We build a Resilient and Thriving
Quantum Economy!
QBN is the global industry network and consultancy for quantum technologies promoting commercialization and collaboration, shaping policies and driving industry adoption.
Founded in 2020, QBN, represents over 100 international members across the entire value chain, incl. world-leading startups, enterprises, RTOs, investors, and governmental organisations, developing and using quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum communication, and quantum cybersecurity.
QBN builds the industrial quantum powerhouse, driving national security, technological sovereignty, economic growth and a sustainable future.
QBN is the global industry network and consultancy for quantum technologies promoting commercialization and collaboration, shaping policies and driving industry adoption.
Founded in 2020, QBN, represents over 100 international members across the entire value chain, incl. world-leading startups, enterprises, RTOs, investors, and governmental organisations, developing and using quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum communication, and quantum cybersecurity.
QBN builds the industrial quantum powerhouse, driving national security, technological sovereignty, economic growth and a sustainable future.
QBN is the global industry network and consultancy for quantum technologies promoting commercialization and collaboration, shaping policies and driving industry adoption.
Founded in 2020, QBN, represents over 100 international members across the entire value chain, incl. world-leading startups, enterprises, RTOs, investors, and governmental organisations, developing and using quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum communication, and quantum cybersecurity.
QBN builds the industrial quantum powerhouse, driving national security, technological sovereignty, economic growth and a sustainable future.
Quantum Technologies have the potential to transform various industries like healthcare, finance and materials science, and the way we live. By accelerating drug discovery, enhancing cybersecurity, and creating new materials, these technologies enable us to kick-start a new economic era.
Together we can drive the adoption of quantum technologies and turn quantum into a global industrial powerhouse paving the way for a healthy, united, sovereign and secure future.
Quantum Technologies have the potential to transform various industries like healthcare, finance and materials science, and the way we live. By accelerating drug discovery, enhancing cybersecurity, and creating new materials, these technologies enable us to kick-start a new economic era.
Together we can drive the adoption of quantum technologies and turn quantum into a global industrial powerhouse paving the way for a healthy, united, sovereign and secure future.
QBN gathers 100+ members from R&D to providers to industry end-users; corporates, SMEs and startups to RTOs and universities to government organizations and investors that are working in the field of quantum technologies including quantum computing, quantum communication and quantum sensing and their entire value chains.
QBN gathers 100+ members from R&D to providers to industry end-users; corporates, SMEs and startups to RTOs and universities to government organizations and investors that are working in the field of quantum technologies including quantum computing, quantum communication and quantum sensing and their entire value chains.
Join the leading quantum network and accelerate your business!
Create a supportive and flourishing environment for your company and the quantum community by joining our public policy and community activities.
Create a supportive and flourishing environment for your company and the quantum community by joining our and community and lobbying activities.
Delft, 12 January 2026 – Q*Bird, the Dutch leader in quantum secure communication and the world’s only commercial provider of Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD), is proud to announce the official signing of its EIC Accelerator 2025 grant. Q*Bird’s NEXUS project, commissioned under the EIC Accelerator, will enhance MDI-QKD hardware size and efficiency, introduce next-generation optical modules and enable high-density user node deployments. It will also develop the orchestration layer required for multi-operator, multi-domain quantum networking, ensuring that Europe possesses an end-to-end sovereign capability spanning hardware, control systems and network-level intelligence. Under this programme, Q*Bird has secured €2.5 million in grant funding and €5 million in equity investment to accelerate the scale-up of its quantum secure network solutions. With the EIC Accelerator, Q*Bird will expand its European production capacity and advance its broader roadmap spanning quantum security network orchestration, and components essential for a future federated quantum internet. The initiative will drive down QKD costs, increasing market growth and job creation, all while strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy in secure communication technologies. Selected from 959 applicants, Q*Bird is one of only 40 elite startups to receive this prestigious blended finance support and one of just four Dutch companies in this elite cohort. The programme, which began on 1 December 2025, backs deep-tech innovations that deliver transformative capabilities to the European market while reducing strategic dependencies in critical sectors. This recognition comes amid a strong year for Dutch deep tech, with startups collectively raising €35.5 million in this round, contributing to the €299 million awarded across Europe. With this recognition, Q*Bird’s selection reinforces its leading role in quantum secure communications and its mission to bring next-generation, operational-ready MDI-QKD solutions to scale. Q*Bird’s flagship products, the Falqon® Series, powered by MDI-QKD, are already deployed across strategic infrastructures including ports, telecom networks and national infrastructure operators. The programme will strengthen Europe’s quantum secure communication capabilities by expanding the deployment and industrial readiness of Q*Bird’s Falqon® QKD products designed for operational networks in critical infrastructure, telecom, defense and government environments. CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Ingrid Romijn