As Brussels prepares its first Quantum Act, Europe’s quantum ambitions face a critical test: to unlock private capital, reduce barriers, and accelerate commercialisation amid US and Chinese dominance.
Europe is preparing to unveil its first draft of a Quantum Act in the second quarter of 2026, a move aimed at positioning the bloc as a global leader in quantum technologies. The legislation is expected to address regulatory barriers, stimulate private investment, and accelerate commercialisation, as Europe seeks to compete with the US and China.
Recent activity in venture capital highlights growing interest in the sector. Paris-based Quantonation launched an oversubscribed €220 million quantum fund last month, while Danish firm 55North announced a €300 million fund in 2025.
Yet, European Commission data shows only 5% of private capital is currently directed towards European quantum computing companies, compared with 50% in the US.
Finnish quantum startup IQM, which achieved unicorn status six months ago, has announced plans to go public in the US via a special purpose acquisition company merger. If successful, it would become one of the first publicly listed European quantum computing firms.
Daiva Rakauskaitė, CFA, partner and fund manager at Aneli Capital, said Europe must act decisively. “Europe already lags behind many US companies and universities. If Europe does not want to lose the quantum race, it must give startups the freedom to move fast and avoid burdensome regulation,” she noted.
A McKinsey report estimates that quantum computing, communication, and sensing could generate up to US$97 billion globally by 2035. While the technology promises breakthroughs in materials science, finance, and cybersecurity, it also poses risks to existing IT infrastructure, as future quantum systems could undermine current encryption methods.
Rakauskaitė stressed that Europe must accelerate pilots in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, finance, and logistics, while scaling post-quantum security solutions. She added that faster commercialisation will require significantly more private capital, including voluntary commitments from institutional investors. Public funding, she said, will remain vital in nurturing startups until they attract private backing.
