Quantum

 the next few years, quantum technologies will make it possible to do things that simply cannot be done today. With quantum, we will be able to look far beneath the ground or under the sea and perform complex computational tasks, like modelling biomolecular and chemical reactions, that the most powerful supercomputers cannot currently manage. Quantum will help us send sensitive information safely to anywhere, and diagnose diseases more quickly and accurately by looking inside cells.

In the first quantum revolution during the early twentieth century, scientists learned to understand and apply the properties of quantum mechanics – the interactions of molecules, atoms, and even smaller particles like photons and electrons. This ultimately allowed them to create transistors, lasers and microprocessors: foundational technologies for computers, telecommunications, satellite navigation, smartphones, modern medical diagnostics, and much more.

Now, the second quantum revolution is underway. Researchers can detect and manipulate individual particles and their physical properties and interactions, and build new technologies and systems that make use of the properties of the underlying quantum mechanics. These developments have led to major technical advances in many different areas, including quantum computing, sensors, simulations, cryptography and telecommunications. 

A whole generation of new technologies with the potential for far-reaching economic and societal impact is starting to emerge in the main quantum application domains: quantum computing and simulation, quantum communication, and quantum sensing and metrology. Some are already in development, while many others will be developed in the coming years. The potential of quantum is huge, and all major world regions are investing heavily in this highly strategic field. 

The Commission has therefore adopted a Quantum Strategy with the aim of securing the EU technological leadership.   

The Strategy, adopted in July 2025, capitalises on Europe's existing strengths: world-class research, scientific excellence, a vibrant startup base, and a strong public investment structure, and focuses on five  areas for action:

• Area 1 Research and Innovation: Consolidating excellence across Europe to  in quantum science and its industrial transformation.
• Area 2 Quantum Infrastructures: Developing 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 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 education, training, and talent mobility across the EU.

A call for evidence is now open to shape the future EU Quantum Act, which is scheduled for adoption in 2026. This Act has three main objectives:

1. To boost research and innovation
2. To scale up industrial capacity, including pilot lines and a design facility
3. To reinforce supply chain resilience and governance.

It will build on the Quantum Europe Strategy and complement the Chips Act, the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and IRIS².

Europe has a long tradition of excellence in quantum research. It is now crucial to develop a solid industrial base that builds on this tradition. Without coordinated research and funding efforts at European level, Europe would risk falling behind its global competitors.

To meet this challenge, the Quantum Technologies Flagship was launched in 2018. It is a large-scale, long-term research initiative with a budget of €1 billion funded by the EU that brings together research institutions, industry and public funders, consolidating and expanding European scientific leadership and excellence in this field.

As part of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), the Commission is now planning to build state-of-the-art pilot quantum computers. These computers will act as accelerators interconnected with the Joint Undertaking’s supercomputers, forming 'hybrid' machines that blend the best of quantum and classical computing technologies.

In October 2022, the EuroHPC JU announced the selection of six sites across the EU to host the first European quantum computers, which will be integrated into EuroHPC supercomputers. These newly acquired quantum computers will be based on purely state-of-the-art European technology and will be located at sites in Czechia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and Poland. The investment totals €100 million, with 50% coming from the EU and 50% from 17 of the EuroHPC JU participating countries.

This will be the first step towards the deployment of a European quantum computing infrastructure, which will be accessible to European users from science and industry via the cloud on a non-commercial basis. This infrastructure will be dedicated to accelerating the creation of new knowledge and solutions to global societal challenges. Thanks to its massive computing capacity, it will address complex simulation and optimisation problems, especially in materials development, drug discovery, weather forecasting, transportation and other real-world problems of high importance to industry and society. 

The first EuroHPC acquired quantum computer has been inaugurated in Poznan (Poland) in June 2025. In September 2025, EuroHPC has inaugurated its second quantum computer ‘VLQ’, in Ostrava, Czechia. This milestone represents an important step forward in deploying a state-of-the art European quantum computing infrastructure.

Since June 2019, all 27 EU Member States have signed the EuroQCI Declaration, agreeing to work together, with the Commission and with the support of the European Space Agency, towards the development of a quantum communication infrastructure covering the whole EU (EuroQCI). 

Discover more about EuroQCI

In several fields, quantum sensors are already able to offer greatly improved performance and accuracy compared with their classical equivalents. The Commission is investing in pan-European quantum sensing infrastructures that will link these sensors and harness their potential, including a network of quantum gravimeters, both fixed and mounted on moving carriers like drones or ships, that will monitor underground and underwater resources and volcanic activity, carry out Earth observation tasks, and more. This network will be connected to a planned European space gravimetry infrastructure, enabling even more precise measurements to be made with the support of space-based technologies.