Technology hub: Quantum communication
Sending information protected or carried by quantum states: quantum key distribution, quantum random numbers, entanglement distribution and the quantum networks, memories and satellites that support them.
- Technology families
- Related codes
614 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed: 730. Suggestions are counted, not listed.
At a glance
- EU and national projects: 442
- Organisations and companies: 85
- Funding rounds: 1
- Infrastructure and deployment status: 39
- Documents and publications: 6
- Standards and post-quantum products: 3
- Quantum software: 8
- Courses and master’s programmes: 5
- Jobs and funding calls: 5
- News and events: 20
Key items: EU and national projects
- QIA-Phase2: Quantum Internet Alliance - Phase2
- QIA-Phase1: Quantum Internet Alliance - Phase1
- OPENQKD: Open European Quantum Key Distribution Testbed
Key items: Organisations and companies
Explore by function, platform and application
Draft — to be completed by the responsible team. Draft: to be completed by the responsible team. Starter values from the existing communication families.
- Function
- Key distribution; Random number generation; Entanglement distribution and networking; Quantum storage
- Channel
- Optical fibre links; Free-space and satellite links
- Application sector
- No starter values yet.
Expert review sheet of the faceted taxonomy (every value, definition and source)
Overview
The technology atlas of Quantum communication: its value chain, the documented actors by role, facilities, funding, patents and publications, standards and policy measures on one page, each from a source the portal already publishes. Each section says whether these sources document the technology, show an evidence gap or hold nothing about it.
| Section | State in these sources | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Value chain | Documented in these sources | 25 |
| Actors by role | Documented in these sources | 182 |
| Facilities and access | Documented in these sources | 32 |
| Funding | Documented in these sources | 5 |
| Patents and publications | Documented in these sources | 3 |
| Standards | Documented in these sources | 20 |
| Policy measures | Documented in these sources | 4 |
| Evidence gaps | Evidence gap in these sources | 7 |
- Documented in these sources: at least one record of these sources is about this technology.
- Evidence gap in these sources: the parts tree names a stage, but no documented European actor is linked to it here. Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency.
- No evidence found in these sources: No evidence found in these sources. It means only that these sources hold nothing on it.
Public layer: structure and documented actors only. Actor roles come from typed, dated relationships and are never inferred from shared projects or patents. Supplier assessments of the restricted dependency map are not shown on this public page. No technology readiness level is given.
External context: EPO Observatory: quantum technologies · EPO Deep Tech Finder
Figures from published reports
1 approved figure about this technology.
| Figure | Value | Geography | Period | Source and page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Observatory's November 2024 report covers public funding, national strategies and company activity for Italy and the world, but none of its figures is available to the portal. | Not available | Italy, with worldwide context | 2024 | Osservatori Digital Innovation, Politecnico di Milano, The national and international scenario of Quantum Computing & Communication (2024 research, fourth edition of the Observatory). Report page, description and access notice. |
Every report figure of Quantum communication in technology intelligence · Registered reports and their figures
Value chain
The stages of this technology in the parts tree, a reference structure from review articles and EU law, with the European companies whose own product page names a product line for the stage or a part under it (the curated supplier directory).
Documented in these sources: 25 stages; 7 stages with an evidence gap.
