To ensure Europe’s place as a world leader in unlocking the power of quantum technologies, supporting innovative research is an absolute must. There is already a 20-year record of excellence for European research efforts in the field. Building upon this legacy, EU funding for quantum research has continued to be a high priority through the Horizon 2020 programme. EU research funds are supporting numerous projects across Europe with many having the goal of bringing commercial applications to market. This special feature presents just a few.