Quantum Europe

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This event has now taken place!

Thank you to all speakers, sponsors & delegates who joined us. We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 edition. In the meantime, should you wish to find out more about speaking and sponsorship opportunities at next year’s event, please contact anne-lise.simon@forum-europe.com

Overview

Quantum computing represents a revolutionary leap in computational capabilities, harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics to perform complex calculations at speeds unimaginable with classical computers. The emergence of the technology promises transformative advancements with far-reaching implications across various industries. A number of initiatives have been launched at EU level in recent years to leverage the bloc’s R&I work on quantum and to position itself as a leader in quantum technologies – in line with the EU’s Digital Decade strategy goals.

Taking place at the start of the new institutional cycle, the inaugural Quantum Europe Conference explored what will be needed to establish a thriving European ecosystem for quantum computing that places the region as a global leader for quantum excellence and innovation.

Highlights Video

Event Photos

Themes

Establishing a conducive environment for quantum research, development and commercialisation
Exploring avenues for public and private investment in quantum research and development
Assessing the role of quantum technologies in shaping the future of telecommunications
Fostering quantum education and workforce development
Facilitating the integration of quantum computing technologies into various industries
Encouraging international collaboration in the quantum computing space
Addressing the cybersecurity implications of the technology

Confirmed Speakers

Include...

Gustav Kalbe

Gustav Kalbe

Acting Director,
Enabling and Emerging Technologies and Head of Unit, Quantum Technologies,
DG CONNECT

European Commission

Anita Wehmann

Anita Wehmann

Program Manager Digital Resilience

Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Netherlands

Mario Grotz

Mario Grotz

Director General for Industry, Technology and Research

Ministry of Economy,
Luxembourg

Pascal Maillot Quantum

Pascal Maillot

Acting Head of Unit, High Performance Computing and Quantum Technologies,
DG CONNECT

European Commission

Matija Matokovic

Matija Matokovic

Acting Head of the Innovation Unit

NATO

Tommaso Calarco

Tommaso Calarco

Director

Institute for Quantum Control PGI-8

Agustín Díaz-Pinés

Agustín Díaz-Pinés

Deputy Head of Unit, Future Connectivity Systems, DG CONNECT

European Commission

Thierry Botter ws 1

Thierry Botter

Executive Director

European Quantum Industry Consortium

Fabiana Da-Pieve

Fabiana Da Pieve

Programme Manager, Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, DG CONNECT

European Commission

Tomas Jakimavicius Quantum 1

Tomas Jakimavicius

European Government Affairs Director

Microsoft

Vikram Sharma

Vikram Sharma

CEO & Founder

QuintessenceLabs

Pierre Desjardins

Pierre Desjardins

Co-founder and CEO

C12 Quantum Electronics

Alexandra Paul

Alexandra Paul

Global Public Policy Lead

Pasqal

Jan Sonck

Jan Sonck

Quantum Ecosystem Manager

Proximus

Jérémy Lambot

Jérémy Lambot

Head of Technology Innovation

Belfius

Samira Nik

Samira Nik

Programme Manager for Quantum Tech and Electronics

EIC

Karel Dumon

Karel Dumon

Researcher, imec, and project manager

BeQCI

Laura Schulz

Laura Schulz

Head of Quantum Computing and Technologies

Leibniz Supercomputing Centre

Axel F Website 1

Axel Ferrazzini

Managing Partner

GovStrat

Freeke Heijman-te Paske Mailing&Website

Freeke Heijman-te Paske

Independent consultant on Deeptech and Quantum innovation

Andrea Rodríguez

Andrea G. Rodríguez

Associate Research Fellow

CEPS

Amit Nagpal

Amit Nagpal

Partner

Aetha Consulting

Featured Sessions

SC_2300309_DIGITAL_EUROPE_189-scaled
Opening Keynote Session
09:00 - 10:00
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Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe
10:00 - 11:15
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Addressing the cybersecurity implications of Quantum Computing
13:45 - 15:00

Agenda

**Times are in CET**

Quantum Europe
2024-11-07
09:45 - 10:00
Opening Speech: Shaping the future of innovation with Quantum Computing

What can be achieved through quantum technologies? What are the critical challenges in quantum

computing, and how can interdisciplinary research address them? How far are we from achieving

‘quantum advantage’? What roles will annealing and gate model quantum computing play in

near-term and long-term applications?