Quantum key distribution systems
| Stage | Level | Part of | Materials | Documented European actors | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmitter | Subsystem | Quantum key distribution systems | Exail; QUBIG; Quside | Documented in these sources | |
| Gain-switched laser diodes | Component | Transmitter | Evidence gap in these sources Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. | ||
| Amplitude and phase modulators | Component | Transmitter | Exail; QUBIG | Documented in these sources | |
| Quantum random number generators | Component | Transmitter | Quside | Documented in these sources | |
| Quantum channel | Subsystem | Quantum key distribution systems | Evidence gap in these sources Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. | ||
| Single-mode telecom fibre | Component | Quantum channel | Evidence gap in these sources Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. | ||
| Free-space and satellite links | Component | Quantum channel | Evidence gap in these sources Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. | ||
| Receiver | Subsystem | Quantum key distribution systems | AUREA Technology; FEMTO; ID Quantique; Single Quantum | Documented in these sources | |
| Single-photon detectors | Component | Receiver | Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) (critical raw material) | AUREA Technology; ID Quantique; Single Quantum | Documented in these sources |
| Homodyne and heterodyne detectors | Component | Receiver | Germanium (critical raw material) | FEMTO | Documented in these sources |
| Planar lightwave circuit interferometers | Component | Receiver | Silicon (critical raw material) | Evidence gap in these sources Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. | |
| Classical post-processing | Subsystem | Quantum key distribution systems | Evidence gap in these sources Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. |
Parts tree of Quantum key distribution systems · Suppliers of Quantum key distribution systems in the supplier directory
Quantum memories for networks
| Stage | Level | Part of | Materials | Documented European actors | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storage media | Subsystem | Quantum memories for networks | Element Six; SAES Getters | Documented in these sources | |
| Rare-earth-doped crystals | Component | Storage media | Yttrium (host lattice); Erbium, europium, praseodymium and thulium dopants | Evidence gap in these sources Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. | |
| Diamond colour centres | Component | Storage media | Synthetic diamond | Element Six | Documented in these sources |
| Alkali vapour cells and cold-atom sources | Component | Storage media | Rubidium and caesium | SAES Getters | Documented in these sources |
| Control lasers and frequency references | Subsystem | Quantum memories for networks | Hamamatsu Photonics A/S (formerly NKT Photonics); Menlo Systems | Documented in these sources | |
| Narrow-linewidth lasers | Component | Control lasers and frequency references | Hamamatsu Photonics A/S (formerly NKT Photonics); Menlo Systems | Documented in these sources | |
| Cryogenics | Subsystem | Quantum memories for networks | Air Liquide; attocube; Bluefors; Entropy; ICEoxford; kiutra; Leiden Cryogenics; Quantum Design Oxford | Documented in these sources | |
| Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Component | Cryogenics | Helium-3 and helium-4 (critical raw material) | Air Liquide; attocube; Bluefors; Entropy; ICEoxford; kiutra; Leiden Cryogenics; Quantum Design Oxford | Documented in these sources |
| Single-photon detection and frequency conversion | Subsystem | Quantum memories for networks | Covesion; QphoX; Single Quantum | Documented in these sources | |
| Single-photon detectors | Component | Single-photon detection and frequency conversion | Single Quantum | Documented in these sources | |
| Frequency converters | Component | Single-photon detection and frequency conversion | Covesion; QphoX | Documented in these sources | |
| Packaged memory modules | Subsystem | Quantum memories for networks | Welinq | Documented in these sources | |
| Repeater nodes and network testbeds | Subsystem | Quantum memories for networks | Nu Quantum | Documented in these sources |
Parts tree of Quantum memories for networks · Suppliers of Quantum memories for networks in the supplier directory
Supply-chain parts and critical raw materials
From the parts tree: a reference structure of what each technology needs, down to materials, compiled from public review articles and EU law. It is not a supplier assessment.
- Parts and materials of Quantum key distribution systems
Critical raw materials: Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs); Germanium; Silicon.
- Parts and materials of Quantum memories for networks
Critical raw materials: Helium-3 and helium-4.
Critical raw materials as listed in Annex II of the Critical Raw Materials Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1252).
