COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Quantum Europe Strategy: Quantum Europe in a Changing World
Date: 2025-07-02
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission
Subjects: EU strategy, clean technology, competitiveness, defence policy, education policy, innovation, quantum technology, research and development, research infrastructure, space research

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 2.7.2025  COM(2025) 363 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Quantum Europe Strategy: Quantum Europe in a Changing World  
 
 
Quantum Europe in a changing world 

Introduction 

1.1 
Europe is a quantum1 continent. From iconic forerunners such as Max Planck, Albert Einstein 
Niels  Bohr,  and  Erwin  Schrödinger,  to  current  day  pioneers  and  Nobel  Prize  laureates  like 
Theodor  Haensch,  Albert  Fert,  Serge  Haroche,  Anton  Zeilinger,  Alain  Aspect  and  Anne 
L’Huillier, Europe has always been the place of quantum science.  

Advances  in  quantum  science  represent  some  of  the  most  transformative  developments  in 
technological history. The Draghi report2 refers to quantum as “the next trailblazing innovation 
in  the  computing  field,  which  could  open  new  opportunities  for  the  EU’s  industrial 
competitiveness and technological sovereignty”.  

Today  we  stand  at  an  inflection  point,  as  the  global  race  to  harness  quantum  technologies 
accelerates,  moving  beyond  the  labs  and  entering  real-world  applications.  From  Magnetic 
Resonance  Imaging  (MRI)  scanners  in  healthcare  and  material  advances  in  energy,  to 
gravimeter  sensors  for  geophysics  and  navigation,  secure  communications,  and  quantum 
computing  solving  complex  problems  in  logistics  and  finance,  these  breakthroughs  are 
beginning to reshape key industries and societal infrastructure.  
Quantum technologies also have a dual-use potential3 making them useful for both defence and 
national  security  applications, thus driving  the strategic interest  of major public and private 
players.  
Against  this  background,  the  EU  has  identified  quantum  as  a  critical  technology4  in  its 
Economic Security  Strategy5 and under the  White Paper for  European Defence  - Readiness 
20306.  

First large-scale industrialisation efforts are now underway all over the world, particularly in 
the  USA,  driven  by  massive  private  investments  from  high-tech  companies,  and  in  China, 
powered largely by public funding. 

Europe  has  achieved  remarkable  advances  in  quantum  scientific  excellence:  it  boasts  the 
world’s  largest  concentration  of  quantum  talent  and  ranks  first  globally  in  the  number  of 
scientific  publications.  The  EU  also  has  one  of  the  largest  quantum  startup  ecosystems7. 
Approximately one third of all quantum companies worldwide are based in the EU8, and EU 
vendors  supply  nearly  half  of  the  hardware  and  software  components  used  in  quantum 
computers9. 

1 Quantum technologies leverage the principles of quantum mechanics to perform tasks that are either impossible 
to  solve  or  highly  inefficient  for  traditional  technologies.  The  main  areas  of  quantum  technologies  include 
quantum computing and simulation, quantum sensing and quantum communication.  
2 The Draghi report on EU competitiveness 
3 For the purposes of this Strategy, dual-use potential denotes the capacity of quantum technologies to serve both 
civilian and security/defence ends. It is employed here in a broader, forward-looking sense than the legal term 
‘dual-use items’ under Regulation (EU) 2021/821 on export controls. 
4 Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/2113 of 3 October 2023 on critical technology areas for the EU’s 
economic security for further risk assessment with Member States 
5 JOIN(2023) 20 final; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023JC0020 
6 White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 | EEAS 
7 McKinsey & Company, Quantum Technology Monitor – April 2024 
8  Lewis,  A.,  Scudo,  P.,  Cerutti,  I.,  Travagnin,  M.,  Marcantonini,  C.  et  al.,  Future  Directions  for  Quantum 
Technology in Europe, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2025, JRC141050. Forthcoming 
mid July 
9 European Investment Bank – A Quantum Leap in Finance (2022) 

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However, Europe is currently lagging behind in translating its innovation capabilities and 
future potential into real market opportunities. As a result, it now ranks only third globally 
in patents filed for quantum computing, sensing, and communication10.  

Moreover,  Europe’s  efforts  remain  fragmented  across  Member  States,  national  and 
regional  funding  agencies.  Over  the  past  five  years,  the  EU  and  the  Member  States  have 
invested more than EUR  11  billion in  quantum technologies.  While several  Member States 
have developed their own national strategies and roadmaps, insufficient coordination has led 
to duplication of efforts, inefficient use of resources, and growing competition for talent. This 
risks  undermining  the  EU’s  ability  to  build  critical  mass  and  scale,  slowing  down  the 
commercialisation  pipeline,  ultimately  limiting  the  development  of  a  globally  competitive 
European industrial capacity and a unified European quantum market. 

In addition, while Europe plays a leading role in early-stage quantum entrepreneurship, 
its emerging ecosystem is currently lacking sustainable financial support and sufficient 
market  perspectives.  Europe  also  lacks  early  adopters  of  quantum  technology  among  big 
industrial players, depriving emerging startup ecosystems of sufficient market perspectives.  
Building on the Competitiveness Compass11, which includes “quantum” amongst the key tech 
sectors that will matter in tomorrow’s economy12, this initiative presents, in strong alignment 
with quantum stakeholders13,  a comprehensive strategy to secure a leading position for Europe 
in the global quantum race. In supporting the development of this technology with dual-use 
potential  in  the  EU,  this  strategy  will  also  help  implement  the  recommendations  of  the 
Preparedness  Union Strategy14 and  the Niinistö  report15 and the White Paper  for Defence – 
Readiness 203016, the Internal Security Strategy ProtectEU17 as well as the International Digital 
Strategy for the EU18.  

1.2  Quantum Europe: The Vision and the Strategic Implementation Framework  

Europe is very well positioned to be a leader in the ongoing quantum revolution. The vision is 
to  transform  Europe  into  a  quantum  industrial  powerhouse  and  a  global  market  leader  in 
quantum technologies, building on sustained scientific leadership.  

The EU’s strategic vision capitalises on its existing strengths: world-class research, scientific 
excellence, a vibrant startup base, and a strong public investment structure. These key pillars 
are essential to address fragmentation, accelerate industrial deployment and ensure strategic 
autonomy in quantum technologies.  

To achieve this vision, the Strategy focuses on five interconnected areas: 

10 See footnote 8. 
11 Competitiveness compass - European Commission 
12 The European Economic Security Strategy and its Commission Recommendation of 3 October 2023 includes 
quantum amongst the critical technology areas  
13 As expressed in the replies to the Call for Evidence launched ahead of the publication of the Quantum Europe 
Strategy: Quantum Strategy of the EU. Stakeholders expressed the view that the Quantum Europe Strategy should 
accelerate the transition from lab to fab without neglecting the capital role of fundamental research, expand the 
existing pan-European quantum infrastructures, and develop a workforce skilled and educated in quantum. They 
also highlight the importance of ramping up the Union’s manufacturing capabilities and addressing the financial, 
regulatory and administrative obstacles that limit or slow down startups from scaling up into mature, profitable 
companies in the Single Market. 
14 Preparedness - European Commission  
15  The  Niinisto  Report 
8739b19d047c_en?filename=2024_Niinisto-report_Book_VF.pdf  
16 See footnote 6. 
17 Commission presents ProtectEU Internal Security Strategy - European Commission  
18 Joint Communication on an International Digital Strategy for the EU, 5 June 2025  

https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/5bb2881f-9e29-42f2-8b77-

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•  Area 1 Research and Innovation: Consolidating excellence across Europe to lead in 

quantum science and its industrial transformation. 

•  Area  2  Quantum  Infrastructures:  Developing  sustainable,  scalable,  coordinated 

infrastructure hubs to support production, design, and application development. 

•  Area 3 Strengthening the EU Quantum Ecosystem: Securing supply chains and the 
industrialisation of quantum technologies through investments in startups and scaleups. 
•  Area  4  Space  and  Dual-Use  Potential  Quantum  Technologies  (Security  and 
Defence):  Integrating  secure,  sovereign  quantum  capabilities  into  Europe’s  space, 
security and defence strategies. 

•  Area  5  Quantum  Skills:  Building  a  diverse,  world-class  workforce  through 
coordinated agile education and training systems and programmes and promoting talent 
mobility across the EU. 

The  five  strategic  areas  are  supported  by  a  smart  implementation  approach.  As  described 
below,  in  section  3.1  “The  Main  Implementation  Components  of  the  Quantum  Europe 
Strategy”, the approach will build on an iterative life-cycle technology development loop that 
will  continuously  link  scientific  quantum  discoveries  to  real-world  applications  and  to  the 
market, resulting in short and long-term economic impact. This implementation approach will 
help attract lead industrial and public users, ensuring market access and sustainability of the 
nascent EU quantum ecosystem.  

Figure 1: Five strategic areas for Quantum Europe 

Complementing  the  implementation  life  cycle,  the  EU  will  establish  a  strategic  governance 
framework to oversee and facilitate progress. 
The  Strategy  builds  on  the  2023  European  Declaration  on  Quantum  Technologies19,  which 
marked  a key political  step, aligning  Member States around shared priorities and European 
values. It also builds on the findings of the expert working groups from all EU Member States20, 
set up under the coordination of the Quantum Technology Coordination Group21. 