emphasised that this marks an expansion of an already operating commercial technology. “Quantum secure communication is a foundational capability for Europe’s digital sovereignty. We are strengthening the backbone of Europe’s digital resilience. This programme allows us to scale at a rate that matches Europe’s urgency. With the EIC Accelerator, we will extend our technology from individual deployments to continental-scale infrastructures that define how Europe secures its most critical communication networks.” Powering Europe’s transition to quantum-resilient infrastructure This announcement comes at a critical time. Cyberattacks targeting governments, critical infrastructure and industrial supply chains continue to accelerate. As quantum computing progresses, traditional cryptography faces a systemic vulnerability. The threat is not theoretical, but strategically urgent. Q*Bird’s Falqon® Series, powered by MDI-QKD, delivers intrinsic security that eliminates all detector-based vulnerabilities, which have long challenged other QKD designs. The technology’s hub-and-spoke, multi-node and multi-tenant architecture introduces the scalability required for quantum secure networks at national and cross-border levels. Over the past years, Q*Bird has demonstrated this at scale: Port of Rotterdam – Europe’s largest port and logistical hub secured with quantum secure networking leveraging Q*Bird’s MDI-QKD technology. Madrid metropolitan network (UPM) – Spain’s first live, multi-node MDI quantum network. Benelux cross-border MDI-QKD link – The first cross-border MDI-QKD connection was deployed between Belgium and Luxembourg, enabling a secure 132 km quantum link. Eurofiber QUEST project – Deploying MDI-QKD across major Dutch data centres. The EIC Accelerator programme will enable Q*Bird to take the next step of industrial-grade scale-up, expanding its product line, strengthening supply chains and accelerating integration into Europe’s critical digital infrastructure. Q*Bird’s architecture is designed for environments where reliability and interoperability must be absolute, highlighted CTIO and Co-Founder, Remon Berrevoets. “Industry-grade security means, you cannot rely on assumptions about who or what can be trusted. MDI-QKD is built to scale and interoperate across multiple operators and network domains and secure,” he said. “With the EIC Accelerator, we can expand deployments efficiently, enabling secure, multi-operator networks while maintaining technical integrity and sovereignty. This is essential as Europe transitions to a quantum secure communication infrastructure that operates under real-world conditions.” “Q*Bird is delivering operational quantum security at scale. Through the NEXUS project, Q*Bird is strengthening Europe’s ability to protect and secure critical infrastructure against emerging cyber and quantum threats. It ensures our digital networks remain sovereign, interoperable and resilient, establishing a new benchmark for Europe’s strategic autonomy in the quantum era,” adds Luuk Borg, Project Officer at the European Commission. From deployed networks to large-scale quantum-secure networks Q*Bird’s deployments in ports, cross-border fibre networks and telecom environments have demonstrated that MDI-QKD is fully operational and ready for large-scale deployment. The EIC Accelerator will support rapid growth in manufacturing capacity, network integration, quantum-network orchestration capabilities and the advancement of technologies that extend beyond QKD. CTO and Co-Founder, Dr. Joshua Slater, noted that this expansion is tied to a broader vision. “This next phase is about scale, industrial scale. We are building not just secure links, but the communication fabric on which future quantum systems can run. MDI-QKD is our foundation, but the horizon extends to quantum network controllers, quantum-ready interconnect point and the components required for a federated quantum internet. With the EIC Accelerator, we can accelerate Europe’s shift from isolated pilots and deployments to a cohesive, quantum secure communication infrastructure which is reliable, interoperable and built for long-term strategic autonomy.” Strengthening Europe’s strategic sovereignty in secure communication technologies Q*Bird’s MDI-QKD technology enables network operators to secure communication networks against emerging quantum era threats while preparing infrastructure for future quantum-enabled applications across government, defence, telecoms, ports, energy and data-centre environments. This initiative will help ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of quantum secure communication, not only in research, but in operational infrastructure that protects society, industry and critical national assets. By building interoperable networks that span borders and operators, Q*Bird is laying the foundation for a Pan-European quantum secure ecosystem. One QKD node at a time, Q*Bird is not just building quantum secure networks. We are defining the blueprint for how nations will communicate safely and sovereignly in the post-quantum era! Disclaimer: This project is co-funded by the European Union. About Q*Bird: Q*Bird is a leader in quantum-secure communication, based in Delft, The Netherlands. We provide cutting-edge solutions and expert support to ensure your data security. Our unique technology enables ultra-secure communication networks for critical infrastructure and commercial use. Q*Bird’s network technology uses the laws of quantum physics to provide proven secure cryptography keys that are immune to interception, ensuring your data remains safe from eavesdropping. Our Falqon® Series delivers a next-generation solution for Measurement Device Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD), offering unequalled security, scalability and flexibility without relying on trusted nodes, ensuring your data stays protected in transit, now and into the quantum future. As we secure today’s networks against quantum threats, we are building toward the future, developing technologies that will enable the quantum internet, including connectivity solutions for quantum processors, modems and sensors. This ensures organisations are prepared for the advent of the quantum internet and ready to harness its full potential. Join us at the forefront of quantum innovation and learn how the Falqon® Series can protect your organisation from data breaches and future-proof your network security against quantum threats! For more information, visit www.q-bird.com, contact info@q-bird.com, or follow Q*Bird on LinkedIn. Media Relations Contact: Milu Sini Lal, Msc milu@q-bird.com Marketing & Communication Specialist