Actors by role
Organisations with a documented relationship to this technology: a product line on the company’s own product page, the host or programme the infrastructure catalogue names for a facility, or the operator of an access route. Each row names its source and the date it was read. Roles are never inferred from taking part in the same project or patent.
| Role | Actors | State | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer or supplier of a part | 23 | Documented in these sources | 23 organisations in the table below. |
| Host, operator or access provider | 34 | Documented in these sources | 34 organisations in the table below. |
| Funder or programme | 2 | Documented in these sources | 2 organisations in the table below. |
| Researcher or developer | 85 | Documented in these sources | Organisations confirmed under this technology by the classification; listed in “Organisations and companies” below. Participants in EU-funded projects are counted per pillar in technology intelligence. |
| User | 0 | No evidence found in these sources | These sources record no user of this technology. |
| Organisation | Role | Country | Relationship | Stages | Source and date read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Liquide | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FR | Helium-3 He3 (helium-3 gas supply for dilution refrigerators of quantum computers) | Cryogenics; Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| attocube | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | attoDRY (closed-cycle cryostats) | Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-26) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| AUREA Technology | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FR | NIR Single Photon Detector (near-infrared single-photon detector modules for quantum communication) | Single-photon detectors | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| AUREA Technology | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FR | SPD_OEM_NIR, SPD_SLIM_NIR and GIGAXEA (InGaAs/InP single-photon detectors for QKD and quantum networks) | Receiver; Single-photon detectors | Source (read 2026-10-30) |
| Bluefors | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FI | XLDsl, LD, Ultra-Compact LD, SD and LH systems (dilution refrigerator measurement systems for superconducting and spin qubit experiments) | Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Covesion | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | MgO:PPLN (periodically poled lithium niobate crystals and waveguides for photon-pair generation and frequency conversion) | Frequency converters | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Element Six | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | DNV-B1 (CVD quantum-grade diamond with nitrogen-vacancy ensembles) | Storage media; Diamond colour centres | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Entropy | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | Dilution, ADR and closed-cycle cryostats (dilution refrigerator, ADR and closed-cycle cryostats) | Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-26) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| Exail | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FR | Lithium niobate electro-optic modulators (phase, amplitude and IQ modulators for quantum communication and atom manipulation) | Amplitude and phase modulators | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| FEMTO | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | Balanced photoreceivers (OE-200-BPR, HBPR) (balanced photoreceivers of the kind used in homodyne detection) | Homodyne and heterodyne detectors | Source (read 2026-10-30) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| Hamamatsu Photonics A/S (formerly NKT Photonics) | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DK | Koheras (single-frequency fibre lasers and amplifiers for atom trapping, cooling and quantum information) | Narrow-linewidth lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| ICEoxford | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | Dilution Dry Systems and Dilution Wet Systems (dilution cryostats) | Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-26) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| ID Quantique | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | CH | ID Qube Series (InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche detectors) | Receiver; Single-photon detectors | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| ID Quantique | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | CH | ID281 SNSPD System (superconducting nanowire single-photon detector systems for quantum networks and computers) | Single-photon detectors | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| kiutra | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | L-Type Rapid (adiabatic demagnetisation (ADR) sub-kelvin cryostat for quantum computing and cryo-electronics) | Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Leiden Cryogenics | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | NL | CF-CS110 and QUPER dilution refrigerators (dilution refrigerators, including a fast-turnaround inverted unit for qubit testing) | Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-30) |