2  Quantum Europe Strategic Areas 

2.1 

Area 1: Quantum Europe Research and Innovation  

Europe’s quantum research base, supported by several EU and national programmes, has laid 
a solid scientific foundation. Over the past five years, the EU has invested nearly EUR 2 billion 

19 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/european-declaration-quantum-technologies  
20 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/shaping-european-strategy-quantum-technology-main-
orientations-and-recommendations  
21 https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-
groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=3931  

3 

 
 
 
 
in  quantum  technologies,  complemented  by  more  than  EUR  9  billion  in  additional  public 
funding from Member States. These funds have  supported quantum research and education, 
the creation of national quantum clusters and hybrid quantum-classical supercomputer centres, 
the quantum technology industry, and international partnerships.  

Despite significant national and EU funding, Europe’s quantum research remains fragmented 
across  Member  States  and  instruments,  resulting  in  duplication,  gaps  in  priority  areas  and 
competition  for  scarce  talents.  Without  coordination  and  a  clear  focus  on  shared  strategic 
priorities, Europe will fall short of its quantum ambitions.  

The Commission therefore proposes a dedicated Quantum Europe Research and Innovation 
Initiative. It will aim to align the EU’s and the Member States’ efforts around a commonly 
agreed Research, Technology and Innovation agenda. It will pool the efforts around common 
themes and set shared targets to ensure coherence, avoid overlap and build critical mass. 

This Initiative will be structured around the following key stages of activity: 

•  Discover: Supporting foundational research, technological development and innovation 

actions in quantum computing, communication and sensing. 

•  From  the  lab  to  the  fab:  further  investing  in  building  state-of-the-art  quantum 
computing, communication and sensing infrastructures, quantum hardware and relevant 
enabling technologies, as well as in cutting edge pilot lines and design tools to support 
industrialisation and ecosystem development.  

•  Apply and use:  supporting the development of applications in key public and industrial 
sectors, ensuring the translation of scientific advances across all quantum domains into 
real-world applications and impact.  

In  addition  to  the above, the  Initiative will also  include investments  in  talent attraction and 
skills’ development to ensure a well-trained future quantum industrial workforce.  
The Quantum Europe Research and Innovation Initiative will be implemented through an EU-
level governance framework, which will be defined in the forthcoming proposal for a Quantum 
Act. In the meantime, the mandate of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (JU)22 will be extended 
via  an  amendment  to  its  founding  regulation,  ensuring  seamless  coordination  with  Horizon 
Europe, Digital Europe, Space and Defence programmes and other funding instruments. 

•  Amend the EuroHPC JU Regulation to extend its remit to all quantum technologies and, 
as a first step, transfer present Horizon Europe Pillar 2 R&I quantum activities into the 
JU [Q3 2025] 

•  Present the Quantum Act proposal [2026] 

2.2 

Area 2: Quantum Europe Infrastructures  

The  EU  is  investing  today  in  major  quantum  infrastructure  initiatives,  such  as  quantum 
computing  systems  under  the  EuroHPC  JU,  the  EuroQCI23 secure  quantum  communication 
infrastructure  under  the  Union’s  Secure  Connectivity  Programme  IRIS²  24,  as  well  as  in 
advanced sensing platforms.  The EU is also investing in several pilot lines under the Chips 
JU25 for preparing the industrialisation of quantum technologies in Europe. 

These  publicly  funded  quantum  infrastructures  are  a  strategic  enabler  of  Europe's  quantum 
ambition. They provide access to state-of-the-art quantum systems and platforms that would 
otherwise remain out of reach for most European quantum stakeholders and users due to high 

22 The COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2021/1173 establishing the Euro HPCJoint Undertaking. 
23 The European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) Initiative | Shaping Europe’s digital future. 
24 IRIS² | Secure Connectivity - European Commission, Regulation (EU) 2023/588. 
25  Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1782 establishing the Chips Joint Undertaking. 

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development and access costs, technical complexity or the need for specific services, such as 
secure communication. They offer a testbed for innovation, a training ground for talent, and a 
space  for  industry,  SMEs,  and  researchers  to  experiment  with,  understand,  and  shape  the 
development  of  new  quantum  technologies.  They  are  essential  to  accelerate  quantum 
technology  uptake,  build  industrial  capacity,  and  ensure  that  quantum  benefits  are  widely 
distributed across the Union.  

Looking  ahead,  the  EU  will  maintain  and  expand  its  investments  in  public  quantum 
infrastructures across computing and simulation, communications, and sensing as explained 
below.  

2.2.1  Quantum Computing and Simulation  

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionise our ability to solve complex computing 
optimisation  problems  far  beyond  the  reach  of  even  the  most  powerful  high-performance 
computing (HPC) systems. Its impact is expected to be catalytic across numerous areas e.g., in 
pharmaceutical  and  chemical  simulation,  it  could  enable  the  discovery  of  new  drugs  and 
chemicals; in energy, quantum computing may help discover new battery materials or high-
temperature superconductors; it also holds significant promise for improvements in areas such 
as logistics and finance. In addition, quantum computers can solve such problems in a much 
more energy-efficient way than classical supercomputers. Rather than replacing HPC systems, 
quantum  computers  will  complement  them,  acting  as  accelerators  to  boost  the  overall 
performance  of  the  computing  solution,  delivering  results  much  faster  and  in  a  much  more 
energy efficient way. Quantum is also increasingly used alongside and in support of AI. For 
example, quantum can accelerate the training of AI models, while AI contributes to quantum 
error correction, boosting overall system reliability.  

Quantum  computing  is  currently  at  a  defining  stage:  while  small-scale  quantum  processors 
exist, the main global challenge is to scale up to fully operational quantum computers that can 
definitely demonstrate the quantum computing advantage. The key challenge now is to build 
larger-scale machines that can deliver a clear quantum advantage26 over classical computers. 
In the next  5–10 years, the ability of quantum computers to  solve real-world problems  will 
grow enormously. That is why the EU and its Member States, as well as other major players – 
from Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, to the USA, are heavily 
investing in quantum technologies racing for leadership in the quantum revolution27. Multiple 
quantum  computing  platforms  are  under  development  today,  each  based  on  a  different 
technological  approach28.  Table  1  lists  the  quantum  computers  provided  by  companies 
headquartered in different regions of the world. 

26 OECD (2025), "A Quantum Technologies Policy Primer". Quantum advantage refers to the point at which a 
quantum computer performs a specific task more efficiently, faster, with higher accuracy, or with less energy than 
the best possible classical supercomputers. This milestone signals a practical demonstration of the superiority of 
quantum computing for certain computational problems, even if only within narrow domains.  
27  E.g.  U.S.  National  Quantum  Initiative  (https://www.quantum.gov/);  China’s  2030-quantum  roadmap;  Japan 
Quantum Technology and Innovation Strategy (https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/english/strategy_r08.pdf); Australia 
(https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/national-quantum-
National  Quantum 
Strategy 
(https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/national-quantum-
strategy.pdf);  Canada  National  Quantum  Strategy 
strategy/en/canadas-national-quantum-strategy); 
Strategy 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-quantum-strategy. 
28 Representative examples of computing platforms are based on superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral 
atoms, photonics, diamonds or spin qubits. Each of them presents distinct advantages and engineering challenges 
in terms of computing scalability, fidelity, and coherence. 

Quantum 

National 

UK 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Technology platform 

Superconducting 

Ion traps  Cold atoms  Photonics 

Spin qubits 

 EU machines 

 UK machines 

 USA machines 

 Canada machines 

 China machines 

 ROW29 machines 

 17 

4 

26 

13 

2 

1 

  6 

6 

7 

0 

0 

0 

 8 

0 

4 

0 

0 

0 

 5 

5 

2 

1 

0 

1 

 3 

2 

0 

0 

0 

3 

Table 1: Quantum Computing and Simulation Suppliers Landscape 

Europe,  through  national  programmes  and  the  EU  Quantum  Technologies  Flagship30  is 
developing all major quantum computing technologies as illustrated above. These efforts have 
led to working prototypes, software toolkits, and several deep-tech spin-offs. Also, through the 
EuroHPC JU, Europe is already deploying its first prototypes of quantum computing systems 
in several Member States (see Figure 2).  This early deployment serves two key purposes:  it 
supports  the  emergence  of  an  autonomous,  sovereign,  and  competitive  European  quantum 
industry by creating an early market for hardware and software suppliers, while also enabling 
the development of the internal market by increasing the number and scale of use cases and 
users.  

Europe has also successfully enabled the early hybridisation of quantum computers with HPC, 
thus achieving the EU Digital Decade target of having a first quantum-accelerated computer in 
202531. This marks a strategic milestone: it supports European quantum hardware ecosystem, 
fosters  the  emergence  of  industrial  use  cases,  and  lays  the  groundwork  for  more  advanced 
hybrid systems – all of this contributes to the long-term goal of achieving a full-stack quantum 
computing  capability  by  2030.  This  hybridisation  will  also  enable  the  use  of  quantum 
computers by European AI Factories32, thereby contributing to achieving the objectives of the 
AI Continent Action Plan33.  

