On Wednesday, 2 July, the European Commission unveiled its ambitious Quantum Europe Strategy, a landmark plan to position the continent as a global leader in the revolutionary field of quantum technologies by 2030. The strategy seeks to harness Europe’s scientific prowess and transform it into industrial and economic strength, ensuring the EU remains sovereign and competitive in a sector poised to reshape the world, from healthcare and cybersecurity to defence and climate forecasting.
Setting out the scale of the ambition, European Commission Vice-President for Tech, Hena Virkkunen, stated that the “vision for the future is clear: to transform Europe into a quantum industrial powerhouse and a global market leader in quantum technologies, building on our sustained scientific leadership.”
What are quantum technologies?
Quantum technologies could usher in computers capable of tackling problems that even the most powerful supercomputers today cannot solve, as well as fundamentally unhackable communication networks.
For our daily lives, the impact will be profound. For example, quantum sensors could lead to earlier disease diagnosis or accelerate the development of new medicines and materials. Furthermore, quantum communication promises a new era of data security, safeguarding everything from our personal information to critical national infrastructure. The EU expects the sector to be worth over €155 billion by 2040, creating thousands of highly skilled jobs across Europe.
A strategy for European leadership in the field
While the EU boasts a world-class research community and nearly a third of the world’s quantum startups, it has struggled to convert this scientific excellence into market-ready products, attracting only around 5% of global private investment in the field. The new strategy directly confronts this challenge with a multi-pronged approach.
First, it will bolster research and innovation by launching the Quantum Europe Research and Innovation Initiative, a joint EU–Member States effort to support foundational research and develop applications in key public and industrial sectors.
Second, it will bolster infrastructure. The plan includes establishing a dedicated quantum design facility and six pilot production lines for quantum chips, backed by up to €50 million in public funding. This will help startups and researchers turn their groundbreaking prototypes into manufacturable products. Additionally, the EU will begin deploying a pilot for a European Quantum Internet, a super-secure communication network spanning the continent.
Third, the strategy focuses on strengthening the entire quantum ecosystem. It aims to boost private investment and support startups as they grow through a Quantum Chips Industrialisation Roadmap and the forthcoming Scaleup Europe Fund. Fourth, the EU will promote the uptake of these new technologies in space, defence and security applications.
Fifth, recognising that technology is nothing without talented people, the plan addresses the skills gap. A virtual European Quantum Skills Academy, set to launch in 2026, will offer specialised master’s and doctoral programmes, as well as retraining schemes, to build a world-class quantum workforce. This will be supported by mobility programmes to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing across the EU.
Finally, this strategy will be complemented by a Quantum Act, expected in 2026, to encourage further investment and create a harmonised regulatory framework.
Conclusions
The Quantum Europe Strategy marks a pivotal moment for the continent’s technological future. By coordinating efforts between EU member states, industry, and academia, the Commission aims to create a resilient and sovereign quantum ecosystem. A new High-Level Advisory Board, including European Nobel Prize laureates, will provide strategic guidance to ensure the plan stays on track. The ultimate goal is clear: to transform Europe from a scientific leader into a global industrial powerhouse in the quantum age, ensuring that the next technological revolution is made in Europe.