| Menlo Systems | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | FC1500-Quantum (rack-mounted frequency comb with ultrastable and CW lasers for quantum applications) | Control lasers and frequency references; Narrow-linewidth lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Menlo Systems | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | ORS ultrastable lasers (cavity-stabilised narrow-linewidth lasers for quantum technologies and optical clocks) | Narrow-linewidth lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Nu Quantum | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | Quantum Networking Units (QNUs) and Qubit-Photon Interfaces (QPIs) (networking units and qubit-photon interfaces that distribute entanglement between quantum processors) | Repeater nodes and network testbeds | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| QphoX | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | NL | QphoX Quantum Transducer (microwave-to-optical quantum transducer) | Frequency converters | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Quantum Design Oxford | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | ProteoxLX (cryogen-free dilution refrigerator for quantum computing scale-up) | Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Quantum Design Oxford | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | ProteoxS, ProteoxMX and Proteox5mK (cryogen-free dilution refrigerators) | Closed-cycle cryostats and dilution refrigerators | Source (read 2026-10-26) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| QUBIG | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | Electro-Optic Modulators (EOM) (resonant and broadband electro-optic modulators for laser cooling of atoms and ions) | Amplitude and phase modulators | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Quside | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | ES | QRNG modules and chipsets (Garnet, Nellite, Ruby) (quantum random number generators as PCIe and FMC modules and security chipsets, for cryptography and QKD) | Quantum random number generators | Source (read 2026-10-30) |
| SAES Getters | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | IT | Rubidium dispensers (alkali metal dispensers (pills and wires) releasing rubidium for atomic clocks, quantum sensors and quantum computers) | Storage media; Alkali vapour cells and cold-atom sources | Source (read 2026-10-30) |
| Single Quantum | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | NL | Single Quantum Eos (compact superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) systems) | Single-photon detectors | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Single Quantum | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | NL | TeleQKD Line (SNSPD detectors for commercial quantum key distribution) | Single-photon detectors | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Welinq | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FR | QDrive (quantum memory for scaling out quantum technologies) | Packaged memory modules | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Carried out by IMEC, per BELSPO | Host, operator or access provider | BE | Hosts BE-QCI (Belgian-QCI) | Source (read 2026-10-22) | |
| Consortium of six beneficiaries, including the Institute of Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Comenius University in Bratislava | Host, operator or access provider | SK | Hosts SKQCI (Slovak Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Source (read 2026-10-22) | |
| Coordinated by AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, per the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; researchers at five Austrian universities, with industrial partners | Host, operator or access provider | AT | Hosts QCI-CAT | Source (read 2026-10-22) | |
| Coordinated by Cybersecurity Hub, zu | Host, operator or access provider | CZ | Hosts CZQCI (Czech National Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Source (read 2026-10-21) | |
| Coordinated by Danmarks Tekniske Universitet | Host, operator or access provider | DK | Hosts QCI.DK (Danish Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Source (read 2026-10-21) | |
| Coordinated by Deimos, with the National Security Office (Gabinete Nacional de Segurança) and partners | Host, operator or access provider | PT | Hosts PTQCI (Portuguese Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Source (read 2026-10-22) | |
| Coordinated by GRNET, with Greek research institutes and universities | Host, operator or access provider | GR | Hosts HellasQCI | Source (read 2026-10-22) | |
| Coordinated by GRNET; the Cypriot part is led by the Cyprus University of Technology | Host, operator or access provider | EU | Hosts SEEWQCI (South-East Europe to Western Europe Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Source (read 2026-10-22) | |
| Coordinated by Hochschule Nordhausen | Host, operator or access provider | DE | Hosts Q-net-Q | Source (read 2026-10-21) | |
| Coordinated by Hrvatska Akademska i Istrazivacka Mreza Carnet | Host, operator or access provider | HR | Hosts Croatian Quantum Communication Infrastructure – CroQCI | Source (read 2026-10-21) | |
| Coordinated by ICFO; the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is a partner | Host, operator or access provider | ES | Hosts EuroQCI-Spain | Source (read 2026-10-22) | |
| Coordinated by Justiits- ja Digiministeerium | Host, operator or access provider | EE | Hosts EstQCI (Estonian Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Source (read 2026-10-21) |
And 57 more documented actors in the supplier directory.
Organisations and companies
85 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed and not listed here: 158.
- University of Southampton
- The Provost, Fellows, Foundation Scholars & the Other Members of Board, of the College of the Holy & Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin
- Universita degli Studi di Padova
- Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen
- Single Quantum BV Company brief for investors: Single Quantum BV
See all 85: Organisations and companies · Companies of Quantum communication in the investor screener
Facilities and access
Facilities of this technology in the infrastructure catalogue, the furthest milestone the deployment tracker evidences for each, and the current access routes that open them.
