The European Commission has adopted a long-awaited Quantum Strategy, setting out a roadmap to make Europe a global leader in quantum technologies by 2030. The initiative — unveiled on 2 July — comes ahead of a draft Quantum Act expected next year, aimed at unlocking private investment and integrating national programmes into a unified single market framework.
Despite injecting over €11 billion in public funding into quantum research and development since 2020, the EU currently captures just 5% of global private-sector quantum investment. The new strategy explicitly aims to “crowd in” later-stage capital, curb the outflow of start-ups to the US and Asia, and consolidate Europe’s deep-tech position across defence, space, and critical infrastructure.
Structured around five core pillars — research, infrastructure, ecosystem scale-up, dual-use applications, and skills — the strategy outlines an immediate implementation agenda. This includes a quantum design facility, six chip pilot lines supported by a €50 million investment, a quantum-internet test-bed, and a pan-European Quantum Skills Academy scheduled to open in 2026.
“The ambition is to ensure that Europe becomes a quantum industrial powerhouse,” said European Commissioner Thierry Breton, noting that quantum technologies are now considered on a par with AI and semiconductors in terms of strategic importance.
A new high-level board — including multiple Nobel laureates — will oversee implementation. The forthcoming Quantum Act, due in 2026, will aim to harmonise rules, attract private capital, and establish an EU-level investment facility. Officials indicated that it may also include safeguards against foreign acquisitions of strategic assets.
The strategy’s release follows mounting concern over Europe’s funding gap in deep-tech. According to the Financial Times, the European Investment Bank and EIC Fund are now working on instruments to underwrite later-stage rounds — traditionally a weak point in the EU venture ecosystem.
Industry voices have also highlighted the risk of talent shortfalls. The strategy proposes the creation of “quantum competence clusters” across Member States, alongside the Skills Academy, to build up a stable workforce pipeline and support both academic and applied training.
Analysts estimate the global market for quantum technologies could reach trillions in value by the end of the decade. Europe’s aim is to lift its private investment share to double digits within five years.
The Commission has also flagged the defence dimension. Dual-use quantum sensors and encrypted communications are expected to feed into the upcoming European Armament Roadmap — with potential relevance for NATO and EU space programmes.
A legislative draft of the Quantum Act is due in 2026.
