Blab Tech
EU Prepares Quantum Act Without Budget, Calls for Startup Consolidation
In a quiet but decisive shift, the EU is drafting a Quantum Act that promises to stitch together a fragmented industry without a dedicated budget.
At a European Parliament event on 3 September, Thomas Skordas, deputy director‑general of the Commission’s DG CNECT, explained that the act is intended as a stimulus rather than a funding vehicle. Unlike the AI Act or the Digital Markets Act, which set rules and obligations, the Quantum Act is framed as an enabling framework designed to coordinate research, industry, and supply‑chain activity across the Union.
A key point of the discussion was the fragmentation of Europe’s quantum ecosystem. Skordas warned that the region has 78 startups working in isolation and that “we cannot afford having 78 startups all on their own.” He added that the EU wants competition but also expects some consolidation to build companies with the scale needed for manufacturing.
Echoing that sentiment, Tommaso Calarco, secretary of the EU’s high‑level advisory board on quantum technologies, said that critical mass requires cash, speed, and collaboration. Calarco noted that the act can address two of those three factors but not cash, and he called the act “the last train which is passing for Europe.” He also criticized member states for not pooling resources strategically.
The EU’s advantage lies partly in its supply chain. Cecile Perrault, executive director of the European Quantum Industry Consortium, said that 80 % of the components used in European quantum computers come from within the EU. This domestic sourcing advantage is attracting private investment; the Novo Nordisk Foundation has already begun building an open quantum chip foundry in Copenhagen, creating manufacturing capacity ahead of the legislation.
Skordas also stressed that quantum computing must be integrated with other mature technologies. He said the sector needs to “break silos” and combine quantum with semiconductors, photonics, the cloud, and end‑user markets.
Talent remains a challenge. Eleni Diamanti, co‑founder of Welinq and research director at Sorbonne University, said that talent follows global leaders, not just money. She linked the talent issue to Europe’s ability to build companies that can become global leaders.
German Green MEP Sergey Lagodinsky framed the debate in broader terms, saying that the competition is not only between business models but also between societal models, and that technology and leadership play a key role.
The EU has already invested heavily in quantum research. Public investment reportedly exceeds that of the United States, and France has committed €500 million of its own money. The question remains whether that investment can translate into a competitive industry rather than remaining at the research stage.
At present, the Quantum Act’s content is unclear. No draft text exists, and the Commission has not set a firm presentation date. Details on how it will encourage consolidation, or on any mechanisms to support manufacturing capacity, are still pending.
In summary, the EU is preparing a Quantum Act that will serve as an enabling framework rather than a budgetary tool. The legislation aims to coordinate the fragmented quantum ecosystem, encourage consolidation among startups, and leverage the EU’s supply‑chain strengths. The act is expected by the end of 2026, but its specific provisions and mechanisms remain to be defined.
At a European Parliament event on 3 September, Thomas Skordas, deputy director‑general of the Commission’s DG CNECT, explained that the act is intended as a stimulus rather than a funding vehicle. Unlike the AI Act or the Digital Markets Act, which set rules and obligations, the Quantum Act is framed as an enabling framework designed to coordinate research, industry, and supply‑chain activity across the Union.
A key point of the discussion was the fragmentation of Europe’s quantum ecosystem. Skordas warned that the region has 78 startups working in isolation and that “we cannot afford having 78 startups all on their own.” He added that the EU wants competition but also expects some consolidation to build companies with the scale needed for manufacturing.
Echoing that sentiment, Tommaso Calarco, secretary of the EU’s high‑level advisory board on quantum technologies, said that critical mass requires cash, speed, and collaboration. Calarco noted that the act can address two of those three factors but not cash, and he called the act “the last train which is passing for Europe.” He also criticized member states for not pooling resources strategically.
The EU’s advantage lies partly in its supply chain. Cecile Perrault, executive director of the European Quantum Industry Consortium, said that 80 % of the components used in European quantum computers come from within the EU. This domestic sourcing advantage is attracting private investment; the Novo Nordisk Foundation has already begun building an open quantum chip foundry in Copenhagen, creating manufacturing capacity ahead of the legislation.
Skordas also stressed that quantum computing must be integrated with other mature technologies. He said the sector needs to “break silos” and combine quantum with semiconductors, photonics, the cloud, and end‑user markets.
Talent remains a challenge. Eleni Diamanti, co‑founder of Welinq and research director at Sorbonne University, said that talent follows global leaders, not just money. She linked the talent issue to Europe’s ability to build companies that can become global leaders.
German Green MEP Sergey Lagodinsky framed the debate in broader terms, saying that the competition is not only between business models but also between societal models, and that technology and leadership play a key role.
The EU has already invested heavily in quantum research. Public investment reportedly exceeds that of the United States, and France has committed €500 million of its own money. The question remains whether that investment can translate into a competitive industry rather than remaining at the research stage.
At present, the Quantum Act’s content is unclear. No draft text exists, and the Commission has not set a firm presentation date. Details on how it will encourage consolidation, or on any mechanisms to support manufacturing capacity, are still pending.
In summary, the EU is preparing a Quantum Act that will serve as an enabling framework rather than a budgetary tool. The legislation aims to coordinate the fragmented quantum ecosystem, encourage consolidation among startups, and leverage the EU’s supply‑chain strengths. The act is expected by the end of 2026, but its specific provisions and mechanisms remain to be defined.