Looking ahead, the Quantum Europe Research and Innovation initiative will further support 
coordinated activities to accelerate the transition from today’s first-generation quantum devices 
to  fully  operational  machines.  The  goal  is  to  position  Europe  to  acquire  next-generation 
quantum computers primarily from EU providers, while progressively scaling these platforms 
to reach approximately 100 error-corrected qubits34 per system by 2030 – a target aligned with 
industry roadmaps for achieving meaningful computational advantage. By 2035, Europe aims 
to become the first continent to reach a scale of thousands of error-corrected qubits per 
platform, a threshold considered necessary to solve real-world problems.  
Achieving this milestone would represent a turning point in practical quantum advantage35 and 
position Europe as a global leader in quantum computing. It will reinforce the development of 

29 Rest Of the World. 
30 Homepage of Quantum Flagship | Quantum Flagship   
31 Hybrid quantum/HPC platforms are integrating quantum processors with classical HPC systems to enable early 
co-processing, with the quantum processors acting as computing accelerators of the traditional supercomputers. 
Three  hybrid  platforms,  in  France,  Germany  and  Finland,  are  now  operational  within  EuroHPC  and  national 
infrastructures.  By  the  end  of  2025,  hybridisation  will  be  standard  across  all  European  quantum  computing 
facilities, solidifying a significant accomplishment. 
32 AI Factories | Shaping Europe’s digital future 
33 AI continent - European Commission 
34 Today’s quantum computers are delivering results that are not yet fully accurate (quantum calculations are still 
prone to significant errors). Implementing effective fault correction, which will result in error-corrected qubits 
(i.e. the processing units of a quantum computer) providing accurate computing results, is therefore an important 
milestone for any future fully-operational quantum computer.  
35 See footnote 26.  

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Europe’s  quantum  computing  companies  and  will  help  foster  the  development  and 
implementation  of  lead  user  applications  while  strengthening  the  Union’s  technological 
autonomy.  

Figure 2: Map of EuroHPC supercomputers, quantum computers and simulators 

At the same time, Europe will continue investing in quantum simulators36, which can mimic 
the  behaviour  of  a  quantum  system  while  using  less  complex  hardware.  These  quantum 
simulators are already enabling breakthroughs in materials science, quantum chemistry, and 
fundamental physics. Europe is at the forefront of developing and deploying these platforms, 
which are expected to deliver valuable results earlier than universal quantum computers due to 
lower hardware requirements. 

An EU Quantum Computing and Simulation Roadmap will be developed, establishing clear 
benchmarks and a monitoring process to track the technological progress and maturity of the 
different  types  of  quantum  platforms.  The  roadmap  will  allow  to  regularly  assess  which  of 
them are most advanced or hold the greatest long-term promise. This evidence-based approach 
will guide Europe’s strategic decisions and help prioritise future public investments in quantum 
computing.  

•  Publish the EU Quantum Computing and Simulation Roadmap [2026] 
•  Expand the number and capacity of EuroHPC-based quantum computing systems [2026 

onwards] and set up a monitoring framework for quantum computing [2026] 

2.2.2 Quantum Communications 

transmission,  protects  critical 
Quantum  communication  enables  ultra-secure  data 
infrastructures,  and  safeguards  sensitive  information  against  future  quantum-enabled  cyber 
threats37.  It  also  enables  to  establish  quantum  communication  networks  necessary  for 
interconnecting quantum devices such as sensors and computers, into a so-called ‘Quantum 
Internet’.  Thanks  to  its  dual-use  potential,  it  is  supporting  both  civilian  applications  (e.g., 

36 PASQuanS2: Programmable Atomic Large-scale Quantum Simulation 2 - SGA1 | PASQuanS2.1 | Projekt | Fact 
Sheet | HORIZON | CORDIS ! European Commission  
37 The threat posed by quantum computer to current cryptographic protocols. 

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protecting  financial  transactions,  securing  public  networks)  and  defence  needs  (e.g.,  secure 
communications  for  military  and  national  security  operations).  Through  initiatives  like  the 
EuroQCI38  and  the  Quantum  Internet,  the  EU  is  building  fully  autonomous  and  trusted 
quantum communication infrastructures, which will protect critical data flows, secure public 
communications and critical infrastructures, and strengthen Europe's internal security in line 
with the ProtectEU strategy39.   

The EuroQCI Initiative 

The EuroQCI initiative develops a secure quantum communication infrastructure spanning the 
whole EU, including its overseas territories. It is part of the Union’s IRIS² initiative and will 
be  composed  of  a  terrestrial  segment  relying  on  fibre  communications  networks  linking 
strategic sites at national and cross-border level, and a space segment based on satellites.  

The  initiative  is  progressing  rapidly,  with  26  Member  States  currently  deploying  national 
terrestrial  quantum  communication  networks,  and  which  will  also  be  used  to  test  a  secure 
communication Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) satellite  (Eagle 1), scheduled for launch in 
2026 and which will be the first European in-orbit demonstrator. 

These terrestrial quantum communication networks are being used to implement and test QKD 
in real-world environments. Pilot projects include secure hospital-to-hospital transmission of 
medical data, encrypted communication between government institutions and QKD links for 
critical infrastructure like power grid control centres. They are demonstrating how QKD can 
safeguard essential public services and national operations.  

To support this deployment, the EU is leveraging a fully European supply chain of quantum 
components, devices and systems40. A comprehensive QKD testing and evaluation facility is 
also  being  deployed,  offering  pre-certification  environments  for  QKD  components  and 
preparing for their integration into end-to-end systems, and network architectures41.  

Moreover,  this  activity  is  closely  related  to  EU  cybersecurity  policies,  such  as  the  NIS2 
Directive,  the  upcoming  review  of  the  Cybersecurity  Act  and  ENISA’s  Quantum-Safe 
Cryptography  roadmap  to  ensure  that  quantum  communication,  sensing  and  computing 
infrastructures  adopt  defence-grade  security  measures,  supply-chain  integrity  checks  and 
incident-response capabilities from the outset. 

Other leading regions are also investing in terrestrial and space quantum secure capabilities. 
China, for example, has demonstrated space-to-ground QKD and developed over 2 000 km of 
intercity secure terrestrial links42. The USA, on its side, is investing heavily in quantum internet 
testbeds  and  national  lab  partnerships,  but  has  not  yet  launched  a  federated,  secure 
communication programme at a continental scale. The European model, integrating terrestrial 
and  satellite  segments  via  IRIS²,  and  building  on  secure-by-design  principles  and  EU-
controlled  components,  positions  the  EU  at  the  forefront  of  trusted  quantum  networks 
development. 

In the period 2025-2035, the EU will further expand the EuroQCI initiative. 

First, in the period 2025-2030, the EU will deploy cross-border terrestrial quantum links 
connecting  Member  States,  as  well  as  ground  stations  linking  the  EuroQCI  terrestrial 

38 The European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) Initiative | Shaping Europe’s digital future 
39 Commission presents ProtectEU Internal Security Strategy - European Commission 
40 “These technologies include quantum random-number generators (QRNG), quantum single-photon sources and 
detectors,  entanglement-based  QKD  modules  and  integrated  telecom-grade  platforms.  The  supply  chain  is 
certified under the EU Secure Connectivity Programme (Regulation (EU) 2023/588).” 
41 This facility enables rigorous characterisation, security testing, and early support for standardisation, closely 
aligned  with  the  activities  of  ETSI  -  Quantum  Key  Distribution  www.etsi.org/technologies/quantum-key-
distribution  
42 Through its Beijing-Shanghai backbone and Micius satellite programme, now succeeded by Jinan-1. 

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segments with the EuroQCI satellites for space-based quantum key distribution. By 2030, a 
first fully EU-interconnected experimental terrestrial and space secure communication network 
will thus be created.  

Second,  the  EU  will  facilitate  market  uptake  and  security  certification.  It  will  continue 
supporting the further development, maturation and deployment of quantum communication 
technologies  and  protocols43  and  their  regular  integration  in  EuroQCI.  The  EuroQCI  space 
segment will also be upgraded to deliver end-to-end space and terrestrial secure QKD services, 
which will be gradually integrated in the next generation of IRIS² space services. The overall 
EuroQCI infrastructure will be certified under a harmonised EU scheme to ensure trust and 
compliance.    

The Quantum Internet Initiative 

The Quantum Internet initiative complements EuroQCI by preparing the future generation of 
quantum networks. It lays the foundation for distributed quantum computing and sensing, and 
ultra-secure data sharing. 

Europe  has  already  defined  a  complete  architecture  specification  for  a  quantum  Internet 
network  and  has  demonstrated  quantum  networking  at  the  metropolitan  scale44.  Use  case 
frameworks have been initiated, and ecosystem-building is underway with the launch of the 
Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA)45 Technology Forum, the first global open forum dedicated 
to the quantum Internet. Europe has also already seen its first industrial quantum Internet spin-
offs and product launches, signalling the early technology transfer to industry in this field. 

The Quantum Europe Research and Innovation Initiative will support the further technological 
evolution of the Quantum Internet46 and ensure interoperability between different underlying 
computing platforms. In 2026, it will support the launch of a pilot facility for the European 
Quantum  Internet,  enabling  testing  of  key  quantum-safe  components  and  early  use  cases, 
secure quantum-cloud services, distributed computing and advanced validation environments 
bridging research and deployment ahead of full operation. The objective is to deploy a fully 
operational  quantum  safe  communication  network  by  2030  as  a  first  step  towards  a 
federated  Quantum  Internet.  This  will  also  help  position  the  EU  at  the  forefront  of 
international standardisation in this area. In parallel, as the advancement of quantum computing 
poses risks to the security of our communications47, the EU and its Member States are now 
implementing the post-quantum cryptography Recommendation48 and have just published 
a Roadmap49 for the transition to post-quantum cryptography.  

