Context: Countries worldwide are investing heavily in quantum computing R&D, with China currently leading in total public investment ($15 billion), the EU collectively coming in second place ($10 billion) and the U.S. third ($5 billion) (March 2025 Benchmarking Quantum Technology Performance report). Keen to take the lead in the global quantum race, the European Commission in May launched a call for feedback on a proposed quantum strategy. In that announcement, it recognized the EU’s “persistent weaknesses” in this sector, including a lack of industrial capacity (such as the production of quantum processors) and a shortage of digital and quantum-specific skills. But, it said, its strategy plans to change that significantly. “Without such action, the EU risks falling behind in the quantum race, losing its edge in scientific leadership,” it warned.
What’s new: The European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI), one of 168 respondents, published its feedback on the EU’s proposal last week. It emphasized that, for the EU to gain tech sovereignty in this field, standardizing quantum technologies would be “indispensable”.
Direct impact and wider ramifications: Organizations have generally welcomed the EU’s Quantum Strategy. Alongside ETSI, several EU Member States and figures at companies such as the European Quantum Industry Consortium, Belgium’s GovStrat, Germany’s European Quantum Industry Consortium, and Deutsche Telekom have all reacted positively to the initiative. They too have underlined the importance of establishing robust quantum standards and benchmarks, and enhancing IP commercialisation mechanisms in getting the EU to lead the global quantum race.
This is the full call for evidence put out by the EU (now expired):
In the call for evidence, the Commission noted that the EU can rely on some key strengths in the quantum race, but it underlined five “persistent weaknesses” that could only be fixed in the following ways:
- scaling up both public and private funding;
- bridging the skills gap;
- fostering industrial capacity;
- supporting standardization; and
- creating a supportive ecosystem for start-ups and scale-ups to flourish in Europe.
In its response last week, ETSI said it welcomed the initiative aimed at making Europe the “quantum continent”. It specifically pointed to point number four – standardization – and the “pivotal” role it plays in enabling interoperability, fostering innovation, and driving global collaboration in quantum technologies. ETSI also noted that it stands ready to contribute to such action, given that it has already done so for other strategic areas (ICT, IoT, and digital technologies in general, like Connectivity, Data, Cybersecurity, and AI).
ETSI believes standardization is “indispensable” and enables:
- Interoperability: Facilitating compatibility across diverse systems and technologies developed by different stakeholders.
- Scalability: Supporting the transition from research prototypes to large-scale, commercially viable solutions.
- Trust and Security: Establishing rigorous benchmarks to ensure robust and secure quantum technologies.
- Market Growth: Reducing barriers to entry for innovators, startups, and SMEs and fostering a competitive ecosystem.
It also drew on its previous work in this space, including the development of global standards for quantum-safe cryptography and quantum key distribution, such as:
- ETSI TS 103 744 V1.2.1 (2025-03) Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC); Quantum-safe Hybrid Key Establishment
- ETSI TS 104 015 V1.1.1 (2025-02) Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC); Efficient Quantum-Safe Hybrid Key Exchanges with Hidden Access Policies4
- ETSI TR 103 967 V1.1.1 (2025-01) Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC); Impact of Quantum Computing on Symmetric Cryptography.
Standardization, it concluded, would allow Europe to establish a “resilient, interoperable, and secure quantum ecosystem.”
Other market feedback
ETSI wasn’t alone in underlining the importance of standardization in the EU’s quantum supremacy efforts.
Belgium’s GovStrat also emphasized it, noting that both standardization and intellectual property enable innovation, foster global competitiveness, and bridge the gaps between policymakers, academics, and industry stakeholders (May 26, 2025 GovStrat feedback). It added that a robust IP framework, including the strategic use of patents in standardization, is critical for fostering leadership in quantum technologies:
“Patents play a strategic role in standardization by:
- Ensuring fair returns on innovation efforts.
- Encouraging investment in research and development.
- Protecting Europe’s technological advancements while enabling fair”
Meanwhile, Germany’s European Quantum Industry Consortium e.V. and its 200 members also welcomed the Commission’s announcement but said that to “fully capitalise on its strengths and overcome existing challenges”, Europe must, among other things foster strong European participation in international standardization bodies, ensuring strategic control over quantum-related patents, and enhancing IP commercialisation mechanisms (May 9, 2025 European Quantum Industry Consortium feedback).
Also, as part of Deutsche Telekom’s recommendations (June 3, 2025 Deutsche Telekom feedback) to enable telecom operators on the route to quantum networking it wrote:
“Promote development of harmonized standards to enhance interoperability and commercial viability, based on current industry standards, best practices, processes, and capabilities of network, infrastructure and service providers.”