The European Commission has unveiled a strategy to make the European Union a global leader in quantum technologies by the end of the decade.
The plan, announced by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, aims to reinforce Europe’s scientific position while addressing its commercial shortfalls—particularly in attracting private capital.
Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, Virkkunen stated: “We have to now focus more on private funding because we are very strong already in public funding.” Her remarks come as the Commission launched the EU Quantum Strategy, a comprehensive framework that outlines the bloc’s ambitions to strengthen its role in a domain increasingly seen as critical to economic and strategic autonomy.
Quantum technologies—including quantum computing, communication, and sensing—are expected to transform sectors ranging from healthcare and logistics to finance and national security. According to McKinsey, the global quantum market could reach a value in the trillions within the next ten years.
€11 Billion in Public Funds—But Lagging Private Investment
Over the past five years, the EU and its Member States have invested more than €11 billion in quantum research and infrastructure. However, private funding remains limited: only 5 per cent of global private investment in quantum currently flows into Europe, a shortfall the Commission is seeking to address.
“We will especially work on the private funding part in the coming months,” Virkkunen said. She warned that European start-ups remain vulnerable to foreign acquisition or relocation, citing more favourable funding environments abroad.
The Commission intends to introduce new legislation, the Quantum Act, in 2026. It will be designed to create a stable legal and financial framework to support industrialisation, de-risk investment, and safeguard strategic assets.
Strategy Structure: From Research to Defence
The EU Quantum Strategy is structured around five pillars:
Research and Innovation: Launch of the Quantum Europe Research and Innovation Initiative, aligning EU and Member State resources towards shared objectives.
Quantum Infrastructure: Establishment of six pilot chip production lines, a quantum design facility, and rollout of early-stage quantum computing systems through the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.
Ecosystem Development: Support for start-ups, expansion of Quantum Competence Clusters, and introduction of demand-side tools such as public procurement and financial instruments via the European Innovation Counciland InvestEU.
Space and Dual-Use Technology: Development of defence and security applications, including ultra-secure communications and autonomous navigation, in cooperation with the European Space Agency and under the European Armament Technological Roadmap.
Quantum Skills: Launch of a European Quantum Skills Academy in 2026 to build a highly specialised workforce and attract international talent.
Risks and Fragmentation
Despite Europe’s longstanding scientific leadership, challenges persist in translating research into commercial capability. The EU remains behind the US and China in patent activity, hardware production, and start-up scale-up success.
A key issue identified in the strategy is fragmentation of national initiatives. Several Member States have developed their own roadmaps, but duplication of effort and competition for talent are limiting the bloc’s ability to reach critical industrial mass.
The Commission will implement a centralised governance structure and amend the EuroHPC JU’s regulation to broaden its remit to all quantum technologies. A coordinated investment pipeline, including roadmaps and benchmarking, will ensure progress is monitored and resources deployed effectively.
Timeline and Outlook
The strategy lays out a roadmap for progressive implementation between now and 2030. Immediate priorities include finalising legal amendments to the EuroHPC framework in 2025, piloting two Quantum Grand Challenges, and publishing dedicated roadmaps for communication, sensing and chip industrialisation in 2026.
By 2040, the EU anticipates the quantum sector will support thousands of high-skilled jobs and underpin a market valued at over €155 billion. The Commission views the Quantum Strategy not as a stand-alone document, but as a foundation for long-term technological resilience.
Virkkunen concluded, “European quantum start-ups must be given the tools to stay, grow, and lead here. This is why it is crucial to act now.”
The success of the strategy now depends on effective coordination between Member States, regulatory alignment, and the mobilisation of significant private-sector capital in the years ahead.
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