Documented in these sources: 32 facilities.
| Facility | Kind | Country | Host | Status | Furthest evidenced milestone | Access routes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EuroQCI terrestrial segment | Communication infrastructure | EU-wide or cross-border | EU Member States, under Commission supervision | In development | Funded or agreement signed | No current access route recorded |
| Eagle-1 | Satellite | EU-wide or cross-border | European Space Agency (ESA) and an industrial consortium | In development | No evidenced milestone yet | No current access route recorded |
| NOSTRADAMUS | Evaluation facility | Italy | European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) | Project | Not in the deployment tracker | JRC EuroQCI test and evaluation laboratory |
| QCINed | Testbed network | Netherlands | Coordinated by Quantum Delta NL (Stichting QDNL, per the EU Funding & Tenders Portal), with TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, Q*Bird and RINIS | In operation, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | QCINed quantum communication testbeds |
| QuCT NL (Quantum Communication Testbed) | Testbed | Netherlands | Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) | In operation, per the source | Operational | QuCT NL quantum communication testbed |
| PETRUS | Coordination and support action | EU-wide or cross-border | PETRUS consortium of industry and academic partners | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| QCI-CAT | Quantum communication network project | Austria | Coordinated by AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, per the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; researchers at five Austrian universities, with industrial partners | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| BGQCI | Quantum communication network project | Bulgaria | Led by the Institute of Robotics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IR-BAS) through the Centre of Competence QUASAR | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| CYQCI (Cyprus Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Quantum communication network project | Cyprus | Coordinated by the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) | Project | Delivered, installed or launched | No current access route recorded |
| NaQCI.fi | Quantum communication network project | Finland | Coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland; technical lead CSC – IT Center for Science | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| FranceQCI | Quantum communication network project | France | Coordinated by Orange, per the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; consortium of 13 partners from industry, start-ups, research and public bodies | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| HellasQCI | Quantum communication network project | Greece | Coordinated by GRNET, with Greek research institutes and universities | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| QCIHungary | Quantum communication network project | Hungary | Governmental Agency for IT Development (consortium leader), with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Eötvös Loránd University and the Wigner Research Centre for Physics | Project | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| QUID (Quantum Italy Deployment) | Quantum communication network project | Italy | Coordinated by the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM); 18 participating organisations | Project period ended, per the source | Commissioned or inaugurated | No current access route recorded |
| LATQN: experimental quantum communication infrastructure in Latvia | Quantum communication network project | Latvia | Coordinated by the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC), with Tet and the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Latvia | Project period ended, per the source | Funded or agreement signed | No current access route recorded |
| PRISM | Quantum communication network project | Malta | Merqury Cybersecurity, with the University of Malta, private entities and public authorities | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| PIONIER-Q | Quantum communication network project | Poland | Coordinated by the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, with PCSS and other members of the PIONIER consortium | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| PTQCI (Portuguese Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Quantum communication network project | Portugal | Coordinated by Deimos, with the National Security Office (Gabinete Nacional de Segurança) and partners | Project period ended, per the source | Delivered, installed or launched | No current access route recorded |
