The European Commission has announced the launch of a EUR 1 billion initiative to accelerate the development of quantum technology, the basis for the next generation of supercomputers as well as future advances in areas such as secure communication networks and gravity sensors. The funding was announced at the Quantum Europe Conference in Delft organised by the Dutch presidency of the EU, where EC digital economy commissioner Gunther Oettinger outlined the thinking behind the project. “Europe wants to be leading in the global race of the development of quantum technology and foster its take-up by industries,” said the commissioner, while also presenting the blueprint behind the initiative, called the Quantum Manifesto.
The flagship project has been endorsed by over 3,400 leaders from science, industry and governmental organisations, with funding coming from the Commission, member states, companies and universities. The EC added that near-term quantum-based technologies could be available within five years, above all for sensing, metrology, imaging and communication.