43 Examples of such technologies include next-generation long-lifetime, high-fidelity optical memories critical for 
quantum  repeater  operation,  and  building  and  demonstrating  fully  operational  quantum  repeaters  linking 
metropolitan networks, tested both in lab and real-world conditions. 
44  The  initiative  has  been  successfully  delivered  entanglement  between  two  independently  operated  quantum 
network nodes, separated by 10 km of optical fibre. Equally, there have been technological advancements with 
quantum Internet hardware development including quantum repeater technologies and quantum repeater nodes, 
as well as advancements in quantum software stacks. https://quantuminternetalliance.org/  
45 https://quantuminternetalliance.org/  
46 Examples: quantum memory scalability, robust entanglement distribution, and quantum network software stack 
development. 
47 For example in a concept known as ‘store now, decrypt later’, criminal actors already accumulate encrypted 
information, such as stolen databases, protected files, or communications data; and hold onto them with a view to 
later  decrypt  them  with  quantum  computers  for  malicious  purposes.  See  for  example:  The  Second  Quantum 
Revolution: the impact of quantum computing and quantum technologies on law enforcement (Europol report 
2024). 
48 Recommendation on a Coordinated Implementation Roadmap for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography 
| Shaping Europe’s digital future 
49  This  roadmap  specifies  the  quantum-safe  algorithms,  development  standards  and  certification  schemes  to 
develop in order to protect sensitive information and critical infrastructures. EU reinforces its cybersecurity with 
post-quantum cryptography | Shaping Europe’s digital future 

9 

 
 
 
 
•  Deploy the first  EU-interconnected experimental quantum terrestrial and space secure 

communication network [by 2030] 

•  Publish a Quantum Communication Roadmap [2026]  
•  Launch a pilot facility for the European Quantum Internet [2026] 

2.2.3 Quantum Sensing 

Quantum  sensing  leverages  quantum  properties  to  measure  physical  features  with 
unprecedented sensitivity and precision, significantly surpassing classical sensor capabilities50. 
It has an enormous potential across many diverse fields, from healthcare, climate change or 
groundwater resource monitoring to security, defence and space or navigation.  

The  EU  Quantum  Flagship  has  played  a  leading  role  in  advancing  quantum  sensing 
technologies  from  basic  science  to  application-driven  research.  Functional  prototypes  are 
already being tested in real-world environments, showcasing Europe's leadership in both sensor 
innovation and in preparing the ground for industrial deployment and adoption in applications 
with dual-use potential. 

Quantum gravimeters 
The EU is now developing a network of mobile and stationary quantum gravimeters51, which 
allow  for  the  detection  of  subsurface  features  located  up  to  several  tens  of  kilometres 
underground, including water reservoirs, gas deposits, mineral resources, magma chambers, or 
buried infrastructure. They are particularly valuable for monitoring underground changes over 
time, supporting applications in earth science and geophysics (including subsurface mapping 
and  earthquake  early  warning),  climate  science  (e.g.  tracking  glacier  loss  and  groundwater 
depletion), natural hazard prevention, civil engineering, and strategic applications in defence 
and  civil  protection,  such  as  the  detection  of  underground  man-made  structures  and  the 
monitoring of critical infrastructure.  

Under the Quantum Flagship, in the next 3-5 years, a network of ground-based gravimeters 
will  be  deployed  across  Europe,  complemented  by  gravimeters  embarked  on  high-altitude 
platforms.  In  parallel,  the  EU  is  planning  to  launch  a  first  quantum  space  gravimetry 
Pathfinder Flight52 after 2030. The integration of quantum gravimetry under IRIS2 follow-up 
missions will equally be explored. These efforts could pave the way for a full-scale network of 
ground, airborne and space-based gravimeters for Earth observation purposes, supporting both 
scientific research and strategic applications, including those with dual-use potential.  

Quantum Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Q-MRI) 

In medical diagnostics, EU research has paved the way for quantum-enhanced imaging, using 
quantum sensors to measure magnetic signals at molecular level. These systems hold enormous 
promise for precision medicine and personalised  healthcare by accelerating the detection of 
cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, and by modernising Europe’s diagnostic infrastructure.  

In 2025, under the Quantum Flagship, the EU will support the setting-up of the European Q-
MRI Pilot Infrastructure53 across a number of Member States. This infrastructure will enable 

50 E.g. quantum sensing advantages over traditional sensing techniques include:  higher detection sensitivity of 
physical  quantities  such  as  magnetic  fields,  temperature,  gravity,  etc.;  improved  accuracy  and  precision  of 
measurements, better resolution.  
51 Taking atom interferometric quantum sensors from the laboratory to real-world applications, Nature Reviews 
Physics, 1, 731–739. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-019-0117-4  
52 https://carioqa-quantumpathfinder.eu/: led by CNES, DLR, and Airbus. 
53 Quantum-enhanced and AI-powered metabolic MRI Diagnostics 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
clinical  validation  of  quantum-enhanced  MRI  systems54,  and  provide  open  access  for 
accredited research centres, hospitals and industry partners to test approved quantum-imaging 
prototypes.  By  integrating  AI-based  analysis  tools,  the  infrastructure  will  boost  diagnostic 
accuracy, support earlier intervention and help lower overall healthcare costs. Over time, this 
network will be progressively scaled up across additional Member States.  

The  Quantum  Europe  Research  and  Innovation  Initiative  will  also  continue  financing  the 
further R&D development of Q-MRI sensors and their integration into public health research 
infrastructures, paving the way for their further industrialisation.  

In addition to the above, the EU will continue supporting research in higher sensitivity and 
new imaging contrasts that will open novel diagnostic capabilities, for example in neurology 
(e.g., early-stage Alzheimer’s brain connectivity disorders) or oncology (e.g., cancer detection 
through metabolic imaging).  

To further advance its strategic positioning and planning in quantum sensing technologies and 
metrology  and  testing  infrastructures,  the  EU  will  develop  a  coordinated  European 
relevant 
Quantum  Sensing,  Measurement  and  Testing  Roadmap  and  support 
standardisation  efforts  in  collaboration  with  metrology  institutes  and  the  Member  States.  A 
major aim will also be to ensure European strategic autonomy through secure and compliant 
supply chains for critical sensing components and systems. 

•  Deploy a distributed system of gravimeters across Europe [2026 onwards] 
•  Publish a Quantum Sensing Roadmap [2026] 
•  Establish  a European  Q-MRI Pilot  Infrastructure and scale it up across Europe [2025 

onwards] 

2.3 

Area 3: The Quantum Europe Ecosystem 

A  vibrant,  interconnected  and  robust  quantum  ecosystem  is  critical  to  Europe’s  long-term 
capacity to develop and deploy quantum technologies at scale. Today, the European quantum 
ecosystem  encompasses  around  70  startups  and  scaleups,  deep-tech  investors,  research  and 
innovation  organisations,  national  competence  clusters,  and  industrial  supply  chains. 
However,  this  ecosystem  remains  very  fragile.  It  is  dominated  by  small  startups  and 
scaleups that face significant barriers to growth: unstable revenue streams, limited access 
to scaleup capital, and limited industrial demand in the near term. Moreover, the EU lacks 
large-scale quantum hardware providers and anchor end-users capable of catalysing demand 
and accelerating industrial adoption. This structural weakness limits both private investment 
and the emergence of critical supply chains.  

Without coordinated intervention and accessible pathways to real market opportunities, many 
of these startups risk disappearing or relocating to more supportive ecosystems outside Europe.  

To support this ecosystem, Europe must take decisive steps to foster  industrialisation, scale 
promising actors, ensure strategic supply chains, develop lead markets, protect strategic assets, 
and train the next generation of quantum professionals. 

2.3.1 From the lab to the fab and to industrialisation 

The global market for quantum technologies is still emerging. From today’s EUR 2-3 billion, 
it is forecasted to reach EUR 155 billion by 204055. This prospective growth implies the need 
for a coordinated, unified EU industrialisation strategy enabling European companies to take 
advantage of this upcoming opportunity.  

54 They will be deployed as controlled clinical trials under the EU Medical Devices Regulation. 
55 McKinsey Quantum Technology Monitor 2024. 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
Quantum  chips  are  the  key  underlying  enabler  of  quantum  industrialisation  and  market 
development.  Today,  however,  their  evolution  is  at  a  stage  comparable  to  that  of 
semiconductors 30-40 years ago, with most current quantum devices being mainly proprietary 
designs and, to a large extent, handmade.  

Europe  must  move  swiftly  towards  the  first  large-scale,  low-cost  quantum  chips 
manufacturing,  using,  as  much  as  possible,  processes  compatible  with  those  for 
microelectronics  and  photonics  or  developing  new  processes  where  necessary.  This 
approach  would  allow  to  leverage  existing  semiconductor  infrastructure,  reduce  costs  and 
accelerate time-to-market for quantum chips and devices. 

Moving  in  this  direction,  the  EU  will  soon  be  launching  its  first  six  quantum  pilot  lines 
through  the  Chips  Joint  Undertaking  in  line  with  the  Chips  Act56.  With  a  joint  EU  and 
Member  State  funding  of  EUR  40  to  50  million  per  pilot  line,  they  will  support  early 
prototyping, design validation, and process development, while encouraging practical use cases 
by closely engaging with industry. These six pilot lines will expand the groundwork laid by the 
Quantum Flagship’s experimental pilot lines57 into industrial pilot lines.  

In  the  next  3-5  years,  these  efforts  will  enable  Europe  to  mature  further  and  consolidate 
quantum  and  other  enabling  technologies  and  processes,  before  building  the  first  quantum 
foundries, towards 2030. To support full industrialisation planning and its implementation, and 
in  line  with  the  EU  Competitiveness  Compass,  the  Commission  will  release  a  full-scale 
Quantum Chips Industrialisation Roadmap within 2026. 