Opening Speech: Shaping the future of innovation with Quantum Computing image
Tommaso Calarco
Director, Institute for Quantum Control PGI-8
10:00 - 11:15
Session 1: Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe

Europe has a strong foundation in quantum computing research and a vibrant pool of start-ups and SMEs, but initiatives are scattered across the block, and the private sector is struggling to scale. A unified approach to research, development, and commercialisation along with sustained investments spanning the entire quantum stack, from hardware to software and applications, will be essential to create an interconnected ecosystem, allowing Europe to position itself as a global leader in quantum computing excellence and innovation.

Leaning on initiatives such as the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, the Quantum Technologies Flagship, the relevant provisions of the Chips Act, and investment programmes, this discussion will focus on the current state of the EU’s quantum efforts, explore the strategic importance of quantum computing for the scientific and industrial competitiveness of the EU, and assess plans to create innovative financing mechanisms and collaborative strategies to drive Europe’s quantum revolution forward. Discussing how national efforts can be better coordinated to advance the region’s quantum computing capabilities, and analysing issues relating to R&I, the transition from ‘Lab to Fab’, the challenges met by start-ups to access both public and private funding to bring solutions to market and scale, and the development of the quantum workforce, it will explore what’s required to fulfil the ambitions of the Digital Decade strategy, aiming to position Europe at the forefront of quantum capabilities by 2030.

Possible questions:

  • What is the current state of quantum computing in Europe, and what does the ecosystem look like? How can coordination and synergy between Member States’ efforts be enhanced to build a fully-fledged European ecosystem?
  • What role does Europe play in the pursuit of ‘quantum advantage’? How can quantum research results be brought closer to commercialisation and industrial exploitation, and what needs to be done to accelerate this transition from ‘lab to fab’ in Europe? How can Europe create an environment that nurtures and scales promising quantum start-ups?
  • How does regulation impact the investment landscape for quantum technologies, and how can Europe ensure an innovative and growth-oriented environment?
  • What financing mechanisms and collaborative strategies are needed to advance Europe’s quantum revolution? What needs to be done to inject more public investments in European quantum innovation and how can a steady flow of private investment into quantum computing be encouraged? Which investment tools are needed to attract private capital for later-stage funding rounds of start-ups? What role do public-private partnerships and sandbox initiatives play in supporting SMEs in the quantum computing space?
  • What efforts are being made to develop educational pathways and training programs to prepare the current and future workforce for the quantum economy? How can it be ensured that the EU retains its talent while promoting the block as a hub for quantum careers worldwide?
Session 1: Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe image
Gustav Kalbe
Acting Director, Enabling and Emerging Technologies and Head of Unit, Quantum Technologies, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Session 1: Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe image
Tommaso Calarco
Director, Institute for Quantum Control PGI-8
Session 1: Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe image
Mario Grotz
Director General for Industry, Technology and Research, Ministry of Economy, Luxembourg
Session 1: Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe image
Thierry Botter
Executive Director, European Quantum Industry Consortium
Session 1: Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe image
Alexandra Paul
Global Public Policy Lead, Pasqal
Session 1: Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe image
Freeke Heijman-te Paske
Independent consultant on Deeptech and Quantum innovation
11:45 - 12:45
Session 2: Quantum Computing – disrupting sectors, unlocking future business models

By harnessing the power of qubits through superposition and entanglement, quantum computers will solve complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers. This session will discuss the transformative potential of quantum computing and look at where its impact is most likely to take effect. It will also look at its synergies with other technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud computing. From hybrid computing to quantum-as-a-service approaches, it will explore the innovative business models and technological advancements that could be unleashed in a quantum-enabled future.

