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Estonia latest country to sign up to EuroQCI initiative

Estonia joins 24 other European countries to build a quantum communication infrastructure spanning the EU and its overseas territories (EuroQCI).

Map listing EuroQCi signatory countries and showing them on map

European Commission

The EuroQCI initiative was launched in June 2019 when seven EU Member States agreed to work together, with the European Commission and with the support of the European Space Agency, to develop a pan-European quantum communication infrastructure over the next decade. Since then, eighteen more countries have signed up to the initiative. The EuroQCI will link critical public communication assets all over the EU, and would make it possible for sensitive information to be transmitted and stored much more securely. It would help to protect the EU’s key digital assets, secure financial transactions, shield national and cross-border critical information infrastructure against needed to boost its strategic autonomy.

Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market, said:

I am delighted to welcome Estonia to the EuroQCI initiative. Building a quantum communication infrastructure will help secure Europe’s critical infrastructure and enable sensitive data to be shared across borders. It will also lead to the development of a world-class quantum communication technologies industry in Europe, boosting our technological sovereignty in this key area. The foundations for this initiative have already been laid: I call on all Member States to give it their full support as it progresses.

Raul Siem, Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Information Technology, said:

Given the rapid development of technology and quantum computing, our digital systems and current encrypting solutions may become vulnerable in the coming years. Joining the EuroQCI community is the first step in making sure that our systems and society are protected against cyber-threats in the future as well. Considering the great digital dependence of both the state and private sector and the development of technology, it is beneficial for Estonia to be involved in this cooperation network and I’m sure Estonian cyber sector companies and academic institutions have a lot of knowledge and experience to offer in developing pan-European solutions.