Spain leads the push for quantum technologies in the European Union with the announcement of the ‘Quantum Pact’

The Government of Spain, within the framework of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has presented the ‘Quantum Pactduring the Telecommunications Council held today in Brussels, and invited the other Member States to join with its signature.

The Pact, which promotes collaboration between countries and countries with the European Commission for the development and deployment of quantum technologies, is announced in a year in which the major world powers are increasing their investments in these technologies. The Pact was born with the objective that the Union has a role in this competition. In this context, the explicit commitment that seeks to promote and maintain Europe in the leadership that the document embodies is essential.

To turn Europe into the “quantum valley” of the future, the Pact proposes to coordinate efforts so that European scientific excellence is translated into innovations with high economic and scientific impact, through the promotion of research and innovation in quantum technologies, with public funding and private funds, especially for startups and scale-ups, and encourages large companies to invest in these technologies.

It also reinforces the commitment to jointly build community quantum computing and simulation infrastructures, secure communications, sensoric and quantum metrology. It also provides for the creation of the necessary talent to nurture Europe with highly qualified professionals in these technologies.

The aim, however, is to work together and with the European Commission in this strategic and high-potential field, so that Europe can achieve leadership in quantum technologies.

Importance of quantum technologies

Quantum technologies, which encompass quantum computing, simulation, communication and sensorics, will have a disruptive impact on the economy, and countries that previously master them will enjoy an unparalleled competitive advantage. On the other hand, it is crucial to confront the possibility that in the future quantum computers will be able to decipher classic encryption algorithms, threatening the security of communications and critical infrastructures and the confidentiality of sensitive data.

In this sense, in the field of quantum technologies, the scientific and technological challenges are very significant, and no European country can face them alone, both because of the dimension of the scientific challenges they pose and because of the magnitude of the investments required for the deployment of computing and quantum communications infrastructures.

It is therefore necessary to promote collaboration between the Member States in order to achieve the objectives that Europe must aspire to in this field: to create a quantum ecosystem that will allow us to access disruptive innovations that lead to wealth generation and an improvement in the quality of life, and to guarantee the technological and economic sovereignty of the Union in the face of the risks that may arise from the development of these technologies.

Spain is already working to become one of the small group of countries that have a National Strategy of Quantum Technologies. The text, which will be presented soon, will focus on the following pillars: research, infrastructure, talent generation and development of the quantum business ecosystem.