| RoNaQCI | Quantum communication network project | Romania | Coordinated by Universitatea POLITEHNICA Bucuresti, with Romanian universities, research institutes, companies and public bodies | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| SKQCI (Slovak Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Quantum communication network project | Slovakia | Consortium of six beneficiaries, including the Institute of Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Comenius University in Bratislava | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| EuroQCI-Spain | Quantum communication network project | Spain | Coordinated by ICFO; the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is a partner | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| BE-QCI (Belgian-QCI) | Quantum communication network project | Belgium | Carried out by IMEC, per BELSPO | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| SEEWQCI (South-East Europe to Western Europe Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Quantum communication network project | EU-wide or cross-border | Coordinated by GRNET; the Cypriot part is led by the Cyprus University of Technology | Project | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| Q-net-Q | Quantum communication network project | Germany | Coordinated by Hochschule Nordhausen | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| CZQCI (Czech National Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Quantum communication network project | Czechia | Coordinated by Cybersecurity Hub, zu | Project | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| QCI.DK (Danish Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Quantum communication network project | Denmark | Coordinated by Danmarks Tekniske Universitet | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| EstQCI (Estonian Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Quantum communication network project | Estonia | Coordinated by Justiits- ja Digiministeerium | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| Croatian Quantum Communication Infrastructure – CroQCI | Quantum communication network project | Croatia | Coordinated by Hrvatska Akademska i Istrazivacka Mreza Carnet | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| IrelandQCI (Building a National Quantum Communication Infrastructure for Ireland) | Quantum communication network project | Ireland | Coordinated by South East Technological University | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| Lux4QCI (Luxembourg Experimental Network for Quantum Communication Infrastructure) | Quantum communication network project | Luxembourg | Coordinated by Universite du Luxembourg | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| SiQUID (Slovenian Quantum Communication Infrastructure Demonstration) | Quantum communication network project | Slovenia | Coordinated by Univerza V Ljubljani | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
| NQCIS (National Quantum Communication Infrastructure in Sweden) | Quantum communication network project | Sweden | Coordinated by Kungliga Tekniska Hoegskolan | Project period ended, per the source | Not in the deployment tracker | No current access route recorded |
Infrastructure catalogue · Deployment tracker · How to get access
Infrastructure and deployment status
39 confirmed items.
- BE-QCI (Belgian-QCI)
- BGQCI
- Croatian Quantum Communication Infrastructure – CroQCI
- CYQCI (Cyprus Quantum Communication Infrastructure)
- CZQCI (Czech National Quantum Communication Infrastructure)
See all 39: Infrastructure and deployment status · Catalogue entries of this pillar · Deployment tracker for this pillar
Funding
Upcoming work-programme topics in this technology (the EU programme pipeline) and the funding instruments whose stated quantum relevance names it. The awards of its EU-funded projects and the announced funding rounds follow below.
Upcoming topics in the programme pipeline
No evidence found in these sources. No upcoming topic of the pipeline (read 2026-11-01) names this technology.
Pipeline topics of Quantum communication
Funding instruments
| Instrument | Programme | Stated quantum relevance | Why it is shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIC Accelerator | Horizon Europe: European Innovation Council | The EIC Work Programme 2026 states that the Accelerator Open call remains available to start-ups and SMEs, including for quantum technologies, with specific safeguards on investments in quantum. | Names this technology |
| EIC STEP Scale Up | Horizon Europe: European Innovation Council, Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) | Quantum technologies are among the digital and deep-tech priority areas, and the EIC Work Programme 2026 says support for quantum start-ups will be pursued in particular through this call. | Names this technology |
| EuroHPC JU quantum technology calls (Quantum Flagship) | Horizon Europe: Quantum Flagship, implemented by the EuroHPC JU | Since Council Regulation (EU) 2026/150 entered into force on 20 January 2026, the JU implements the Union's quantum technology agenda, including the Quantum Flagship funded through Horizon Europe, and its 2026 calls cover quantum computing platforms, QKD, testing infrastructure, pilot lines, sensing, machine learning and standards. | Names this technology |
| QuantERA joint transnational calls | QuantERA: network of national research funders with European Commission co-funding | QuantERA is a network of research funders for quantum technologies, and Call 2025 covered quantum phenomena and resources and applied quantum science across communication, computing, simulation, sensing and metrology. | Names this technology |
| CEF Digital: EuroQCI quantum communication interconnections | Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) | CEF Digital funds the cross-border interconnections of the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) for the secure exchange of cryptographic keys across the EU. | Names this technology |
6 more instruments are open to any field of research and are not listed here.