As design facilities and libraries are fundamental for any quantum chips ecosystem,  the EU 
will launch a quantum design facility under the Chips Joint Undertaking. The facility will run 
alongside the cloud-based design platform of the semiconductor industry and will be connected 
with the quantum pilot lines.  

Technical  interoperability  and  new  standards  will  also  be  needed  to  facilitate  quantum 
industrialisation.  In  2026,  the  EU  will  therefore  publish  a  European  Quantum  Standards 
Roadmap and, together with Member States, will support an active participation of industry 
stakeholders in European and international standardisation bodies. 

2.3.2 Strengthening and scaling up the emerging European quantum ecosystem  

For the European quantum ecosystem to truly scale up, the following measures will be put in 
place. 

First,  setting  up  a  Europe-wide,  centralised  network  of  open-access  quantum  testbeds. 
Quantum technologies rely on highly sensitive systems and laboratories58 that are technically 
complex and extremely costly. This makes it impractical for most actors, especially SMEs and 
startups,  to  build  or  maintain  such  facilities  independently.  To  expand  access  to  testing 
facilities, dedicated equipment, and experimentation possibilities, the existing pilot facilities of 
the Quantum Flagship are being transformed into a Europe-wide, centralised network of open-
access  quantum  testbeds.  These  facilities  will  provide  developers,  startups,  SMEs  and 
researchers with services and access for testing, validating and benchmarking their quantum 
devices59. This will accelerate the transition from prototype to market and support certification 
efforts,  which  are  essential  for  the  emergence  of  reliable  supply  chains  and  customer 
confidence across sectors.  

56 (EU) 2023/1781: European Chips Act | Shaping EuroUnclearpe’s digital future 
57 QU-PILOT and QU-TEST. 
58  These  include,  among  others,  ultra-clean  environments,  cryogenic  cooling,  vacuum  systems,  and  precision 
control electronics, etc. 
59 In line with the upcoming European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures. 

12 

 
 
 
 
Second,  expanding  Quantum  Competence  Clusters  (QCCs).  These  clusters  are  already 
embedded in national and regional innovation ecosystems across several Members States. They 
are regional hubs providing shared infrastructure and services, while connecting research and 
industry  players.  The  Quantum  Europe  Research  and  Innovation  Initiative  will  support 
expanding and networking these clusters to cover the whole of the EU, also in Member States 
which do not yet have such clusters. QCCs will be acting as distributed centres of expertise, 
serving  as  the  quantum  ecosystem’s  connecting  tissue  –  linking  startups,  researchers,  and 
industrial partners with infrastructures, pilot lines, and design facilities across the Union. They 
will foster collaboration60 and coherence across all quantum strategic areas – from research to 
industrialisation, as well as skills development. Just as the European Digital Innovation Hubs 
(EDIHs), QCCs will offer services tailored to regional strengths but embedded in and boosting 
pan-European cooperation. 

Third,  promoting  intellectual  property  (IP)  protection  mechanisms  so  that  quantum 
companies  can  use  them  to  ensure  strategic  control  over  key  innovations  and  prevent  the 
outflow of critical assets. 

Fourth, accelerating the industrial uptake of quantum technologies. The EU will implement 
a coordinated approach to foster lead users across both the public and private sectors. In this 
respect,  public  procurement  will  be  a  key  tool  to  drive  early  adoption  and  create  first 
market  opportunities.  The  EuroHPC  JU  is  already  supporting  the  purchase  of  the  first 
quantum  computers  through  public  procurement.  In  addition,  the  Commission  will  support 
innovation-oriented  procurement  schemes  that  enable  hospitals,  infrastructure  operators, 
critical  public  services,  and  government  agencies  to  act  as  launch  customers  for  quantum-
enabled  solutions.  This  will  be  supported  by  tailored  financial  incentives  and  deployment 
frameworks for public bodies that will be ready to act as first movers. By positioning Member 
States as first institutional buyers of European quantum technologies, a strong signal will 
be sent to markets and investors, hence supporting ecosystem development and commercial 
viability. 

Fifth, connecting quantum startups with European corporates. This will be essential for 
the  market  expansion  of  the  startups.  The  Commission,  in  cooperation  with  the  quantum 
ecosystem61,  will  launch  sector-specific  challenges,  particularly  in  aerospace,  automotive, 
energy, manufacturing, logistics and pharmaceuticals, to encourage large industrial players to 
become strategic co-development partners and lead users.  

Finally, a growing quantum ecosystem will require an influx of relevant talent. This is further 
developed in Section 2.5 below. 

2.3.3 Investing in quantum startups and scaleups 

While pre-seed and seed-stage funding is widely available from public sources, Europe attracts 
only 5% of the global private quantum funding, compared to over 50% captured by the USA. 
This funding gap is particularly pronounced at later stages of  development62, presenting the 
risk that EU startups could be acquired by non-European investors, with potential losses in IP, 
critical technologies, technological sovereignty and talent.  

Therefore, investment funds, including publicly backed private funds, will be encouraged to 
crowd in substantial capital investment for the development of quantum technologies. These 
include support from the European Innovation Council (EIC)63 Fund, the European Investment 

60 In accordance with relevant EU antitrust rules such as the 2023 Guidelines on the applicability of Article 101 
TFEU to horizontal co-operation agreements, as applicable. 
61 European Quantum Industry Consortium Homepage - QuIC 
62 The Future of European Competitiveness – A Competitiveness Strategy for Europe 
63 Between 2021 and 2024, the EIC has already dedicated around EUR 350 million to foster the growth of quantum 
technology startups. Additional EIC investments into quantum scaleups of up to EUR 30 million per company are 
prepared following the EIC STEP Scaleup Call as part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform.  

13 

 
 
 
 
Bank (EIB) Group’s European Tech Champions Initiative64, or through first-loss guarantees 
and tailored co-investment schemes via InvestEU.  
The  EU  Startup  and  Scale  Up  Strategy  adopted  in  May  202565  announced  setting  up  the 
Scaleup Europe Fund as part of the EIC fund, to mobilise significant private funds and make 
direct equity investments in strategic sectors such as quantum. The EU Startup and Scale Up 
Strategy  also  offers  dedicated  solutions  aimed  at  facilitating  access  to  finance,  public 
procurement, markets, services and talents for innovative startups and scaleups.  
In  addition,  as  proposed  in  the  mid-term  review  of  Cohesion  policy  (MTR)66,  managing 
authorities could use the opportunity, supported with incentives and flexibilities, to reallocate 
funds  towards  investments  in,  among  other  priorities,  Strategic  Technologies  for  Europe 
Platform  (STEP)  objectives.  The  Commission  urges  Member  States  and  regions,  when 
reprogramming under the MTR, to focus on breakthrough, innovative companies, helping those 
companies  that  contribute  to  Europe’s  strategic  sectors  and  value  chains,  such  as  quantum 
technologies. 
Finally,  in  the  context  of  the  Savings  and  Investments  Union67,  the  Commission  will  put 
forward measures that will address fragmentation in the single market for financial services 
and remove obstacles to seamless  cross-border investments  in  the EU, including in  venture 
capital  which  is  instrumental  to  the  development  of  quantum  technologies.  The  EU  will, 
amongst others, stimulate equity investments by institutional investors; simplify listing rules 
in the implementation of the Listing act; put forward measures to support exits by investors in 
private  companies;  explore  with  the  EIB  potential  initiatives  that  aim  to  crowd-in  private 
investment  into  venture  and  growth  capital  and  address  barriers  to  national  taxation 
procedures68.  

2.3.4 Strengthening the Security of the supply chain 

A vibrant quantum ecosystem supported by resilient supply chains is essential for strengthening 
Europe’s economic security. While the EU’s longstanding openness to trade, investment, and 
research has been and will remain of key importance for the development of Europe’s quantum 
ecosystem, it also poses certain challenges. On the one hand, European quantum companies 
and  researchers  rely  on  and  greatly  benefit  from  continuous  flow  of  supply  from  trusted 
sources. On the other hand, these supply chains can be at risk of being weaponised. Therefore, 
it is essential to identify and address critical vulnerabilities in the European quantum supply 
chain  to  mitigate  risks  arising  from  EU’s  excessive  dependency  on  non-European  sources. 
Mapping risks and closely monitoring the evolution of the emerging quantum ecosystem are 
therefore  an  essential  part  of  the  European  approach  to  building  a  healthy,  secure  and 
competitive European quantum deep-tech landscape.  
As part of the European Economic Security Strategy69 as well as of the Observatory of Critical 
Technologies70,  and  in  close  cooperation  with  stakeholders  and  Member  States,  the 
Commission is  conducting  an  EU‐wide  Quantum Technology  Risk  Assessment to map 
supply-chain  vulnerabilities,  looking  in  particular  at  materials,  components,  and  key 
technologies.  The  aim  of  these  assessments  is  to  identify  strategic  dependencies,  potential 
bottlenecks,  and systemic vulnerabilities in  the quantum technology  supply chain,  spanning 

64 Fund of Funds to Support European Tech Champions. 
65  https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/jobs-and-economy/eu-
startup-and-scaleup-strategy_en.  
66 ‘A modernised Cohesion policy: The mid-term review’, COM(2025) 163 
67 Savings and investments union - European Commission 
68 While respecting relevant State aid rules, as applicable. 
69  JOIN(2023)  20  final;  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023JC0020.  This 
strategy also encompasses risk assessments with regard to technology security and technology leakage, for which 
quantum technologies is one of four focus areas so far.  
70 https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space/eu-observatory-critical-technologies_en  

14 

 
 
 
 
from  rare  materials  to  precision  components,  control  electronics,  and  software  stacks.  The 
findings  will  inform  targeted  mitigation  measures,  including  diversification  of  suppliers, 
enhanced European production capacity, partnering with supplier countries under the Global 
Gateway, and risk-sharing mechanisms. The first results are expected in 2026. In addition, the 
role that quantum technologies play in  ensuring the security and public  order of the EU, is 
reflected  in  discussions  of  ongoing  and  future  initiatives  concerning  both  inbound  and 
outbound investments as well as in the context of export controls. 

