Quantum Europe Strategy: how to turn science into sovereignty

The European Commission unveiled the “Quantum Europe Strategy: Quantum Europe in a Changing World”.

Its vision is bold: by 2030, Europe should be a global leader in quantum technologies.

The European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) has responded with a detailed Position Paper. Backed by input from nearly 60 industry experts, scientists, and policymakers, it’s a roadmap for how Europe can turn research excellence into industrial strength and technological sovereignty.

What does Europe need to do next?

Europe is home to world-class quantum research. But as QuIC points out, research alone won’t secure leadership. The real challenge is converting breakthroughs into competitive products and industries. That means balancing big, top-down programmes with space for bottom-up innovation led by startups and SMEs. It also means giving researchers access to the specialised facilities that can help them bring ideas from the lab bench to the marketplace.

QuIC welcomes the Strategy’s ambition, such as reaching 100 error-corrected qubits by 2030, but success shouldn’t just be judged by qubit counts but by performance indicators like reliability, speed, and scalability. Equally important is developing a “Made in Europe” value chain, from control electronics to photonics, Europe has strengths it can build on.

But openness matters too: the region should use the best available technologies, even when they come from beyond EU borders. And then there’s software. QuIC argues it deserves its own dedicated pillar.

While the US and China pour billions into scaling quantum companies, Europe risks falling behind. QuIC proposes a €2 billion per year Quantum Sovereignty Growth Fund, co-financed by the European Investment Bank and EU pension funds. Alongside this, it calls for harmonised tax incentives and stronger entry and exit pathways, including more competitive IPOs and support for mergers within the EU.

The goal? To give Europe’s quantum entrepreneurs the capital and confidence they need to grow globally competitive companies.

Europe also needs a stronger quantum ecosystem:

• Anchor contracts from public institutions to generate early market demand.
• Quantum Competence Clusters across Member States to lower barriers for SMEs and drive adoption.
• IP protection and valorisation, ensuring Europe doesn’t lose critical knowledge and patents to competitors abroad.

By focusing on these building blocks, Europe can create an environment where startups thrive and innovations scale.

Skills, sustainability and governance

No strategy succeeds without people. The Position Paper highlights the urgent need for more skilled quantum professionals. Proposals include expanding the European Quantum Skills Academy, creating fast-track visas, and offering retention grants for graduates who stay in Europe.

Sustainability is also central, it urges Europe to embed circularity and responsibility into the quantum value chain from the outset, aligning with the EU Green Deal. This means designing technologies that not only lead the world but also respect environmental and social goals.

Finally, the importance of governance and cooperation. Industry must have a stronger voice in decision-making, and Europe needs structures like a European Quantum Coordination Office to align strategies across Member States.

Europe’s window of opportunity

Quantum technologies represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Europe. But seizing it will take more than vision, it requires bold investment, agile governance, and unwavering support for entrepreneurs, researchers, and talent. The question is whether Europe will act quickly enough to turn scientific excellence into industrial sovereignty.

Read the full Position Paper here: https://www.euroquic.org/quic-position-paper-on-the-quantum-europe-strategy/

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