EU and national projects
442 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed and not listed here: 473.
| Measure | Total | Projects with an amount | Projects without one |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU contribution (maximum grant agreed) | EUR 377,374,119.40 | 101 | 0 |
| Total cost (includes the award) | EUR 408,450,490.50 | 71 | 0 |
| Measure | Total | Projects with an amount | Projects without one |
|---|---|---|---|
| award value (Gateway to Research) | GBP 109,672,494 | 62 | 0 |
| approved FWF funding | EUR 5,993,852 | 19 | 0 |
| ANR aid allocated | EUR 4,928,794.30 | 15 | 0 |
| total eligible expenditure | EUR 19,671,288.09 | 14 | 0 |
| funded amount | EUR 2,783,368 | 13 | 0 |
| funded amount | SEK 61,918,431 | 13 | 0 |
| NWO award amount | EUR 6,380,446 | 8 | 0 |
| aid allocated (France 2030, operated by the ANR) | EUR 5,497,403 | 1 | 0 |
| funded amount | HRK 392,000 | 1 | 0 |
| NWO award amount | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| approved total costs | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| award value (Gateway to Research) | 0 | 0 | 93 |
| current total commitment | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| funded amount | 0 | 0 | 53 |
| total awarded | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Each project counts once. A total adds the amount each source states for its projects within one measure and one currency only: EU contributions, national awards and other measures are never added together. Total cost includes the award and is shown separately. A country filter keeps whole projects with a participant in the country, so its total is not the country's share. Programme envelopes, partner shares, co-funding and payments are separate layers and are never added to awards; payments are not published by the sources used. Outputs are linked only through an explicit project or grant identifier or reviewed documentary evidence, never by name alone; only a reviewed document can show a demonstrated contribution. CORDIS and Funding & Tenders amounts are one measure, the EU contribution (maximum grant agreed in the grant agreement, not payments). Country codes EL and UK are read as GR (Greece) and GB (United Kingdom). National and regional rows whose title names no quantum technology are left out unless asked for. EU and national totals are shown apart and never added.
Includes projects from the ANR open data: ANR, data.gouv.fr, ODbL 1.0; those rows are shared alike under the Open Database Licence.
24 confirmed project pages have no award record and are not in the totals.
- QIA-Phase2: Quantum Internet Alliance - Phase2
- QIA-Phase1: Quantum Internet Alliance - Phase1
- OPENQKD: Open European Quantum Key Distribution Testbed
- QIA: Quantum Internet Alliance
- UNIQORN: Affordable Quantum Communication for Everyone: Revolutionizing the Quantum Ecosystem from Fabrication to Application
Funding rounds
1 confirmed item.
Jobs and funding calls
5 confirmed items.
Patents and publications
Patent counts come from EPO Open Patent Services in technology intelligence, by CPC group, and per EPO quantum concept in the technology intelligence reports; publications by OpenAlex topic. The patent series of this node and its documents follow below.
Documented in these sources: 2 indicator pages of this technology.
OpenAlex topics
Patent landscape of Quantum communication in technology intelligence · Technology intelligence report: Quantum memories · All technology intelligence reports
Patents
Published patent documents per year in H04L 9/0852 Quantum cryptography; H04B 10/70 Photonic quantum communication, from technology intelligence (EPO Open Patent Services counts, not patent families).
Status: 12 of 12 years collected.
Patent landscape of Quantum communication in technology intelligence
Documents and publications
6 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed and not listed here: 8.
- The Impact of Quantum Technologies on the EU's Future Policies: Part 2 Quantum communications: from science to policies
- Requirements of a Quantum Key Distribution Reference Platform. JRC Project 867 Quantum Cryptography Study
- Quantum Key Distribution in-field implementations: Technology assessment of QKD deployments
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Experimental Assessment: Overview and performance assessment of QKD system at JRC
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Experimental Assessment: Overview and performance assessment of QTI Quell-X system at JRC
Standards
Standards, specifications, committees and roadmaps of the standards tracker in the scope of this technology, each with its body and status.
