Remarks by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on the EU's Quantum Strategy

European Commission -Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on the EU's Quantum Strategy Brussels, 2 July 2025 Quantum Strategy Good afternoon, everyone. Today, the College adopted the European Quantum Strategy, a pivotal step towards making Europe a global leader in quantum technologies by 2030 and paving the way for the adoption of a Quantum Act in 2026. While quantum might sound like science fiction to some, quantum technologies are already a reality, with initial applications beginning to enter the market. From solving complex challenges and enabling pharmaceutical breakthroughs to securing critical infrastructures, quantum technologies are set to revolutionize our economy, possessing significant dual-use potential for defence and security. Europe has achieved remarkable advances in quantum scientific excellence: it boasts the world's largest concentration of quantum talent and ranks first globally in the number of scientific publications. The EU also has one of the largest quantum startup ecosystems. Approximately one third of all quantum companies worldwide are based in the EU, and EU vendors supply nearly half of the hardware and software components used in quantum computers. By 2040, this sector is projected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs across the EU and exceed a global value of €155 billion. Despite the strengths Europe possesses, we are now at a critical juncture. Our industrial ecosystem remains...