The quantum technology industry is taking shape amid intensifying geopolitical rivalries. The challenge is to balance technological advancements and economic security. The United States, China and the European Union are competing through different models. Brussels lacks the strategic principles to guide its quantum policy. Three strategic principles should guide Europe’s quantum industrial policy: focus, synergy and systems. Quantum technologies require prioritisation, complementarity and interoperability.
The quantum technology industry is taking shape amid intensifying geopolitical rivalries. The challenge is to balance technological advancements and economic security. The United States, China and the European Union are competing through different models. Brussels lacks the strategic principles to guide its quantum policy. Three strategic principles should guide Europe’s quantum industrial policy: focus, synergy and systems. Quantum technologies require prioritisation, complementarity and interoperability.
Quantum technologies are increasingly recognized as a disruptive frontier that will shape the next generation of industrial strategies. Developments in quantum computing, communication, and sensing promise not only technical breakthroughs but also significant economic and geopolitical consequences. Quantum computing can accelerate drug discovery, materials research, and complex optimization, while quantum communication opens new possibilities for secure data transfer beyond the reach of classical encryption. According to European Commission Reports and National Quantum Initiative Act, leading economies are already investing heavily: the European Union has committed over €1 billion to its Quantum Flagship program, while the United States launched the National Quantum Initiative Act in 2018 to coordinate research and industrial applications. These initiatives underscore the strategic nature of the field. For industrial policy, they also raise important questions: How should governments design roadmaps that foster public–private collaboration? What forms of regulation or incentives are needed to align innovation with competitiveness and security? At the same time, quantum technologies could support sustainability goals, for example through energy-efficient algorithms and advanced climate modeling. Positioning quantum technologies not only as an enabler but as a driver of future industrial policy is essential. Unlike incremental innovations, quantum breakthroughs will actively shape the direction of national strategies, global competitiveness, and sustainability agendas. Recognizing this driver role ensures that policymakers and industries move beyond adaptation, taking a proactive stance in designing resilient and forward-looking industrial ecosystems.
This chapter explores the transformative effect of quantum technologies in the European Union (EU), emphasising their impact on digital sovereignty and drawing conclusions from the securitisation process. Moreover, the chapter offers a historical overview of quantum-related policy in the EU, distinguishing three phases: inception (2016–2018), consolidation (2019–2022), and strategic awakening (2023-present). The analysis discusses how the EU’s engagement with quantum technologies has been shaped by internal political dynamics and strategic needs, leading to increased public investment and initiatives aimed at harnessing and securing these technologies.
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.
Policy brief no.15 written within the Reconnect China Horizon Europe project deals with the intensifying global race to harness quantum science. Recognizing the strategic potential of quantum technology for economic, military, and scientific advancement, China is focusing on quantum breakthroughs as a way to shift the balance of power, especially in its competition with the United States. President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of scientific innovation, particularly in quantum fields, to fuel national development and ensure security. Chinese researchers, led by figures like Pan Jianwei, have made significant strides in quantum communication and computing. China is particularly advanced in quantum communication, building secure networks that use quantum key distribution (QKD), which is virtually unhackable. China has also launched quantum satellites, like Mozi and Jinan-1, to bolster its space-ground quantum network. Despite its achievements, China may face challenges in keeping up with competitors. The quantum industry lacks robust private investment and relies heavily on state support, while geopolitical tensions, particularly with the U.S., risk isolating China from essential technologies. The coming decade will be crucial as China continues to navigate these obstacles in its quest for quantum supremacy. Policy recommendations: Given the strategic reach and military potential of quantum technologies, and given the central role of the Party and state in the quantum industry in China, any European partnership with and investment in China should be scrutinized carefully Europe must keep up with quantum application developments and standardization so that it does not entirely rely on technology and norms developed by foreign powers in the future Europe may play a constructive role in preventing the fragmentation of norms between the US and China The policy brief is complemented by the relevant infographic (10.5281/zenodo.22555953).
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.
Superpowers such as the US, China and the United Kingdom have recognised quantum and Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning (AI/ML) based technologies as strategically important from geopolitical, social and economic perspectives. Those technologies have the potential to shift geopolitical points of gravity and either strengthen or weaken them. This article reviews the United Kingdom's strategic approach to quantum and AI/ML technologies and how those technologies could affect the UK’s geopolitical position.