Quantum technology in the European Union
A hundred years after the groundbreaking ideas of Einstein, Schrödinger, and others that laid the foundation for modern quantum technology, Europe continues to lead in academic quantum science publications. With the ambition to become a global leader in quantum technology development, the EU has launched several initiatives, strategies, declarations, and regulations to achieve this goal.
In 2018, the European Commission allocated one billion euros over ten years to launch the European Quantum Flagship. The program’s primary goal is to “consolidate and expand Europe’s scientific leadership and excellence in quantum technology research to drive the emergence of a European quantum technology industry.”
In March 2020, the European Commission and the Quantum Flagship published a comprehensive strategic roadmap for quantum technologies, the Strategic Research Agenda, aimed at supporting Europe’s efforts to achieve leadership in the quantum technology sector. The roadmap categorizes technologies into five application areas: basic science as a cross-cutting theme, quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing and metrology. Additionally, it highlights cross-sector priorities, including education and workforce development, the creation of a quantum technology ecosystem, standardization, ethics, and the societal impact of quantum technologies.
As an extension of the Strategic Research Agenda, the Quantum Flagship published a more detailed strategy for the development of quantum technologies in November 2022, which was further updated in February 2024. This strategy outlines the advancement of quantum technologies for the next decade.- Strategic Research and Industry Agenda SRIA 2030: Roadmap and Quantum Ambitions over this Decade. The goal of the SRIA 2030 is to align the action plans and objectives of scientific and industrial target groups. The document delves into the details of each technological component, highlighting the key goals and recommendations for the next three to ten years.
European Declaration on Quantum Technologies
Estonia has joined the European Quantum Technology Declaration, in which the 26 EU member states signatories to the declaration recognize the strategic importance of quantum technology for the EU’s scientific and industrial competitiveness. They commit to collaborating in the development of a world-class quantum technology ecosystem across Europe, with the ultimate goal of making Europe the global leader in quantum expertise and innovation, establishing it as the world’s foremost region for quantum capabilities.