Building  on  the  above  findings,  the  upcoming  Quantum  Act  will  further  support  the 
strengthening of the quantum ecosystem and, more broadly, the industrialisation efforts above 
by incentivising Member States and companies, investors and researchers to invest in (pilot) 
production  facilities,  supporting  these  activities  under  the  umbrella  of  large-scale  EU-wide 
initiatives, or national, or regional efforts. 

•  Establish six new quantum pilot production lines under the Chips Joint Undertaking to 

scale technologies from lab to the market [2025] 

•  Release a Quantum Chips Industrialisation Roadmap [2026]   
•  Launch a quantum design facility [2026] 
•  Publish a European Quantum Standards Roadmap [2026] 
•  Expand the network of quantum competence clusters [2026]  
•  Carry out and finalise EU-wide assessments of supply chain vulnerabilities [2025-2026] 

2.4 

Area 4: Space & Dual-use quantum technologies (Security and Defence) 

Quantum  technologies  have  dual-use  potential.  Thus,  they  are  essential  for  enhancing  both 
Europe’s competitiveness and its strategic autonomy in space, security, and defence. Recent 
advances in quantum technologies promise major benefits for defence and security, including 
ultra-secure communications, enhanced battlefield sensing and optimised logistics. However, 
they  may  also  pose  risks  if  adversaries  gain  a  technological  edge.  To  fully  leverage  their 
potential while mitigating these risks, proactive policy and oversight measures as well as close 
coordination with key partners such as the European Defence Agency will be essential. 

Quantum technologies in space  

Quantum  technologies  offer  strategically  significant  opportunities  for  European  space 
missions. Secure quantum communication technologies are already embedded in key EU space 
initiatives, including EuroQCI/IRIS² and the quantum space gravimeter pathfinder mission. EU 
space activities also cover the advancement of quantum inertial navigation systems, including 
prototypes based on quantum optical sensors under the Galileo programme, for autonomous 
positioning in environments where global navigation systems (GNSS) have been intentionally 
disabled or spoofed. These prototypes are expected to be tested on-board Galileo satellites in 
the coming years to evaluate their potential for operational deployment. In parallel, quantum 
clocks  are  also  being  assessed  for  future  Galileo  upgrades.  Quantum  computing  is  also 
expected to enhance space engineering through advanced computational capabilities, including 
for enhancing human understanding of the universe. A large number of quantum-based space 
applications have also great potential for military and intelligence purposes. 

Together, these quantum technologies promise significant advances in terms of timing stability, 
precision, and resilience, reinforcing  Europe’s strategic  autonomy in  satellite navigation.  In 
order  to  further  explore  the  potential  of  quantum  in  space,  the  Commission  will  extend  the 
current cooperation framework with the European Space Agency (ESA) to jointly develop a 
Quantum Technology Roadmap in space and ensure complementarity and synchronisation 
of quantum space-related activities. 

Quantum technologies for security and defence  

15 

 
 
 
 
The dual-use potential of quantum technologies means that their breakthroughs can also bring 
significant  benefits  to  strategic  security  and  defence  applications.  For  example,  quantum 
computing could radically transform defence strategies by enabling faster decision-making and 
helping  solve  complex  operational  and  logistics  challenges.  It  can  also  help  design  new 
military-grade materials or safeguard sensitive information from cyber threats.  

Quantum  computing  is  poised  to  transform  key  security  and  defence  applications  such  as 
simulations  of  extreme-temperature  fluid  flows,  combustion  dynamics,  or  heat-resistant 
materials  discovery.  Quantum  sensing  technologies  offer  critical  capabilities  for  defence, 
including  highly  accurate  gravimetry,  magnetometry,  and  inertial  navigation.  These  sensors 
enable detection of underground structures, submarine tracking, and advanced threat detection. 
At  the  same  time,  quantum  communications,  particularly  quantum  key  distribution,  ensure 
ultra-secure information exchange across terrestrial and satellite networks, protecting military 
and intelligence data against spying or future quantum-enabled cyber threats. Both sensing and 
communication technologies are therefore key enablers for Europe’s strategic autonomy and 
operational superiority in defence and security contexts.   
Global  players  such  as  the  USA71  and  China  are  heavily  investing  in  space  and  military 
applications of quantum, including Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-independent 
navigation,  secure  satellite  and  terrestrial  communications,  quantum  lidar72  and  quantum 
enhanced  radars.  Quantum  technologies  have  also  begun  to  influence  broader  alliances  and 
cooperative frameworks73. 
In the EU, several Member States74 already include investments in their defence programmes 
for  developing  defence-ready  quantum  technologies,  such  as  cold  atom  sensors,  diamond 
sensors, or quantum computers and are exploring use cases, such as advanced timing, GNSS 
free positioning, and seabed cartography.  

To reinforce investment opportunities in dual-use and critical defence technologies under the 
EU programmes, the Commission has recently presented a proposal75 amending the scope of 
relevant  existing  instruments.  The  Commission  has  also  put  in  place  measures  to  leverage 
technologies  with  dual-use  potential,  including  quantum,  for  defence,  for  example  through 
actions under the European Defence Fund and its EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS). 

The  underlying  premise  of  all  these  activities  is  for  Europe  to  ensure  that  quantum 
developments  remain accessible, secure, and are free from  third country  export regulations, 
while aligning with European defence and security goals.  

The  EU  and  NATO  also  recognise  quantum  technologies  as  mission-critical  enablers  for 
intelligence, surveillance, navigation, and secure infrastructure. In 2024, NATO launched the 
Transatlantic Quantum Community with an ambition to become “a quantum-ready alliance”. 
The  Commission  and  NATO  engage  on  quantum  technologies  as  part  of  the  EU-NATO 
Structured Dialogue on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs).   

The European Internal Security ProtectEU strategy, as well as the European Defence Fund, 
identify  quantum  technologies  as  a  key  area  for  ensuring  the  EU’s  long-term  security  and 

E.g. 

Initiative:  https://www.darpa.mil/research/programs/quantum-benchmarking-

71  Quantum  Benchmarking 
initiative  
72 A quantum LiDAR is a light detection and ranging system that uses quantum properties like entanglement to 
enhance sensitivity and accuracy in target detection and range estimation beyond classical limits. 
73 E.g. BRICS And Quantum Computing 
74 
- 
(PROQCIMA 
(quantum 
https://quantique.france2030.gouv.fr/acces-aux-marches/programme-proqcima), 
communication and sensing under BMBF), Italy (cold atom sensors for GNSS-free navigation), Austria (quantum 
clocks and inertial sensors), Finland (portable quantum sensing systems for defence use). 
75 COM(2025) 188 of 22.4.2025: Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulations (EU) 2021/694, (EU) 2021/695, 
(EU)  2021/697,  (EU)  2021/1153,  (EU)  2023/1525  and  2024/795,  as  regards  incentivising  defence-related 
investments in the EU budget to implement the ReArm Europe Plan. 

for 
Germany 

programme 

quantum 

defence 

sensors 

France 

on 

16 

 
 
 
 
technological  edge.  Quantum  technologies  are  also  mentioned  in  the  White  Paper  for 
European  Defence  –  Readiness  2030  as  having  the  capacity  to  disrupt  and  transform 
traditional  approaches  to  warfare.  The  White  Paper  announces  that  the  Commission  will 
contribute  relevant  quantum  advancements,  initiatives  and  programmes  to  the  European 
Armament  Technological  Roadmap.  This  will  accelerate  the  transformation  of  defence, 
leveraging investment into dual-use advanced technological capabilities at EU, national and 
private level.  

To steer these efforts, the Commission will develop a dedicated Quantum Sensing Space 
and  Defence  Technology  Roadmap  by  2026,  aligning  priorities  across  civil,  security  and 
defence  communities.  This  will  help  coordinate  investments  in  next-generation  quantum 
sensors, including for gravimetry, navigation and advanced threat detection. 

In parallel, starting in 2026, the EU will launch spin-in initiatives to accelerate the uptake of 
civil quantum innovations into security and defence applications. These initiatives will connect 
cutting-edge companies and research groups with defence actors, helping shorten development 
cycles and reinforcing Europe’s technological edge in capabilities with dual-use potential. 