 

Possible questions:

  • Which sectors show the most promise for quantum computing applications, and how can use cases be developed effectively? Where is a quantum computer likely to be most useful first, and how can we navigate the integration of quantum and classical computing systems effectively to maximize their potential?
  • In the future, where will the primary implementation of quantum computing occur—through in-situ processing directly at the source, or within quantum data centres?
  • What role does hybrid quantum computing play in industrial applications, and how does it optimise problem-solving?
  • Given the convergence of quantum computing, high-performance computing, AI, and cloud computing, how can synergies between these technologies be leveraged for optimal results?
  • What regulatory implications arise from the intersection of quantum technologies with existing frameworks, particularly in areas like quantum machine learning?
  • What role will the cloud play in delivering quantum capabilities? What would be the key benefits of Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS), and how might it redefine business models?
  • How will strategic cross-sectoral partnerships drive quantum advancements and stimulate market innovation?
  • How can we leverage NISQ technology and prepare for the post-NISQ era from both an investment and technical standpoint, considering the expected shift from today’s purpose-built hardware to specialised software on general hardware in the next decades?

 

Session 2: Quantum Computing – disrupting sectors, unlocking future business models image
Pascal Maillot
Acting Head of Unit, High Performance Computing and Quantum Technologies, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Session 2: Quantum Computing – disrupting sectors, unlocking future business models image
Tomas Jakimavicius
Director, European Government Affairs, Microsoft
Session 2: Quantum Computing – disrupting sectors, unlocking future business models image
Samira Nik
Programme Manager for Quantum Tech and Electronics, EIC
Session 2: Quantum Computing – disrupting sectors, unlocking future business models image
Jérémy Lambot
Head of Technology Innovation, Belfius
Session 2: Quantum Computing – disrupting sectors, unlocking future business models image
Pierre Desjardins
Co-founder and CEO, C12 Quantum Electronics
Session 2: Quantum Computing – disrupting sectors, unlocking future business models image
Axel Ferrazzini
Managing Partner, GovStrat
13:45 - 14:45
Session 3: Addressing the cybersecurity implications of Quantum Computing

While still in the early stages of development, quantum computing and its applications will bring significant cybersecurity challenges and opportunities. As quantum computing advances, so do the threats to cybersecurity, with concerns increasing around authentication issues, ‘harvest now, decrypt later attacks’ and the future development of cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) which could break existing and widely-used encryption methods. On the other hand, quantum technologies also offer solutions to enhance cybersecurity with quantum key distribution (QKD – which will be further explored in Session 5), post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and quantum random number generation (QRNGs) emerging as promising methods to protect against quantum risks. This session will discuss the implications of quantum computing for cybersecurity and explore what can be done now to ensure cyber readiness in the emerging quantum era.

Possible questions:

  • What are the immediate and long-term implications of quantum technologies for cybersecurity? To what extent are those issues addressed in NIS2 and the European Cyber Security Strategy? How can Europe best prepare for an era where CRQCs are readily available?
  • How is the development of quantum-resistant cryptography supported? What role will PQC, QKD, and QRNGs concretely play, what are the obstacles to their widespread adoption and what can be done to overcome these barriers?
  • Following the release of the European Commission’s Recommendation on a Coordinated Implementation Roadmap for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography, what can be learnt from initiatives that have emerged at Member States level?
  • What concrete steps can organizations take to prepare for the quantum age and adapt their systems to incorporate greater cryptographic agility? How can public and private organisations collaborate to develop strategies to transition to quantum-resistant cryptography?
Session 3: Addressing the cybersecurity implications of Quantum Computing image
Matija Matokovic
Acting Head of the Innovation Unit, NATO
Session 3: Addressing the cybersecurity implications of Quantum Computing image
Fabiana Da Pieve
Programme Manager, Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Session 3: Addressing the cybersecurity implications of Quantum Computing image
Anita Wehmann
Program manager Digital Resilience, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Netherlands
Session 3: Addressing the cybersecurity implications of Quantum Computing image
Vikram Sharma
CEO & Founder, QuintessenceLabs
Session 3: Addressing the cybersecurity implications of Quantum Computing image
Andrea G. Rodríguez
Associate Research Fellow, CEPS
14:45 - 15:45
Session 4: Quantum, telcos and emerging technologies: achieving the goals of the digital decade

