European Union Launches Ambitious Quantum Strategy to Lead by 2030

On July 2, 2025, the European Commission unveiled its inaugural Quantum Strategy, aiming to position the European Union (EU) as a global leader in quantum technologies by 2030. Despite substantial public investment exceeding €11 billion over the past five years, Europe currently attracts only 5% of global private investments in quantum technology. The new strategy seeks to bridge this gap by enhancing private sector involvement and fostering collaboration among member states.

The EU's Quantum Strategy outlines a comprehensive plan focusing on five key areas:

1. Research and Innovation: Consolidating excellence across Europe to lead in quantum science and its industrial transformation.

2. Quantum Infrastructures: Developing scalable, coordinated infrastructure hubs to support production, design, and application development.

3. Strengthening the Quantum Ecosystem: Investing in startups and scale-ups, securing supply chains, and industrializing quantum technologies.

4. Space and Dual-Use Quantum Technologies (Security and Defence): Integrating secure, sovereign quantum capabilities into Europe’s space, security, and defense strategies.

5. Quantum Skills: Building a diverse, world-class workforce through coordinated education, training, and talent mobility across the EU.

By addressing these areas, the Commission aims to transform Europe's scientific leadership into market-ready applications, ensuring the continent's competitiveness in the rapidly evolving quantum sector.

Despite significant public funding, Europe lags in private investment, attracting only 5% of global private funds in quantum technology. Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission's tech chief, emphasized the need for increased private sector involvement, stating, "We have to now focus more on private funding because we are very strong already in public funding."

Several EU member states have launched national quantum strategies:

• France: Unveiled a €1.8 billion quantum strategy in 2021, aiming to become a global leader in quantum computing by 2025.

• Germany: Committed €2.8 billion in 2023 to accelerate the development and industrialization of quantum technologies.

• Spain: Launched its first National Quantum Technologies Strategy in April 2025, investing over €800 million through 2030 to advance research, commercialization, and public engagement in quantum science.

To support and regulate the growing quantum ecosystem, the European Commission plans to propose a Quantum Act in 2026. This legislation aims to invest in research and development, mobilize funding to scale up the European quantum ecosystem, and ensure that Europe's leading quantum research is commercialized within the continent.

The strategy emphasizes the need for increased private investment to complement public funding. Virkkunen highlighted concerns over European quantum startups being vulnerable to foreign acquisitions or relocation due to better funding opportunities elsewhere.

Quantum technology has the potential to revolutionize various sectors, including cybersecurity, defense, healthcare, and finance. According to McKinsey, quantum technology could be worth trillions of dollars within the next decade.

By implementing this strategy, the EU aims to reduce its reliance on the United States and China in the quantum sector, ensuring technological sovereignty and competitiveness.

The European Commission's Quantum Strategy represents a significant step toward establishing the EU as a global leader in quantum technologies. By addressing current investment disparities and fostering collaboration among member states, the strategy aims to transform Europe's scientific excellence into market-ready applications, ensuring the continent's competitiveness in the rapidly evolving quantum sector.