Why France Named Its New Supercomputer After a Pioneering Female Engineer

On March 7, 2025, France announced that its newest supercomputer will be named after the visionary female engineer Alice Recoque, honoring her achievements.

Alice Recoque led the design of the Mitra 15 computer in the 1970s, France’s first compact machine for missile navigation and nuclear plant safety.

France and Its Supercomputers: A Rich and Ambitious Background

While global tech giants like xAI attract attention with supercomputer projects, France is keeping pace, leveraging machines such as the Jean Zay at IDRIS, the Adastra at CINES, and the Jules Verne at TGCC to cement its position in the field.

The upcoming Alice Recoque supercomputer will be capable of performing 10^20 floating‑point operations per second, marking the first time a French supercomputer bears a woman’s name.

Alice Recoque: Pioneering in a Man‑Dominated World

Born in 1929 in Cherchell, Alice Recoque began her career before the term “computer” entered common usage. After studying at the École supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielles, she joined the Société d’électronique et d’automatisme, contributing to France’s first computer. Under her leadership, the Mitra 15 was created, symbolizing France’s technological independence under General de Gaulle’s Calcul plan.

Alice Recoque Supercomputer: A Symbol of Recognition

Located at the CEA large‑scale computing centre in Bruyères‑le‑Chatel, the machine will be funded by the EuroHPC joint venture and the French and Dutch governments, honoring Recoque’s contributions and promoting female participation in a traditionally male‑dominated arena.

Past Mistakes Inspire Diversity

Marion Carré’s book “Who Wants to Erase Alice Recoque?” pays tribute to Recoque and aims to inspire future generations of women scientists and technologists.

Conclusion

By naming the supercomputer “Alice Recoque,” France and Europe signal both recognition of the machine’s capabilities and a commitment to diversity and inclusion as pillars of innovation, continuing Recoque’s legacy of pioneering a fair and accessible technological future.