Quantum computing holds the potential to deliver great economic prosperity to the European Union (EU). However, the creation of successful business in the field is challenging owing to the required extensive investments into postdoctoral-level workforce and sophisticated infrastructure without an existing market that can financially support these operations. This commentary paper reviews the recent efforts taken in the EU to foster the quantum-computing ecosystem together with its current status. Importantly, we propose concrete actions for the EU to take to enable future growth of this field towards the desired goals. In particular, we suggest ways to enable the creation of EU-based quantum-computing unicorns which may act as key crystallization points of quantum technology and its commercialization. These unicorns may provide stability to the otherwise scattered ecosystem, thus pushing forward global policies enabling the global spread of EU innovations and technologies. The unicorns may act as a conduit, through which the EU-based quantum ecosystem can stand out from similar ecosystems based in Asia and the United States. Such strong companies are required because of the level of investment currently required in the marketplace. This paper suggests methodologies and best practices that can enhance the probability of the creation of the unicorns. Furthermore, we explore future scenarios, in which the unicorns can operate from the EU and to support the EU quantum ecosystem. This exploration is conducted focusing on the steps to be taken and on the impact the companies may have in our opinion.
Quantum computing holds the potential to deliver great economic prosperity to the European Union (EU). However, the creation of successful business in the field is challenging owing to the required extensive investments into postdoctoral-level workforce and sophisticated infrastructure without an existing market that can financially support these operations. This commentary paper reviews the recent efforts taken in the EU to foster the quantum-computing ecosystem together with its current status. Importantly, we propose concrete actions for the EU to take to enable future growth of this field towards the desired goals. In particular, we suggest ways to enable the creation of EU-based quantum-computing unicorns which may act as key crystallization points of quantum technology and its commercialization. These unicorns may provide stability to the otherwise scattered ecosystem, thus pushing forward global policies enabling the global spread of EU innovations and technologies. The unicorns may act as a conduit, through which the EU-based quantum ecosystem can stand out from similar ecosystems based in Asia and the United States. Such strong companies are required because of the level of investment currently required in the marketplace. This paper suggests methodologies and best practices that can enhance the probability of the creation of the unicorns. Furthermore, we explore future scenarios, in which the unicorns can operate from the EU and to support the EU quantum ecosystem. This exploration is conducted focusing on the steps to be taken and on the impact the companies may have in our opinion.
Quantum computing (QC) is an emerging technology with transformative potential that remains in development and that promises significant impacts across a broad spectrum of industrial sectors. Small and medium enterprises, large corporations, and academic institutions are investing substantial resources to make this promising technology a commercial reality. Given the fragmented nature of current QC initiatives and the diverse development pathways being pursued to commercialize them, establishing coordinated standardization efforts across different global regions is critical to accelerate progress and ensure interoperability between the various proposed hardware and software solutions. This paper reviews recent standardization efforts and the main standards developing organizations working on the definition of future QC products. Finally, it analyzes the current discussion on the European Commission planned Quantum Act and its potential effects on the QC community.
Quantum computing has emerged as a transformative computational paradigm with the potential to redefine problem-solving across scientific, industrial, and governmental domains. Europe has positioned itself as a key contributor to this technological evolution through coordinated research frameworks, infrastructure investments, and policy-driven initiatives. This paper presents an architecture-oriented study of quantum computing advancements in Europe, focusing on system-level design, technological integration, and strategic ecosystem development. By synthesizing existing literature, including foundational theories, hardware innovations, algorithmic developments, and policy frameworks, the study develops a structured understanding of European quantum architectures. The research further examines interoperability between quantum and classical systems, the role of quantum accelerators, and the integration of quantum communication infrastructures. A methodological framework is proposed to evaluate architectural maturity, scalability, and resilience. The findings reveal that Europe’s approach emphasizes modular architectures, hybrid quantum-classical systems, and secure communication networks, supported by institutional initiatives and collaborative research programs. However, challenges remain in scalability, error correction, and industrial adoption. The study contributes to the field by providing a comprehensive architectural perspective and identifying future research directions for optimizing quantum computing deployment within the European context.
This article investigates the impact of quantum computing (QC) as an emerging technology with the potential to benefit businesses and their technological infrastructure. The main objective is to describe the challenges organizations face when adopting it, as well as the opportunities it offers in increasingly competitive and strategically complex markets driven by exponential growth. The study also identified that, while quantum computing promises to revolutionize areas such as resource optimization, productivity efficiency, and the simulation of future scenarios—enabling better-informed decision-making and risk mitigation—its implementation encounters significant obstacles: high costs, the need for specialized talent, and new security risks. To address these barriers, hybrid models combining cloud and local infrastructure, as well as microservices, have emerged as practical alternatives, enabling organizations to access this technology without requiring substantial initial investment. Ultimately, this research contributes to the academic discussion that quantum computing is not a replacement but rather a complement that can be integrated gradually and carefully. The path forward requires efforts in education and policy to ensure accessible and ethical development, preventing it from becoming a tool reserved for only a few.
Quantum computing stands at the precipice of technological revolution, promising unprecedented computational capabilities to tackle some of humanity’s most complex problems. The field is highly collaborative and recent developments such as superconducting qubits with increased scaling, reduced error rates, and improved cryogenic infrastructure, trapped-ion qubits with high-fidelity gates and reduced control hardware complexity, and photonic qubits with exploring room-temperature quantum computing are some of the key developments pushing the field closer to demonstrating real-world applications. However, the path to realizing this promise is fraught with significant obstacles across several key platforms, including sensitivity to errors, decoherence, scalability, and the need for new materials and technologies. Through an exploration of various quantum systems, this paper highlights both the potential and the challenges of quantum computing and discusses the essential role of middleware, quantum hardware development, and the strategic investments required to propel the field forward. With a focus on overcoming technical hurdles through innovation and interdisciplinary research, this review underscores the transformative impact quantum computing could have across diverse sectors.
Over the past decades, a gradual technological marginalisation of Europe could be observed, as it became dependent on imports of advanced microchips from the United States and Taiwan. However, despite planned investments in the development and production of semiconductors in the EU Member States, Europe is still unlikely to be able to compete with the United States and China in this area. The solution to this problem may lie within quantum technology, the economic use of which is in the initial phase in all world centres. The performance of quantum computing surpasses algorithms used in silicon technology by several tens of orders of magnitude. This means that access to quantum technology will become a basic determinant of security in the coming years. The aim of this paper is to present the issue of quantum technology and its most important implicationsin the context of the technological sovereignty of the European Union.
Quantum computing has evolved from a largely theoretical discipline into a field of growing interest for commercial and industrial applications. Recent advances in quantum hardware, algorithms, and cloud-based access have enabled early experimentation outside academic environments, raising questions about its potential impact on real-world decision-making and operational problems. This paper provides an overview of the current state of quantum computing with a focus on its emerging relevance in commercial contexts. It examines the categories of problems that have attracted attention from industry, particularly those involving high combinatorial complexity such as optimization, scheduling, logistics, and resource allocation. The analysis also reviews the global landscape of companies and initiatives engaged in quantum computing, highlighting different technological approaches, maturity levels, and regional characteristics. In parallel, the paper discusses the principal challenges and limitations that constrain widespread adoption, including hardware immaturity, algorithmic readiness, cost factors, and organizational requirements. By considering both opportunities and risks, this study aims to present a balanced and realistic perspective on the role quantum computing may play in business environments. The objective is to clarify the current position of quantum computing within the broader technological landscape and to support informed interpretation of its potential, limitations, and future trajectory in commercial applications.