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?

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?

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? 

Quantum computing offers significant benefits to the telecom sector, promising ultra-secure high-performance connectivity for 5G and 6G networks, while innovative new network architectures used to support quantum communications may underpin the design of future generations of networks. Improved network optimisation and traffic management abilities will meet telcos’ needs to process ever-increasing amounts of data in energy- and spectrally- efficient ways, while the development of the ‘quantum internet’ may change the way we think about networks. This session will focus on quantum technologies’ vast and transformative potential for the telecom sector and examine EU initiatives in this domain. It will explore potential applications, the opportunities, and challenges of integrating quantum into the fabric of telecommunication infrastructure – including 5G and 6G networks – and assess how telecom companies can best prepare themselves for the quantum revolution.

Possible questions:

• 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?

The vast potential of quantum computing has turned this field into a competitive arena globally. Because of the complexity of the subject matter, the fragmentation of the supply chain, the evolving nature of the technology and the costs involved, no single nation has all the resources required for a flourishing quantum sector, and global collaboration will therefore be essential to leverage resources and expertise effectively.

This session will explore Europe’s role within the global quantum landscape, highlighting the importance of cooperation, supply chain resilience, standards, export controls, trade agreements with partners, and engagement with developing economies to advance quantum technologies worldwide as the bloc looks to take a strategic industrial stance towards technological autonomy and leadership.

Possible questions:

• How can the EU balance the imperative for global cooperation in quantum technologies with ambitions for digital sovereignty? 

• How does the EU’s approach to quantum computing development compare to other major players? What opportunities exist for international cooperation amongst these regions and countries? How successful are programmes such as the Quantum Flagship International Cooperation on Quantum Technologies play to enhance collaboration?

• How vulnerable is the global quantum supply chain, and how can Europe mitigate risks associated with overreliance on non-EU suppliers for critical components and raw materials? How do existing policies, such as specific provisions of the Chips Act, address this and what more needs to be done? What collaborative efforts are necessary globally to build a trusted and resilient supply chain for the quantum sector?

• What recommendations can be made regarding a regulatory framework for the import and export of quantum technologies, balancing strategic autonomy with the global needs of Europe’s fragile start-up ecosystem?

• What role can standardisation play in fostering innovation, opening markets for quantum technologies and enhancing global competitiveness? What measures can safeguard intellectual property in global or regional standardisation agreements? How do the  Commission’s standardisation strategy and the 2024 annual Union Work Programme for European Standardisation address these issues to foster the EU’s global competitiveness?