•  Sign a cooperation agreement with ESA for the development of a Quantum Technology 

Roadmap in space [Q2 2025]  

•  Develop a quantum sensing space & defence technology roadmap [2026] 
•  Contribute to the European Armament Technological Roadmap [Q4 2025] 
•  Launch  spin-in  initiatives  to  bring-in  civil  companies  and  academia  for  defence 

applications [as of 2026, onwards] 

2.5 

Area 5: Quantum Skills  

Europe has developed a strong base of academic quantum talent. The European Union has the 
highest number of graduates in quantum technology-relevant fields worldwide compared to its 
population, with over 110,000 graduates76 annually in physics, ICT, engineering, and related 
disciplines.  According  to  the  Quantum  Flagship’s  Strategic  Research  and  Industry  Agenda 
203077,  Europe  has  over  40  specialised  Master  programmes  in  quantum  technologies  and 
quantum  engineering.  However,  this  is  still  insufficient  to  meet  the  projected  demand  from 
EU’s startups and industry, which faces major shortages of professionals with relevant applied 
skills. Shortages are most critical in applied fields78, including quantum software engineering, 
system integration, and quantum cybersecurity, slowing the commercialisation path for EU-
based startups and scaleups.   
Under  the  Union  of  Skills79,  the  Commission  is  taking  several  initiatives  to  address  skills’ 
shortages, including those related to quantum. The Commission will establish, in 2026, a virtual 
European  Quantum  Skills  Academy  to  serve  as  a  single,  central  contact  point,  providing 
visibility into available quantum technology training and opportunities for practical application 
across all levels of education. Under this initiative, the Commission will foster collaboration 
with academia, training institutions, the research community, and industry partners to design 
and  deliver  educational  programmes  and  standalone 
through  an 
interdisciplinary approach. The programmes will include common curricula at ISCED levels 7 
(Master’s or equivalent level) or 8 (doctoral or equivalent level) leading  to a degree, which 
uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). Virtual study fairs and 
scholarship schemes will promote such programmes.   

training  modules 

76 Global Comparison of STEM Education | SpringerLink 
77 Strategic Research and Industry Agenda 2030 (Quantum Flagship): https://qt.eu/media/pdf/Strategic-Reseach-
and-Industry-Agenda-2030.pdf  
78 IQM-State-of-Quantum-2025.pdf, RAND Europe: Quantum’s Future Workforce Needs More Than Physicists 
79 COM/2025/90 final 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
Furthermore, to foster future-oriented skills, the Commission will facilitate the development of 
innovative  joint  European  study  programmes,  including  in  strategic  sectors  and  key 
technological domains such as quantum, potentially through a European degree/label based on 
commonly agreed criteria. 

The Academy will also support, in line with the objective of attracting and retaining global 
talent of the Union of Skills, quantum fellowship schemes that will allow highly skilled EU 
and non-EU PhD candidates as well as young professionals living outside of the EU to work 
in the EU.   

To  scale  up  and  disseminate  its  activities,  the  Academy  will  develop  communications  and 
awareness-raising practices. These will include, among others, a dedicated landing webpage 
acting as a Quantum Talent Portal, integrated in the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, 'Teach- 
the-Teacher' modules for university and secondary education instructors to achieve quantum 
literacy in early education, and the sharing of best practices towards Member states and eligible 
third countries.   

The communication outreach by the virtual Academy will aim to increase public awareness, as 
well as improve societal understanding, trust, and informed policy engagement in the field of 
quantum  technologies.  Importantly,  its  communication  and  public  awareness  activities  will 
contribute as well to enhancing  the diversity and close the significant gender gap still present 
in Europe’s quantum workforce80. 

While the virtual Academy marks a first important step, the long-term vision is to establish 
multiple, networked academies with geographical spread across the EU, linked to Quantum 
Competence  Clusters  as  well  as  Semiconductors  Competence  Centres  to  multiply  their 
effectiveness.  
Additionally,  under  the  Digital  Europe  Programme81,  the  Commission  will  support  a  pilot 
project  for  a  Quantum  Apprenticeship  Programme  to  prepare  a  pipeline  of  quantum 
specialists trained on real-world projects and ready to (re)enter the EU labour market, as well 
as  introduce  “returnship”  schemes  for  professionals.  Moreover,  to  create  further  virtuous 
circles between academia and industry, the Commission will develop from 2026  European 
Advanced Digital Skills Competitions, which will involve young people in the co-creation of 
quantum-driven  solutions  to  key  societal  and  industrial  challenges  and  foster  creative  and 
innovative thinking.  

As  technology  develops  quickly,  the  skillset  demands  of  professional  profiles  related  to 
quantum  develop  and  change,  and  thus  a  continuous  monitoring  of  education  and  training 
providers and industry needs and workforce demands would be also essential. Under the Union 
of Skills, the  European Skills Intelligence Observatory will monitor timely developments on 
skills needs on strategic sectors in Europe. 

The  European  Innovation  Council  will  also  launch  in  2025  a  Pilot  Programme  for 
Researchers-in-Residence  in  Quantum  Technology  Startups.  This  action  will  facilitate 
targeted placements of researchers in line with the specific needs of high-growth companies 
facilitated by a dedicated platform to connect researchers and innovative startups and scaleups. 

Finally, the Commission will launch a European Quantum Talent Mobility Programme to 
boost international  labour mobility  and skills development  between the EU, Member States 
and partner countries, including fellowships for non-EU PhDs and early career professionals 
in quantum, while retaining and supporting existing workforce to avoid brain drain. To attract, 
develop and retain excellent international quantum researchers, the Commission will also be 

80 There are significant gender imbalances in STEM higher education and careers. See the 2024 She Figures report  
81https://digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu/en/opportunities/funding/digital-2025-skills-08-quantum-academy-step-
sectoral-digital-skills-academies  

18 

 
 
 
 
piloting the Marie Skłodowska-Curie action ‘MSCA Choose Europe’ scheme, which will also 
cover, among others, quantum researchers. 

•  Establish the European Quantum Skills Academy [2026] 
•  Launch  European  Advanced  Digital  Skills  Competitions  in  quantum  [as  of  2026, 

onwards] 

•  Launch  a  Pilot  Programme  for  Researchers-in-Residence  in  Quantum  Technology 

Startups [2025] 

•  Launch the European Quantum Talent Mobility Programme [2026, onwards] 

3  Strategic Implementation Framework for Quantum Europe  

3.1 

 The Main Implementation Components of the Quantum Europe Strategy 

The  European  quantum  field  exhibits  unique  characteristics:  quantum  technologies  remain 
largely emergent, with many of their core components - both hardware and software - still at 
an  early  stage  of  maturity.  Developing  them  further  through  a  traditional,  linear  path  from 
fundamental science to the market would require 10 to 15 years. To speed up the process, the 
following  tailored  technology  lifecycle  implementation  logic  will  be  put  in  place,  tightly 
integrating research, innovation, infrastructure, and early market creation in a continuous loop.  

A  lifecycle  approach  is  particularly  vital  in  the  European  ecosystem  as  there  are  still 
major scientific and engineering roadblocks82 across all quantum domains that must be 
addressed  and  converted  into  tangible  technologies.  Europe  must  not  only  solve  these 
problems, but also rapidly transition the resulting solutions to market-ready applications before 
global competitors lock in strategic dominance.  

To  address  the  scientific  and  engineering  roadblocks,  the  Quantum  Europe  Research  and 
Innovation Initiative (outlined in Section 2.1. above) will support:  

• 

targeted science and  technology  (S&T) efforts focusing on  resolving current  key 
S&T  challenges  that  limit  progress  across  all  quantum  domains.  These  will  be 
addressed mainly through top-down S&T calls complementing the usual  bottom-up 
S&T ones. 

•  market-  disruptive  research  and  innovation  activities  and  targeted  actions  for 
maturing  specific  quantum  and  enabling  technologies.  The  goal  is  to  de-risk 
quantum  innovation  and  accelerate  the  transfer  of  major  research  discoveries  for 
industrial uptake. 

In addition, and to reinforce the above, the following approach will be applied: 

A Grand Challenge mechanism 

The  Quantum  Grand  Challenges  will  serve  as  strategic  instruments  to  address  well-defined 
quantum technology problems of high impact. These Grand Challenges are designed to bring 
together scientists, industrial users, manufacturers, integrators, and actors from both quantum 
and  enabling  technologies,  in  a  coordinated  effort  similar  in  ambition  and  structure  to  past 
mission-oriented initiatives. 

They  will  focus  on  individual  startups/scaleups  to  support  them  in  implementing  their 
breakthrough  technology  roadmap  through  a  competitive  and  collaborative  development 

82  Examples  of  such  roadblocks  include  in  quantum  computing,  scalable  quantum  error  correction  schemes, 
quantum interconnects for modular architectures, and cryogenic control electronics; in quantum communication, 
long-distance  quantum  repeaters,  device-agnostic  entanglement  distribution,  and  secure,  trusted-node-free 
networks; and in quantum sensing, miniaturised, deployable gravimeters, high-resolution Q-MRI systems, and 
inertial sensors for GNSS-independent navigation.  

19 

 
 
 
 
process. A Grand Challenge will bring them together with lead industrial users and researchers 
to co-develop critical, scalable quantum solutions. The participation of lead industrial users is 
essential  for  the  startups  to  meet  industrial  requirements  and  validate  their  technologies  in 
industrial environments. Where appropriate, defence actors, including Ministries of Defence 
and defence companies, may participate as end-users in specific Grand Challenges.  

The startups/scaleups selected for the Grand Challenge will be benefiting from a combined set 
of instruments (grants, equity, loans or other blended finance instruments).  From the outset, 
both  public  and  private  financial  actors  will  be  involved  to  ensure  alignment  with  strategic 
investment goals and maximise impact.  

Between 2025 and 2027, the Commission, together with the European Investment Bank 
and Member States, will pilot at least two such Grand Challenges. The first will focus on 
fault-tolerant quantum computing systems capable of solving complex industrial problems; the 
second  will  target  quantum-based  Positioning,  Navigation  and  Timing  (PNT)  systems  for 
environments where the global satellite navigation systems do not work. Subject to available 
financing,  additional  Grand  Challenges  may  follow,  for  example,  in  quantum-enhanced 
medical imaging (Q-MRI) to support early disease diagnostics and personalised medicine. 

