The EU invests 11 billion euros to develop Quantum Internet

Valerie Charoux
1 day ago
3 min read

EU Tech News - The EU is investing 11 billion euros in Quantum Internet, where quantum computers, simulators and sensors are interconnected via quantum communication networks. Here is what is the EU’s Quantum Internet project, the main advantages of Quantum Internet, and the types of quantum computers provided by companies in different countries in Europe:

1 - What is the EU Quantum Internet strategy?

The EU intends to be at the forefront of quantum technologies to power the next technological revolution. With this in mind, the EU has invested more than 11 billion euros in public and national funding in Quantum Technologies over the last five years, out of which 2 billion euros were funded by the European Commission alone.

The EU’s Quantum Internet project will transform Europe into a quantum industrial powerhouse, since its Quantum Strategy is expected to turn Europe into a global leader in Quantum technologies by 2030.

The EU Quantum Technologies Flagship project is a long-term research and innovation initiative that aims to place Europe at the forefront of the second quantum revolution which includes four application sectors:

• Quantum computing

• Quantum simulation

• Quantum communication

• Quantum sensing and metrology

2 - When will the EU’s Quantum Internet law be enacted?

The European Commission’s Quantum Act is expected to be enacted in 2026 to strengthen the foundations for European leadership in Quantum Internet.

3 - What is the EU’s Quantum Internet project?

Approximately one third of all quantum companies worldwide are based in the EU, and EU vendors supply nearly half of the hardware and software components used in quantum computers, according to the European Investment Bank report “A Quantum Leap in Finance” (2022).

The EU’s Quantum computers will be able to solve tasks that are beyond the reach of even the most powerful high-performance computing (HPC) systems available today.

The EU’s Quantum Internet will transform and revolutionize areas from computing, healthcare, cybersecurity, and mobility, to climate forecasting. Quantum tech will make it possible to enable earlier diagnosis through imaging sensors, accelerate drug development, advance quantum cryptography for data security and ultra-secure communications, optimize logistics, and transport, enhance navigation systems, and offer earthquake early warning through subsurface mapping.

Quantum tech has a strong dual-use potential, making it a vital domain for Defence and national security applications, that will integrate secure, sovereign quantum capabilities into Europe's space, security, and Defence strategies.

The EU’s Quantum Technology Roadmap in Space will be developed with the European Space Agency and will contribute to the European Armament Technological Roadmap.

4 - What are the main advantages of Quantum Internet?

Quantum sensors offer significantly improved performance and accuracy in fields such as gravimetry, magnetometry, and inertial navigation. Quantum gravimeters, both fixed and mounted on moving carriers like drones or ships, can monitor underground and underwater resources, volcanic activity, and carry out Earth observation tasks, among other applications.

The EU Quantum network will link to a planned European space gravimetry infrastructure, enabling even more precise measurements with the support of space-based technologies.

The European Commission will also soon launch additional initiatives, such as continued investments in deploying quantum computing facilities through the EuroHPC JU, a secure quantum communication infrastructure under the European Union's IRIS² program and new quantum sensing systems, such as Quantum magnetic resonance imaging devices to be installed in European hospitals for accelerating the detection of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

By 2040, the EU’s Quantum Internet project is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs across the EU and to exceed a global value of 155 billion euros.

5 - What are the types of quantum computers provided by companies in different countries in Europe?

EU Quantum Computers include:

• 17 Superconducting Quantum computer suppliers, namely in Finland, France, and Germany.

• 6 ion traps Quantum computer suppliers, namely in Austria.

• 8 cold atoms Quantum computer suppliers, namely in France, and Germany.

• 5 photonics Quantum computer suppliers, namely in Italy, and France.

• 3 spin qubits Quantum computer suppliers, namely in France, Germany, and Netherlands.