On Wednesday 2 July, the European Commission presented its ‘Quantum Europe Strategy’ a non-legislative communication designed to guide the Commission’s future work to “harness” the potential of quantum technology within the European Union.
Divided into five main pillars - research and investment, infrastructure, skills, dual-use and ecosystems - this initiative details a series of ‘roadmaps’ that will be published during 2026 to “develop European capabilities and competitiveness” in quantum technology.
“Europe is currently lagging behind in translating its innovation capabilities. Efforts are fragmented across Member States but, paradoxically, we have a leading role in the early stages of development and innovation”, states the document.
The question of the dual use of quantum, both military and civilian, is the subject of an entire chapter and should contribute to the future ‘European Armament Technological Roadmap’, scheduled for the end of 2025 (see EUROPE 13655/28).
“The idea behind all these activities is that Europe must ensure that quantum developments remain accessible, safe and free from third country export regulations, while aligning with European defence and security objectives”, the text clarifies.
In addition to the presentation of the future Quantum Act, the Commission communication lists the publication of no less than ‘six roadmaps’ in the various sectors designated as priorities.
For example, the Commission plans to draw up a European Quantum Standards Roadmap, the Quantum Communication Roadmap and the EU Quantum Computing and Simulation Roadmap.
The Quantum Act, for its part, should, in line with the broad lines set out in the ‘Strategy’, include an investment framework or rules on the granting of funding, to “strengthen the European quantum ecosystem” and “the industrialisation efforts” of Member States, by “encouraging investment in pilot production facilities”. It will reportedly not establish a legislative framework for quantum technology.
“We are still at the consultation stage [for the Quantum Act]”, said the Commissioner for Tech Sovereignty and Vice-President of the European Commission, Henna Virkkunen. On the question of incorporating the dual uses of quantum into the future regulation, the Commissioner prefers, at this stage, to defer to the future ‘European Armament Technological Roadmap’. “We’ll see what needs to be done with the Quantum Act in the light of this”, she said.
To see the Quantum Europe Strategy: https://aeur.eu/f/ho1 (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)