A technology lifecycle approach 

All  the  above  efforts  will  be  underpinned  by  a  technology  lifecycle  approach,  which 
integrates the five strategic areas of the Quantum Europe Strategy into a coordinated and 
iterative development process enabling continuous iteration between discovery, development, 
testing, and deployment. 

Europe’s  quantum  public  infrastructures  and  pilot  lines  presented  in  Section  2.2  above  are 
central to this model. These facilities act as a bridge between research and industrialisation. 
Building,  maintaining  and  scaling  them  provides  the  essential  physical  and  organisational 
foundations  to  further strengthen and  nurture  the whole quantum ecosystem.  They can help 
translate research into practical applications by providing the testbeds, facilities, and networks 
needed  to  test,  validate  and  scale  research  breakthroughs.  They  also  serve  as  excellent 
playgrounds for attracting talent and developing practical applications and use cases. Finally, 
they help  quantum  startups and SMEs get access to the latest  technology  platforms and lab 
facilities,  where  they  can  further  develop  their  prototypes  and  prepare  them  for  industrial 
deployment.  The  federated  network  of  quantum  competence  clusters  will  further  act  as  a 
catalyst of this virtuous lifecycle approach, linking together research organisations, startups, 
scaleups, large industry, and infrastructure providers, thus creating bridges between scientific 
and industrial actors. 

To ensure the lifecycle is both robust and fit for purpose, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), 
milestone tracking, and benchmarking against existing technologies will be set up.  

Finally, this integrated model aligns EU and Member State strategies by focusing investments 
on  shared  objectives  and  creating  coordinated  feedback  loops.  It  avoids  duplication,  builds 
critical  mass,  and  enhances  Europe's  global  influence  in  shaping  the  development  and 
deployment of quantum technologies. 

International Cooperation  

4 
In a context of growing geopolitical uncertainty and its direct impacts on global investment 
and  trade  landscape,  Europe  must  protect  its  interests,  while  maintaining  its  openness  and 
engaging proactively with trusted partners. This notion is reflected in a range of EU’s recent 
policies, including its International Digital Strategy and its Economic Security Strategy.  

Priority partners include like-minded countries, in particular those with whom the EU is already 
coordinating on technology and trade policy issues within the framework of, for instance, Free 

20 

 
 
 
Trade  Agreements,  Trade  and  Technology  Councils83  or  Digital  Partnerships84.  The 
Commission  envisages  expanding  this  cooperation  with  initiatives  covering  joint  research 
programmes,  coordinated  calls,  exchange  of  expertise,  reciprocal  access  to  infrastructures, 
aligned IP frameworks, and preparation of global quantum standards. It will also join forces on 
concrete quantum applications in sectoral policies, for example to develop new materials. In 
this context, the EU has already started implementing joint research and innovation projects in 
quantum technologies with Japan, the Republic of Korea and Canada. 

The EU will also engage with the rapidly growing emerging quantum ecosystems that represent 
economic opportunities for EU companies, offer a competitive boost to EU’s quantum industry 
at  the  global  level,  and  provide  a  way  for  European  quantum  companies  to  diversify 
partnerships  and  reduce  dependencies.  This  approach  will  guide  bilateral  and  multilateral 
partnerships, based on shared values, mutual trust, and the complementarity of capabilities and 
markets, while ensuring appropriate levels of protection for the EU’s interests in strategic areas. 

In addition,  the EU  will strengthen its presence on quantum in international  standardisation 
fora, trade dialogues, and multilateral quantum alliances85.   

In all the above, the Commission will work in close cooperation with the Member States to 
establish a coherent European Quantum International Cooperation Framework that identifies 
priority countries and areas for structured collaboration. It will also support joint diplomatic 
initiatives  and  the  development  of  common  European  positions  on  quantum  technologies, 
ensuring that Europe’s voice is amplified in shaping global governance and ethics in quantum 
innovation. 

•  Extend  and  launch  new  bilateral  and  multilateral  cooperation  initiatives  with  like-

minded countries [2025 onwards] 

•  Work  with  the  Member  States  on  a  European  Quantum  International  Cooperation 

Framework [2025 onwards] 

5  Governance  
Strong and inclusive governance at EU level is essential to steer, coordinate, and monitor the 
implementation of the Quantum Europe Strategy, fostering participation from the whole Union, 
both in terms of the involvement of all Member States, representatives of all types of quantum 
stakeholders but also ensuring gender balance.   

First, a High-Level Advisory Board, bringing together leading European quantum scientists 
and technology experts, will provide independent strategic guidance on the implementation of 
the Quantum Europe Strategy.  

Second,  a  structured  cooperation  framework  with  the  Member  States  will  help  ensure 
coherent  implementation  across  EU-level  and  national  programmes,  coordinate  annual 
lifecycle progress across the five strategic areas, and monitor the evolution of the security and 
resilience of quantum supply chains and its critical components. A dedicated expert group 
bringing all Member States86 together is already actively operating and will be closely involved 
in  the  future  work  of  the  EuroHPC  JU  Governing  Board  once  the  regulation  of  the  JU  is 
amended. 

83 With U.S. and India. 
84 With Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. 
85 At the June 2025 G7 Summit, Leaders acknowledged quantum’s transformative potential and pledged to boost 
investment, foster trusted global cooperation, and strengthen ties between national measurement institutes through 
a G7 Joint Working Group. See: Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies. 
86 European Quantum Technology Coordination Group of Member States Representatives. 

21 

 
 
 
 
Finally, the Commission will continue its close interactions with the whole European quantum 
community  including  academia,  startups,  industrial  actors,  and  innovation  stakeholders  and 
their representatives. 

6  Conclusions 
Quantum technologies are at a turning point. The EU has established itself as a world leader in 
quantum research and laid the foundation for a competitive industrial base. However, the global 
race to  harness  quantum technologies is  accelerating. Leading  nations are scaling up public 
investment, coordinating national strategies, and consolidating research-to-industry pipelines 
to  achieve  technological  sovereignty  and  economic  advantage.  The  dual-use  potential  of 
quantum technologies can also  enhance  their security  and  defence capabilities. At the same 
time,  private  investment  is  becoming  the  key  differentiator  between  success  and  failure.  If 
Europe is to remain competitive, shape the values underpinning quantum innovation and fully 
reap the economic, security and other benefits of its own intellectual leadership, it must act 
with urgency, clarity, and unity. 

This is the moment for Europe to lead. This strategy is not the destination, but an evolving 
framework – a blueprint in motion – for Europe’s quantum future. It requires the collective 
commitment  of  the  EU,  Member  States,  industry,  academia,  and  civil  society  at  large.  If 
successful, quantum technologies will power the next technological revolution and underpin 
EU competitiveness, and Europe will be at the forefront, shaping it on its own terms. 

22 

 
 
 
 
APPENDIX 

Quantum Europe Strategy Actions Summary 

Area 1: Quantum Research and Innovation Initiative  

•  Amend EuroHPC JU Regulation to extend its remit to all quantum technologies and, as a 
first step, transfer present Horizon Europe R&I quantum activities into the JU [Q3 2025] 

•  Present the Quantum Act proposal [2026] 
•  Pilot two Quantum Grand Challenges (Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing and 

Quantum PNT systems) [2025–2027] 
Area 2: Quantum Europe Infrastructures 

•  Publish EU Quantum Computing and Simulation Roadmap [2026] 
•  Expand the number and capacity of EuroHPC-based quantum computing systems [2026 

onwards]  

•  Set up a monitoring framework for quantum computing [2026] 
•  Deploy the first EU-interconnected experimental quantum terrestrial and space secure 

communication network [by 2030] 

•  Publish a Quantum Communication Roadmap [2026] 
•  Launch a pilot facility for the European Quantum Internet [2026] 
•  Deploy a distributed system of gravimeters across Europe [2026 onwards] 
•  Publish a Quantum Sensing Roadmap [2026] 
•  Establish a European Q-MRI Pilot Infrastructure and scale it up across Europe [2025 

onwards] 

Area 3: The Quantum Europe ecosystem 

•  Establish six new quantum pilot production lines under the Chips Joint Undertaking 

[2025] 

•  Launch a quantum design facility [2026] 
•  Release a Quantum Chips Industrialisation Roadmap [2026] 
•  Publish a European Quantum Standards Roadmap [2026] 
•  Expand the network of quantum competence clusters [2026] 
•  Carry out and finalise EU-wide assessments of supply chain vulnerabilities [2025–2026] 

Area 4: Space & Dual Use Potential Quantum Technologies (Security & Defence) 

•  Sign a cooperation agreement with ESA for the development of a Quantum Technology 

Roadmap in space [Q2 2025]  

•  Develop a quantum sensing space & defence technology roadmap [2026] 
•  Contribute to the European Armament Technological Roadmap [Q4 2025] 
•  Launch spin-in initiatives to bring-in civil companies and academia for defence 

applications [as of 2026, onwards] 

Area 5: Quantum Skills   

•  Establish the European Quantum Skills Academy [2026] 
•  Launch European Advanced Digital Skills Competitions in quantum [as of 2026, 

onwards] 

•  Launch a Pilot Programme on Researcher-in-Residence in Quantum technology startups  

[2025] 

•  Launch the European Quantum Mobility Programme [2026, onwards] 

International Cooperation 

•  Launch bilateral and multilateral cooperation initiatives [2025 onwards]  
•  Work with the Member States to establish European Quantum International Cooperation 

Framework [2025 onwards] 

23 

 
 
 
24