Europe’s Quantum Leap: Progress, Promise, and a Path Forward
The European Commission recently hosted the second annual Quantum Cluster Review, offering a unique opportunity for researchers, experts and EC project officers to come together and take stock of Europe’s fast-evolving quantum landscape. The message was clear: quantum research in Europe is not just thriving — it’s accelerating.
From cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs to the rise of innovative start-ups, quantum projects backed by the EU are turning theory into technology, and lab experiments into real-world potential. This progress is laying the groundwork for powerful next-generation computing systems that could revolutionise fields like medicine, energy, and materials science.
Key Takeaways from the Review
- Scientific and Technological Momentum: Projects across Europe are making strides in both hardware and software. Researchers are improving quantum bits (or qubits), extending how long they can hold information, and making it easier to connect quantum systems — all crucial steps toward building usable quantum computers.
- Lab to Market — A Sign of Maturity: Perhaps even more exciting is the emergence of new companies born out of these research projects. This shift from academic discovery to entrepreneurial action shows that Europe’s investments are starting to pay off beyond the lab.
- Balancing Openness and Innovation: As research inches closer to commercialisation, new questions are arising. How do we remain committed to open science while also protecting intellectual property and business potential? A guiding principle emerged: “as open as possible, as closed as necessary.”
- Recognition and Transparency Matter: Companies benefiting from EU funding must give proper credit to the research that helped them succeed. Accountability and recognition are vital in maintaining trust and fairness in collaborative innovation.
- Inclusivity and Public Awareness: There’s a need to keep quantum initiatives open to new voices — especially from under-represented regions — and to improve how we communicate the value of quantum research to the public. As one official warned, “These projects shouldn’t turn into closed clubs.”
Insights for Ongoing Projects
This meeting was especially insightful for our active projects OpenSuperQ+ and PASQuanS2.1, as it provided an excellent forum to receive feedback from renowned researchers on the progress achieved, as well as suggestions for further improving project results by the end of the project period. The direct engagement with reviewers from academy and representatives from the European Commission offered a valuable external perspective on both the scientific and strategic direction of these initiatives.
Looking to the Future
As the field matures, there’s a push to demonstrate “quantum advantage” — the point where quantum systems outperform classical ones — particularly in areas like physical simulation. Reviewers called for deeper cooperation between researchers and industry, broader access to quantum tools, and more user-friendly platforms for non-experts.
Persistent challenges remain: delays due to technical bottlenecks, administrative red tape, and questions around intellectual property and funding models. Yet, these are seen as growing pains — not roadblocks.
Despite the hurdles, the mood at the Quantum Cluster Review was optimistic. “We’re seeing remarkable progress across the board,” one reviewer noted. “Some teams have even reached their goals earlier than planned — a clear sign that Europe’s quantum efforts are gaining real momentum.”
