The EU Quantum Strategy should aim to develop talent and improve the European computing ecosystem
CSC commends the Commission’s initiative to compile a comprehensive EU Quantum strategy. Quantum computing is expected to provide advances in future RDI, improving competitiveness and having a large societal and economic impact. According to the Draghi report, quantum computing could contribute up to EUR 850 billion to the EU economy in the next 15-30 years, and the time to act is now. Long-term commitment to talent development and building a sovereign ecosystem of data, high-performance computing (HPC), AI and quantum, is necessary to drive the emergence of a resilient and effective quantum computing landscape in Europe. This must also be reflected in closer synergies and coherence among relevant policy initiatives and funding programs across the EU.
Technology as such doesn’t create value, but essential is to have people with understanding and skills around the technology. A key challenge for advancing quantum computing in Europe is currently lack of expertise. The EU Quantum Strategy must advance the education of quantum computing professionals and increase general and sector specific knowledge about quantum computing. Focusing on education and research is imperative for the EU to become a global frontrunner in emerging technologies. Expanding the talent pool incentivises companies to remain in Europe and attracts new ones to locate in Europe, making the ecosystem more robust. Education and training of computing professionals must be ramped up e.g. through specialized STEM programs in European universities, developing centres of excellence and networks, and continuous learning opportunities for field experts in partnership with research institutes and companies. Existing HPC, AI and quantum infrastructures must be systematically used as means for developing skills and accumulating competences. In addition to boosting STEM education as such, it’s critical to create understanding about technology as a horizontal skillset that is needed in all domains. What are the possibilities, risks, applications and implications of technology in different fields of research, business and governance? This needs to be addressed in order to build a solid competence base across the society. Expert exchanges and research visits within the EU, as well as with like-minded countries, should be facilitated to create a better environment for talent development, re-skilling and RDI efforts. Building a solid competence development system can also attract talents from outside EU. Additionally, retaining professionals already located in Europe must be a strategic EU-level goal.
The accelerating convergence of different critical digital technologies underscores the need for coordinated cross-sectoral policy responses. Advances in one field, such as quantum, can rapidly influence progress in others like HPC, AI, semiconductors and connectivity and vice versa. Additionally, well-managed data and secure, sovereign and interoperable European data infrastructures are critical resources for all emerging digital technologies and for reducing strategic dependencies. An effective European quantum strategy must therefore account for these interdependencies and promote integrated approaches across relevant domains. There is also an urgent need to secure European ownership of data to ensure that value from the data is created for Europe. Ensuring that businesses, researchers, and students have access to world-leading quantum computers enabled by HPC, data and AI must be prioritized in the forthcoming strategy, and coherence with parallel initiatives such as EuroHPC must be ensured. Not only are these measures imperative for the field to advance, but also for the EU’s competitive advantage as well as security.
A unified approach to mitigate technological security risks and leakage is needed to ensure safe and secure evolution of quantum technologies in Europe and globally. Currently, export control can address security concerns but, on the other hand, formation of geopolitical blocks will complicate comprehensive and globally binding security measures. The EU must promote uniform solutions within and outside its borders – also for quantum-era cybersecurity. A precedent was set in 2024 when 18 Member States committed to implementing post-quantum cryptography along with conventional encryption methods. Adoption of quantum-safe encryption technology is crucial to protect European data. To counter quantum computers’ ability to crack current encryption technologies in the future, quantum-proof data encryption must be prioritized already now to prevent “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. Adopting quantum-proof encryptions alongside conventional ones also facilitates business opportunities, establishing European actors as trusted partners. Internationally, the EU must work towards better influencing global standard setting in quantum computing. Ability to set mutual standards, when possible, helps keep European data safe and provides a competitive advantage in this future technology.
Finally, when developing the European technology landscape, clean transition must be a priority and the EU systematically encourage incentivize the creation of energy-efficient and cost-efficient technology solutions. The clean transition must be seen as a strength and a business opportunity for European companies, along with contributing to a more sustainable future.
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Irina Kupiainen
Irina Kupiainen is responsible for CSC’s Public Affairs.