Munich, 16 December 2025 – 2025 saw landmark developments across geopolitical, industrial, and research arenas, reflecting the growing role of quantum in modern economies and security landscapes. The awarding of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of macroscopic quantum effects underscores the foundational research that continues to drive the emerging quantum economy. As we celebrate the International Year of Quantum Technologies, QBN reflects on a year of outstanding achievements, including key member milestones, global policy engagement, and successful initiatives that are accelerating the integration and adoption of quantum technologies across industries worldwide – here is an excerpt of a successful year. Strategic Policy and International Engagement At the European level, the European Commission published the updated EU Quantum Strategy, defining priorities for scalable infrastructures, industrial adoption, and workforce development, reflecting extensive stakeholder input. In Germany, the High-Tech Agenda Deutschland outlined multi-billion-euro investments in quantum and other deep-tech sectors, while the landmark Meeting of the German Quantum Industry brought together key stakeholders to ensure Germany’s and Europe’s strengths are fully leveraged and aligned with domestic commercial and societal impact. In parallel, the conclusion of the SQuaD project marked an important step in strengthening Germany’s and Europe’s quantum communication landscape, with QBN leading activities on innovation promotion, technology transfer, and ecosystem building, supporting commercialisation and long-term collaboration across the German and European quantum communication ecosystem. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, NATO’s Rapid Action Adoption Plan placed quantum technologies at the centre of modern defence capabilities, encompassing secure communications, advanced sensing, and computing applications. QBN contributed through its Defence White Paper and established a dedicated Defence & Security Working Group to foster dialogue and concrete actions on adoption of quantum technologies for dual-use applications. Corporate Developments, Strategic Alliances, and Member Support In 2025, QBN expanded its global footprint and business impact. The Asia-Pacific Chapter was launched and a new QBN Advisory Board was established. Strategic partnerships were formed, supporting cross-regional collaboration and expanding activities within Europe and into the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. QBN introduced a series of intelligence tools, including the Quantum Solution Hub, a platform providing enterprises with direct access to applied quantum solutions that tackle real challenges in industries, research, and education. During World of Quantum 2025 in Munich, QBN hosted a joint pavilion showcasing 11 of its members, serving as a collaborative hub for industry, research, and policy stakeholders and facilitating strategic discussions and networking. In addition, QBN organized a memorable VIP Networking Reception celebrating five years of QBN and a successful quantum week in Munich, bringing together members, policymakers, and industry leaders for an evening of engagement and dialogue. These initiatives strengthened the network’s capacity to foster partnerships, advance industry collaboration, and accelerate the integration of quantum technologies across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Impactful Member Milestones QBN members achieved notable breakthroughs across the ecosystem. Among the highlights are Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech’s inauguration of the world’s first multimodal Quantum Data Center in Barcelona, Quantinuum’s $600 million capital raise to advance fault-tolerant computing and global collaborations, and IQM Quantum Computers’ $320 million Series B funding to scale production and develop error-corrected quantum systems. SandboxAQ demonstrated the practical deployment of its MagNav quantum sensing system, providing resilient, GPS-independent navigation for aircraft and showcasing quantum technologies ready for real-world operational environments. Aquark Technologies completed a world-first at-sea trial of its cold atom-based AQlock atomic clock aboard the Royal Navy’s HMS Pursuer, confirming stable, high-precision operation under challenging maritime conditions. Quantum Optics Jena’s entangled photon-pair source achieved independend certification by Italy’s National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM) confirming high-quality, dual-wavelength entangled photon generation. Collectively, these milestones signal not only advancing technical performance across quantum computing, quantum sensing and quantum communication, but also a growing emphasis on commercialisation, i.e. deployment readiness, certification, and trust, reflecting increased recognition by investors, industry, and public-sector stakeholders of quantum technologies as viable, infrastructure-grade solutions rather than purely experimental systems. Outlook The combination of strategic policy developments, corporate and investor initiatives, and member achievements throughout 2025 illustrates a year of sustained momentum for the QBN Community. As the UN International Year of Quantum Technologies 2025 comes to a close, these accomplishments underscore the growing role of quantum solutions in industrial, scientific, and defence applications. We sincerely thank all of our members and partners for their expertise, collaboration, and commitment, whose contributions have made this year a remarkable success for quantum industry. Looking ahead, QBN will continue fostering collaboration across governments, militaries, investors, industry, and research institutions, supporting the technological advancement and industry adoption of quantum technologies across Europe, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) ecosystems and beyond. More to come. The QBN Team wishes you a holiday season full of quantum leaps and a new year of entangled opportunities, superposed successes, and accelerated discoveries!
