustainable protein development.”

The companies said the long-term objective is to establish a reference model for protein functionality that can be used across the food and ingredient industries. This would allow developers to better predict performance when working with plant-based, fermentation-derived or other alternative proteins, and to guide decisions across areas such as seed development, crop optimization and precision fermentation.

The inability to consistently match the functionality of animal proteins remains a widely recognized challenge in the sector. Products such as gelatin, which rely on specific structural and functional characteristics, have proven particularly difficult to replicate using alternative ingredients.

By making protein behavior more predictable and programmable, the collaboration aims to reduce reliance on iterative experimentation and accelerate development timelines. This could enable companies to move more efficiently from concept to commercial product, while improving consistency and performance.

Pasqal, headquartered in France, has focused on advancing the industrialization of neutral-atom quantum computing since its founding in 2019. The company has developed quantum systems and cloud-based software designed to address complex challenges in areas including optimization, simulation and artificial intelligence. It reported total funding of more than US$300 million and serves a range of clients across industry and research.

True Nexus, based in Saudi Arabia, is focused on applying computational intelligence to protein design. The company combines artificial intelligence, data infrastructure and emerging computing approaches to model and predict protein behavior in food systems. Its work is centered on addressing what it described as a long-standing functionality gap that has slowed the adoption of alternative proteins.

The collaboration reflects growing interest in applying advanced computational tools to food system challenges, particularly as companies seek to improve the performance and scalability of next-generation protein ingredients.