As the European Digital Decade aims to achieve a digitally sovereign and resilient Europe by 2030, the integration of quantum technologies into telco infrastructure could accelerate the region’s digital transformation, fostering innovation and competitiveness in the global market. Indeed, quantum computing, telecommunications, and next-generation mobile technologies like 5G and 6G are converging to transform the future of communication networks, driving innovation across industries. Quantum offers unprecedented computational power, enabling telcos to enhance network optimization, data encryption, and signal processing, crucial for managing the massive data volumes expected in 5G and 6G networks while the development of the ‘quantum internet’ may change the way we think about networks.. These technologies also serve as the backbone for emerging fields such as AI, which requires high-speed, low-latency networks to process and transmit data in real-time. With the European Digital Decade programme aiming to strengthen Europe’s digital infrastructure by accelerating the adoption of 5G and 6G, fostering AI innovation, and exploring quantum technologies, this session will examine potential applications, the opportunities, and challenges of integrating quantum into the fabric of telecommunication. It will also examine the role that Quantum technologies will play in strengthening Europe’s digital infrastructure, crucial to the block’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.

 

Possible questions:

  • How can quantum technologies help Europe meet its digital connectivity goals by 2030 as outlined in the Digital Decade strategy?
  • What are the key challenges Europe faces in developing a ‘quantum internet’, and how does the Digital Decade strategy address these obstacles?
  • How can quantum computing be used to optimise telecommunications networks, in the NISQ era and beyond, and how can telcos make the most of this? What role will quantum play in enhancing the performance and reliability of 5G and 6G connectivity?
  • What are the key challenges and considerations in integrating quantum computing into existing network infrastructures in Europe?How will quantum computing applications be implemented by telcos?
  • What are the potential economic and competitive advantages for telcos that embrace quantum technologies early on, and how can collaboration between the industry and quantum research communities be improved?
  • What is the role that telcos will play in ensuring secure communications via QKD? How can QKD be implemented on a large scale within existing telecom infrastructure? How will the implementation of QKD pave the way for distributed quantum computing, and how will this reshape the landscape of telecommunication networks in Europe?
  • What is the latest on the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative, aimed at establishing a secure quantum communication infrastructure across Europe by 2027 and integrating quantum technologies and systems into conventional communication infrastructures – ultimately creating a European Quantum Internet? How does this initiative support the objectives outlined in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme regulation?
Session 4: Quantum, telcos and emerging technologies: achieving the goals of the digital decade image
Agustín Díaz-Pinés
Deputy Head of Unit, Future Connectivity Systems, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Session 4: Quantum, telcos and emerging technologies: achieving the goals of the digital decade image
Karel Dumon
Researcher, imec, and project manager, BeQCI
Session 4: Quantum, telcos and emerging technologies: achieving the goals of the digital decade image
Laura Schulz
Head of Quantum Computing and Technologies, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre
Session 4: Quantum, telcos and emerging technologies: achieving the goals of the digital decade image
Jan Sonck
Quantum Ecosystem Manager, Proximus
Session 4: Quantum, telcos and emerging technologies: achieving the goals of the digital decade image
Amit Nagpal
Partner, Aetha Consulting
Select date to see events.

Costs

  • Standard €180

    Applies to: Corporate Organisations, Trade Associations, Law Firms

  • Reduced €130

    Applies to: NGO, Not for Profit / Charity, Academic / Student

  • Complimentary €0

    Applies to: European Commission / Parliament / Council, National Government / Regulator, Diplomatic Missions to the EU, Permanent Representations to the EU, Accredited Journalists

Sponsors

Microsoft
C12 Quantum Electronics
Pasqal
QuintessenceLabs
QuIC logo for ws
Quic expo for WS
Aetha Consulting

Sponsorship Opportunities

To discuss sponsorship and visibility opportunities at the 2024 Quantum Europe Conference, please contact Anne-Lise Simon at quantum@forum-europe.com, or +44 (0) 7389 702 584.

Exclusive speaking positions

Your organisation can contribute to the discussion

Engaging and interactive format

Engage in a fully immersive and interactive debate with decision makers, businesses and policymakers

European and global outreach

Convey your message to a broad and international audience

Networking opportunities

Connect with your fellow attendees during coffee and lunch breaks throughout the event

Visibility opportunities

Ensure maximum visibility through branding in the room, on the event website and marketing activities

Get In Touch

Event Venue

Thon Hotel EU

Contact Us

For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact Melanie Thomas. 

Melanie Thomas

Melanie Thomas

Event Manager

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