Munich, Paris, 11 December 2025 – Technological innovation is rapidly reshaping Europe’s industrial landscape, from advanced computing and cybersecurity to emerging areas such as quantum computing, quantum sensing and AI. Turning research breakthroughs into practical applications and these into economic impact requires collaboration across industry, research, investors, and public bodies. Recognising the need for a European Economy driven by deeptech champions and European values, the European Champion Alliance (ECA) and the Quantum Business Network (QBN) have joined forces to support a thriving and resilient deeptech ecosystem, leverage cross-sector collaborations between quantum, AI, cybersecurity and the wider deeptech sector, and enable European champions to scale and grow. Through this partnership, our members can connect with peers, explore opportunities and drive commercialisation and adoption across industries. It encourages the sharing of ideas, knowledge and experiences, and it facilitates the engagement in initiatives such as innovation challenges or joint discussions, helping to translate emerging technologies into practical applications. The collaboration also addresses wider strategic concerns, including cybersecurity and technological sovereignty, supporting a resilient and sustainable economy in Europe. By combining their complementary expertise and resources, ECA and QBN are committed to drive innovation, investment, and policy shaping to strengthen Europe’s position across future technologies, contributing to a resilient and competitive Europe. “At the European Champions Alliance, we are truly delighted to build this partnership with QBN. Quantum computing and quantum technologies represent one of the most strategic and promising fields of innovation for Europe. We firmly believe that strengthening cooperation across borders, connecting partners, and bringing together the key stakeholders of the quantum ecosystem is essential for Europe’s technological sovereignty and long-term competitiveness. This is why we are excited to join forces with QBN: together, we will support each other’s actions to develop a strong, collaborative, and vibrant European community of quantum players. We look forward to contributing to a shared momentum that accelerates innovation and reinforces Europe’s leadership in this critical domain.” Andrea Vaugan & Dominique Tessier, Co-Founders of the European Champions Alliance “QBN is thrilled to partner with the European Champions Alliance emphasising the commitment of the deeptech industry to drive economic impact of quantum technologies, AI, cybersecurity and beyond across Europe. Europe has all it takes to build deep technologies. Now, it is time to build a European market and accelerate the adoption. Together with ECA and our members and partners we are building the backbone of a secure, sovereign and competitive Europe. Collaboration of networks like QBN and ECA hold so much potential not only between their members, but also on network level. Let’s shape a connected, resilient and thriving Europe driven by quantum and deeptech innovation.” Johannes Verst, CEO of QBN About ECA The European Champions Alliance (ECA) is a not-for-profit initiative that supports European technological advancement. It brings together startups, SMEs, corporations, investors, and other stakeholders to foster collaboration, accelerate growth, and empower European companies. By connecting different actors across the tech ecosystem, ECA helps members access the resources, knowledge, and partnerships they need to scale. About QBN QBN is the global industry network and consultancy for quantum technologies promoting commercialization and collaboration, shaping policies and driving industry adoption. Founded in 2020, QBN, represents over 100 international members across the entire value chain, incl. world-leading startups, enterprises, RTOs, investors, and governmental organisations, developing and using quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum communication, and quantum cybersecurity. QBN builds the industrial quantum powerhouse, driving national security, technological sovereignty, economic growth and a sustainable future.
Bringing together end-users and developers with suppliers and integrators in a trust-based environment creates the perfect foundation for valuable business and collaboration opportunities
Bringing together end-users and developers with suppliers and integrators in a trust-based environment creates the perfect foundation for valuable business and collaboration opportunities
