Recent experiments performed with individually-controlled, monovalent alkaline atoms trapped in arrays of optical tweezers and excited to Rydberg levels, demonstrated the relevance of this approach to build quantum information processing apparatus. Our team, a pioneer in the study of Rydberg excitation of divalent ytterbium atoms, recently succeeded in the optical manipulation of atoms in a Rydberg state enabled by the remaining core electron, the so-called Ionic Core Excitation (ICE), circumventing the autoionization issue which was the major limitation of this promising technique. The coordinator will capitalize on this success to create and lead a new team dedicated to quantum information processing experiments with ytterbium atoms. To do so, he will take in charge the existing apparatus, presently dedicated to the study of frozen Rydberg gases of ytterbium excited from a magneto-optical trap. Thanks to his expertise in the operation of experiments studying ultracold atoms, he will upgrade this apparatus to meet the best standards of platforms based on atoms trapped in optical tweezers. Relying both on his experience gained in Rydberg physics, and an already fruitful collaboration with the members of his present team with recognized expertise in this domain, he will eventually conduct proof-of concept experiments demonstrating the maturity of exciting prospects offered by alkaline-earth species. Among them, the new and powerful knob provided by ICE will enable new approaches to conduct groundbreaking experiments in the domains of quantum simulation and the ongoing development of quantum computing.