The French state buys Bull. Crucial technologies for defense and nuclear deterrence.

The French state officially buys Bull, Atos’ division dedicated to supercomputers and quantum computing, for approximately 404 million euros. A significant choice as these technologies are crucial for defense and nuclear deterrence.

Paris, France – March 31, 2026 – Bull, a leader in advanced computing and artificial intelligence, announces the completion today of the acquisition by the state of the entire capital of Bull from Atos Group. Approved with Atos Group in July 2025 for an enterprise value of up to 404 million euros, this operation is a major step for French and European technological sovereignty, especially in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum fields.

Bull, a historic player in the sector, excels in designing and manufacturing supercomputers, high-performance servers, enterprise servers, software solutions, AI use cases, and quantum computing innovations. With a strong and ongoing R&D presence, Bull also has the only supercomputer factory in Europe, located in Angers. The supercomputers produced there meet the most demanding needs of national defense, industry, and fundamental research, and are essential for AI model training and deployment. They are known for their performance and energy efficiency, crucial for training large AI models.

This acquisition is part of an ambitious drive for intensive computing in Europe and particularly in France. It comes as the successful delivery of the exascale supercomputer JUPITER in Jülich, Germany under the European EuroHPC program, positions France and Europe at the forefront of research and innovation. It also supports the launch of the construction of Alice Recoque, the next French supercomputer, which will enhance national capabilities in simulation, AI, and big data processing to bolster technological sovereignty.

Bull brings together over 3,000 professionals and experts, half of whom are based in France, with a revenue of around 720 million euros in 2025.

The state’s entry into Bull’s capital brings a long-term public shareholder, ensuring stability, strategic continuity, and the preservation of critical skills for a French and European industry of excellence.

Roland Lescure, Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial Sovereignty, Energy, and Digital, stated: “With the completion of this acquisition, the state shareholder takes a decisive step for France’s technological sovereignty. The delivery of JUPITER and the launch of Alice Recoque demonstrate our ability to innovate and establish ourselves as a major player in high-performance computing and AI in France, Europe, and globally. The revival of Bull, which we will actively support, marks the beginning of a new era for the strategic field of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence. Together, we will build a competitive French and European offering, creating jobs, added value, and excellence.”

Sébastien Martin, Minister Delegate for Industry, said: “The state’s takeover of Bull’s activities ensures the maintenance in France of critical capacities and skills for defense industries in particular, guaranteeing our industrial sovereignty. I have full confidence in Bull and its employees’ ability to continue on the path of growth and technological advancement, from supercomputers and AI to electronic components and software layers.”

Anne Le Henanff, Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital, stated: “The state’s entry into Bull’s capital marks a decisive step for our digital sovereignty. In a context where AI and quantum computing profoundly redefine technological balances, France gains a leading industrial player in high-performance computing. By supporting the emergence of Bull, we choose strategic independence. It is a strong signal: a country that invests, protects its expertise, and intends to remain sovereign in the technologies that will shape the future.”

Emmanuel Le Roux, CEO of Bull, remarked: “The renewal of Bull as an independent company, supported by the French state, marks a pivotal moment in our history. Backed by a strategic long-term shareholder, we strengthen our position as a trusted industrial partner across the entire value chain of intensive computing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. With our integrated design-to-manufacturing chain and sustained investment in R&D, including deploying AI use cases with our 300 data scientists, we have a unique capacity to innovate rigorously and swiftly. This new structure provides us with the necessary agility to address the challenges of a market undergoing significant transformation due to the rapid evolution of AI and deliver sovereign, high-performing, and sustainable technologies to our clients.”

About Bull: With nearly a century of innovations, Bull is a global leader in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, with revenue of around 720 million euros and 3,000 experts operating in 32 countries. Leveraging an end-to-end open, trusted, and integrated architecture, Bull designs, deploys, and operates hardware and software solutions as well as strategic services to accelerate scientific research, create sustainable value for businesses, and contribute to societal progress. Supported by excellent R&D, with 1,600 patents, proven industrial capabilities, and advanced expertise in data science, Bull enables states and industries to maintain full control of their data and artificial intelligence, advancing progress for the planet.