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!
