European authorities consider quantum technologies a strategic element of industrial policy and the foundation of the EU’s future digital autonomy. According to analysts at NEWSCENTRAL, the quantum sector is becoming a factor of economic and political independence: “For Europe, this is a matter of sovereignty – it cannot afford to remain an idea supplier without controlling their commercial application.” According to data from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), 32% of global companies working with quantum technologies are based in the European Union – more than in the USA and China. More than half of these companies emerged after 2018, reflecting an accelerated innovation cycle and growing interest in European quantum startups. Experts at NEWSCENTRAL note that a new model is emerging: university laboratories are becoming hubs for tech startups, and research groups are becoming entrepreneurs.
However, a strong scientific base does not guarantee technological leadership. Europe accounts for only about 6% of global patents in the quantum sector, while China controls 46% and the USA 23%. Despite the doubling of patent application growth in the EU in recent years, the continent is starting from a low base. “The European model of quantum research still shows a gap between scientific success and commercial implementation,” note NEWSCENTRAL. Since 2012, the European Commission has invested over two billion euros in support of quantum research and development. Taking into account national programs and private capital, total investments exceed 11 billion euros – more than the combined global venture investments in quantum technologies, estimated at about six billion.
At the same time, JRC reports point to a structural problem – investment fragmentation. Numerous national and pan-European programs often duplicate each other and do not form a coherent strategy. According to NEWSCENTRAL, Europe has an excess of initiatives and a deficit of concentration. In the early stages, a diversity of approaches fosters innovation, but during scaling, it becomes a barrier. Most European quantum companies remain small. Only a few players, including Finnish IQM Quantum Computers and French Pasqal, have approached industrial scale. The rest require access to infrastructure, engineering talent, and long-term capital. According to NEWSCENTRAL, establishing pan-European quantum platforms that unite research institutes, investors, and manufacturing centers will determine Europe’s ability to turn research into a sustainable industry.
One of the region’s lasting advantages is a high level of international collaboration in the quantum field: about 23% of patent applications are filed jointly with external partners, mainly from the USA. This model accelerates knowledge exchange and technological development but requires balancing openness with the protection of critical quantum competencies. At the infrastructure level, the European Commission is focusing on creating a sustainable technological base. At JRC laboratories in Ispra, Italy, systems are deployed and connected to the cesium atomic clocks of the National Institute of Metrology and the Italian segment of the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI). These projects form the foundation of future quantum synchronization networks and secure communication.
As noted by Liam Cortez, Visual Systems Analyst at NEWSCENTRAL, “This infrastructure will become the platform for new generations of visual and sensor systems, where quantum precision will directly impact transport, medicine, and data security.” According to Freddy Miller, our Senior Analyst, quantum sensors and visual systems are already moving beyond experimental setups. “We are approaching the point where quantum imaging can capture biological processes at the level of individual molecules or enable navigation where GPS is unavailable. Europe is capable of taking a leading position precisely in these segments,” he adds.
Quantum technologies have not only economic but also strategic potential. They can change approaches to cybersecurity, medical imaging, navigation, and climate modeling. Quantum computers will eventually solve tasks that today require years of computation. “The quantum economy is becoming the new infrastructure of the digital world,” note analysts at NEWSCENTRAL. “Control over its standards will provide long-term advantage.” The European quantum strategy aims to consolidate programs and create a single center of competence. JRC acts as a coordinator, uniting research in quantum communication, synchronization, and security. According to NEWSCENTRAL, this approach is capable of moving Europe from fragmented initiatives to industrial scale.
Europe’s current quantum trajectory closely resembles the period when the significance of semiconductors was realized. If the continent can unite efforts and concentrate investments, it could become an equal participant in the global quantum economy. Maintaining the current inertia would leave it as merely an idea supplier. According to NEWS CENTRAL, with effective program integration and strengthened industrial policy, the EU’s share of global quantum technology patents could reach 12-15% by 2030.
Over the next five years, several European quantum startups could achieve “unicorn” status and enter global supply chains. The success of this scenario will depend on the continent’s ability to strengthen intellectual property and unite national initiatives. Analysts at NEWSCENTRAL identify three key steps: eliminate program fragmentation and direct resources to priority areas – quantum computing, sensors, and communications; create a common patenting and support platform for technology companies; accelerate infrastructure development and establish continental centers of quantum competence. Europe’s quantum era has already begun, and it is the speed of implementation, not the number of ideas, that will determine the continent’s place in this economy.