Quantum Europe gathers experts in quantum computing to discuss the latest advances in the field with a focus on competitiveness and cooperation

The inaugural Quantum Europe conference took place on 7 November in Brussels gathering expert speakers and attendees from the industry, governments, academia and EU institutions to discuss the current uses of quantum technologies, their challenges and what the future holds for this sector.

The conference began with opening speeches from Tommaso Calarco, Director at the Institute for Quantum Control PGI-8, who contextualised quantum computing within the broader scope of quantum technologies, referencing his smartphone as a commercially mature example of quantum technology. He stressed the need for Europe to capitalise on quantum technologies.

Gustav Kalbe, the European Commission’s Acting Director for Enabling and Emerging Technologies at DG CONNECT, then opened the first session by explaining the Commission’s initiatives to deploy quantum computing infrastructure and high-performance computing networks.

He explained that quantum computers are seen as accelerators for practical use and emphasised the importance of exposing users to quantum technology and creating market demand. He stressed the need for Europe to make advancements in quantum technology to avoid dependency on non-European supply chains.

The first interactive session of the day, entitled ‘Developing a robust quantum computing ecosystem in Europe’, focused on the current state and future potential of quantum computing and the role of Europe in this field.

The panel discussion, moderated by Freeke Heijman-te Paske, included Alexandra Paul from Pasqal, Mario Grotz from Luxembourg's Ministry of Industry, and Thierry Botter from QUIC joined by Prof. Calarco and Dr Kalbe. They discussed the challenges and opportunities for European quantum companies, the need for financial support and regulatory frameworks, and the importance of international cooperation.

The discussion also touched on the potential applications of quantum computing, the need for skills development, and the importance of standardisation and export control regulations. Finally, the Quantum Pact was highlighted as a strategic initiative to coordinate efforts among EU member states. 

Session Two saw panellists deep dive into quantum computing as they discussed ‘Disrupting Sectors, Unlocking Future Business Models’. They looked at the applications of quantum computing and the challenges in scaling up and commercialising these technologies.

Pascal Malliot from the European Commission highlighted the EU’s efforts in the sector across communication, computers and sensors. Microsoft’s Tomas Jakimavicius spoke of the ‘hype’ around quantum computing, stressing the importance of responsible use of the technology, while Jérémy Lambot from Belfius discussed the need to demystify quantum technology for businesses. Samira Nik from EIC highlighted the challenges European quantum startups face in securing large-scale funding compared to their US counterparts, while Pierre Desjardins from C12 discussed their work on building quantum computers using carbon nanotubes and the importance of patents in protecting their technology. 

The panel explored various applications of quantum computing, including in chemistry, material science, and finance. They also discussed the need for standardisation, the importance of education and community building, and the potential for AI and quantum computing convergence.

Cybersecurity was the topic of the third session and the panellists focused on the risks and challenges posed by quantum computing on encryption. The panel included experts from NATO in Matija Matokovic, the European Commission represented by Fabiana Da Pieve, the Netherlands government represented by Anita Wehmann and the private sector in Vikram Sharma from QuintessenceLabs.

NATO’s quantum strategy recognises the potential impact on logistics, analysis, and AI, as well as the threat to secure communications, while Fabiana Da Pievespeaker talked about the EuroQCI initiative and the focus on quantum communication technologies and post-quantum cryptography. Anita Wehmann stressed the urgency of implementing quantum-secure cryptography, while CEO Vikram Sharma highlighted the quantum risks to cybersecurity on a global scale and the need for organisations to transition to quantum-resilient technologies.

Ultimately, the panel agreed on a need for standardisation, crypto-agility and the importance of involving both public and private sectors in the transition. They also stressed the urgency needed for legislation to push forward quantum-secure products.

The conference closed with a final session zeroing in on the role of quantum technologies in the telecom sector. As with previous sessions, the challenges were analysed, as well as the potential applications and future developments of quantum technology in telecommunications.

Agustín Díaz-Pinés, Deputy Head of Unit, Future Connectivity Systems at DG CONNECT referenced the importance of quantum technologies in secure communications and network optimisation. He mentioned the European initiatives in quantum research, including the target of having three quantum computers in Europe by 2030. Agustin also discussed the potential applications of quantum in 6G networks, such as quantum security, quantum key distribution, and quantum sensing.

Laura Schulz, Head of Quantum Computing and Technologies at Leibniz Supercomputing Centre explained the integration of quantum computing with high-performance computing (HPC). She described their efforts in creating the Munich Quantum Software Stack, which allows for tight integration between quantum and HPC systems. Laura highlighted the potential for solving complex problems that neither quantum nor HPC alone could address.

Jan Sonck from Proximus shared insights on their testing of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) in both lab and field environments. He discussed Proximus' vision of interconnecting sovereign clouds with quantum-safe networks. Jan also mentioned the creation of a Belgian quantum community to educate the market and promote collaboration. 

We’d like to thank our speakers for their insightful contributions to the discussions, and our sponsors Microsoft, C12, Pascal and Quintessence Labs for making this event happen. We’d also like to thank our supporting partner, the European Quantum Industry Consortium and our knowledge partner Aetha consulting, both for their valuable support of the conference. 

Should you wish to be involved in a future edition of Quantum Europe, please contact Anne-Lise.Simon@forum-europe.com.

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