On 2 July, the EU Commission officially announced its strategy which aims to make Europe a global leader in quantum by 2030. The strategy targets five key areas: research and innovation, quantum infrastructures, ecosystem strengthening, space and dual-use technologies, and quantum skills.
Research and innovation
The Commission will propose a dedicated Quantum Europe Research and Innovation Initiative which will aim to align the EU’s and Member Sates’ efforts around a commonly agreed Research, Technology, and Innovation agenda. The initiative will be structured around the following key stages:
“Discover”: Supporting foundational research, technological development and innovation actions in quantum computing, communication and sensing.
“From the lab to the fab”: investing further in state of the art quantum computing, communication, and sensing infrastructure 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.
This initiative will be implemented through a framework that will be announced in the upcoming Quantum Act
Infrastructure
The EU will continue its investments in quantum infrastructure initiatives such as quantum computing systems under the EuroHPC JU, the EuroQCI secure quantum communication infrastructure under the Union’s Secure Connectivity Programme IRIS, as well as in advanced sensing platforms. The EU is also investing in several pilot lines under the Chips JU with the goal of preparing for the industrialisation of quantum technologies in Europe.
The EU will seek to maintain and expand its investments in public quantum infrastructures across computing and simulation, communications, and sensing.
Ecosystem
The EU recognises its current ecosystem is fragile as it is dominated by small startups and scaleups which face significant barriers to growth. This is accompanied by unstable revenue streams, limited access to scaleup capital, and limited industrial demand. To address this, the EU will
Seek to swiftly move towards large scale, low cost quantum chips manufacturing by launching quantum pilot lines under the Chips Joint Undertaking
Strengthen scaling up capabilities by setting up a network of open access quantum testbeds, expand Quantum Competence Clusters (QCCs), promote intellectual property protection mechanisms, accelerate industrial uptake (by using public procurement tools), and help connect quantum startups with European corporates.
Strengthen supply chain security (an assessment of supply chain vulnerabilities will be carried out)
Space and dual use
The EU will seek to leverage quantum’s potential in those fields by extending the current cooperation framework with the European Space Agency to jointly develop a Quantum Technology Roadmap in space and ensure complementarity and synchronisation of quantum space-related activities.
Additionally, 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 aim to help coordinate investments in next-generation quantum sensors, including for gravimetry, navigation and advanced threat detection.
Skills
To tackle skills shortages related to quantum, the EU Commission will establish, in 2026, a virtual European Quantum Skills Academy (meant to serve as a central contact point to provide visibility to quantum technology training and opportunities). The Commission will also support quantum literacy during early education. Additionally, the Commission will support a pilot project for a Quantum Apprenticeship Programme, and will launch a pilot programme for Researchers-in-residence in Quantum technology startups.
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.
Next steps
The Strategy will be followed by a Quantum Act Proposal, expected in 2026 which will aim to further strengthen the EU quantum ecosystem and the industrialisation efforts by incentivising Member States and companies, investors and researchers to invest in (pilot) production facilities, under the umbrella of large-scale EU-wide national or regional initiatives.
It is also worth noting that the EU will also seek “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”.
For more information, please contact:
Theophile Maiziere
Policy Manager - EU, techUK
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
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Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
