Leonardo Quattrucci believes quantum needs to be at the forefront of Europe’s thinking about new technologies in the next decade. It’s a question of leadership, ambition and investment in growth, but a new approach to innovation is needed, too.
Quattrucci, a Senior Fellow at the International Center for Future Generations, was speaking during a recent Euractiv debate in Brussels, where the audience heard that the world has moved past the head-scratching question of “What is quantum?” to “How can we lead in the industries of the future?” – the EU wants to be at the forefront of this revolution.
In some respects, it’s already on the right track. Pascal Maillot, responsible for the Quantum Technologies Unit at DG CONNECT in the European Commission, explained: “The EU hosts the highest concentration of quantum technology (QT) talent globally, leading in scientific publications and holding a growing portfolio of QT patents. The recently signed European Quantum Declaration reinforces Europe’s commitment to remain at the forefront of quantum technology by setting ambitious goals for research, innovation, and industrial leadership.”
The EU’s Digital Decade strategy also aims for Europe to have its first supercomputer with quantum acceleration by next year, with a view to being at the cutting edge of quantum capabilities by 2030.
The European Chips Act includes measures to foster the low-cost, high-volume manufacturing of quantum chips in the EU, and the EU has already invested €1 billion in its Quantum Technologies Flagship, a long-term research and innovation initiative launched in 2018.
Also, the European Tech Champions Initiative marked its one-year anniversary with almost €1 billion in investment aimed at mobilising up to €6 billion. But although it aims to invest in cutting-edge companies and drive digital transformation across the bloc, it’s not targeted towards quantum technologies specifically.
So, despite a lot of steps in the right direction, investment remains an issue – in particular, private investment. All major countries around the world are also investing in quantum – China has committed to invest around $15 billion, while the US has pledged $5 billion in the next decade. However, the US also benefits from strong venture capital and investment.
Maillot agreed that despite strong public investment, the EU lags in private investment compared to other global leaders, such as the US and China and that more public-private partnerships are needed. Other panellists firmly agreed.
Tackling global challenges
A lack of investment is a problem because quantum technologies have a potentially huge role to play in tackling global challenges, including climate change, disease and poverty.
Experts agree that quantum technologies are one of the emerging technologies with the biggest potential to radically transform the world. In a nutshell, quantum computing can process data at a volume speed and complexity that is beyond even today’s fastest computers. The strategic importance for scientific and industrial competitiveness, as well as for security and defence, cannot be understated.
Marieke Hood is Executive Director at GESDA (Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator), which launched the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) as part of CERN to make quantum computing more inclusive and accelerate the exploration of applications conducive to the UN Sustainable Goals. Speaking at the Euractiv event, Hood explained that the OQI works with industry partners to provide access to quantum computers and simulators for researchers and entrepreneurs.
These innovators from across the world try to solve real-world challenges identified by UN Organizations like WHO, the World Food Programme, UN-Habitat and the UN Climate Innovation Hub. They believe quantum could hold the key to solving many thorny policy problems, including climate change.
Quantum applications
Andrea Rocchetto, CEO & Co-founder, Ephos – a transatlantic company producing photonic chips – echoed these sentiments and emphasised how quantum chips are a leap forward. His company designs and manufactures glass-based integrated photonic circuits that power the most advanced quantum computing, communications, and sensing devices.
Those same sensing devices can, for example, help researchers fight cancer. In the health sector, quantum-enhanced MRI systems will be critical for Europe’s leadership, added Maillot.
Another application is in quantum gravimeters. According to the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA): “This measurement is fundamental to further understand the changes that our planet is experiencing; it will be possible to monitor the evolution of the oceanic currents and atmospheric events, the freshwater cycle, and even study the underground changes tied to seismology and vulcanology.”
But Rocchetto highlighted how red tape can make progress difficult for companies like his that underpin all this potential.
Security and defence
Under the next European Commission mandate, it is widely assumed that the EU will focus on cybersecurity, technological sovereignty, and infrastructure resilience to ensure the secure and efficient deployment of quantum technologies.
Matija Matokovic, Deputy Head of NATO’s Innovation Unit and the manager of NATO’s new quantum community, believes that “quantum technologies will have a transformative impact on our security. They can significantly improve the performance of our systems. But they can also help competitors track our equipment.”
He added: “They can strengthen our cyber security. But also crack it. Breaking encryption and compromising secret communications. So, we need to make sure these technologies work for us. Not against us. NATO brings together Allied nations that are leading the way on quantum in Europe and on the other side of the Atlantic.”
Matokovic underlined the need to ensure the right volumes of investments, as well as access to talent, critical infrastructure and technological components.
Developing the European quantum ecosystem
Education and training initiatives will undoubtedly be required. Some programmes are already up and running, including the QTIndu Project to develop a pan-European short-term training program in Quantum Technology specifically tailored to the requirements of companies and SMEs from different business sectors.
To tackle the challenges with Private Investment, the recently established Quantum Investment Fund aims to address this gap by providing targeted financial support to promising quantum startups and SMEs, helping them scale and compete globally. But more is needed.
The next EU mandate is expected to introduce comprehensive policies supporting the deployment of quantum infrastructures in computing, communication, and sensing. But despite these policies, questions about how to harness the best of what quantum can offer while mitigating the risks remain:
Develop, deploy, and regulate
How can the EU develop, deploy, and regulate quantum technologies responsibly? What is needed for sensible governance of quantum technologies, given the limited knowledge and understanding we have so far about quantum? And who should have the oversight?
For Quattrucci, the answer is clear – “Europe must change its recipe for innovation. Stop spreading our bets too thin, invest in foundational technologies, simplify startups’ access to procurement, and put innovators in charge of funding programs.”
“We lag behind in the global tech race because of excessive precaution and insufficient institutional capacity,” he said, “We can’t let the quantum opportunity fall through the same bureaucratic cracks.”
[Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab ]