Documented in these sources: 20 tracked items.
| Identifier | Title | Kind | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETSI ISG QKD | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) | Committee or group | Active |
| ETSI GS QKD 002 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Use Cases | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 004 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Application Interface | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 005 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Security Proofs | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 011 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Component characterization: characterizing optical components for QKD systems | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 012 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Device and Communication Channel Parameters for QKD Deployment | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 014 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Protocol and data format of REST-based key delivery API | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 015 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Control Interface for Software Defined Networks | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 016 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Common Criteria Protection Profile - Pair of Prepare and Measure Quantum Key Distribution Modules | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 018 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Orchestration Interface for Software Defined Networks | Specification | Published |
| ETSI GS QKD 020 | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); Protocol and data format of REST-based Interoperable Key Management System API | Specification | Published |
| ITU-T Y.3800 | Overview on networks supporting quantum key distribution | Recommendation | Published |
| ITU-T Y.3801 | Functional requirements for quantum key distribution networks | Recommendation | Published |
| ITU-T Y.3802 | Quantum key distribution networks - Functional architecture | Recommendation | Published |
| ITU-T Y.3803 | Quantum key distribution networks - Key management | Recommendation | Published |
| ITU-T Y.3804 | Quantum key distribution networks - Control and management | Recommendation | Published |
| ITU-T Y.3810 | Quantum key distribution network interworking - Framework | Recommendation | Published |
| prCEN/CLC/TR XXX (WI JT022014) | Gaps in IT security evaluation of QKD systems and networks | Work item or project | In development |
| ISO/IEC 23837-1:2023 | Information security — Security requirements, test and evaluation methods for quantum key distribution — Part 1: Requirements | Standard | Published |
| ISO/IEC 23837-2:2023 | Information security — Security requirements, test and evaluation methods for quantum key distribution — Part 2: Evaluation and testing methods | Standard | Published |
9 tracked items are about quantum technologies in general.
Standards and post-quantum products
3 confirmed items.
Policy measures
Actions of the Quantum Europe Strategy (COM(2025) 363) that name this technology or its pillar, or that link one of its facilities, with their status in the strategy tracker.
Documented in these sources: 4 actions.
| Action | Status | Target | Why it is shown | Where in the strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deploy the first EU-interconnected quantum communication network | In progress (evidence) | By 2030 | Names this technology | Section 2.2.2, The EuroQCI Initiative (pp. 8-9) and action list (p. 10); Appendix, Area 2 (p. 23) |
| Launch the Eagle-1 QKD satellite | Announced | 2026 | Names this technology | Section 2.2.2, The EuroQCI Initiative (p. 8) |
| Publish a Quantum Communication Roadmap | Announced | 2026 | Names this technology | Section 2.2.2, action list (p. 10); Appendix, Area 2 (p. 23) |
| Launch a pilot facility for the European Quantum Internet | In progress (evidence) | 2026 | Names this technology | Section 2.2.2, The Quantum Internet Initiative (p. 9) and action list (p. 10); Appendix, Area 2 (p. 23) |
Evidence gaps
Stages of the value chain for which these sources link no documented European actor. Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. A company may well supply the stage without a product page the directory has read; a missing record is never proof of a strategic dependency.
Evidence gap in these sources: 7 stages. Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency.
| Stage | Level | Part of | Platform | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gain-switched laser diodes | Component | Transmitter | Quantum key distribution systems | Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. |
| Quantum channel | Subsystem | Quantum key distribution systems | Quantum key distribution systems | Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. |
| Single-mode telecom fibre | Component | Quantum channel | Quantum key distribution systems | Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. |
| Free-space and satellite links | Component | Quantum channel | Quantum key distribution systems | Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. |
| Planar lightwave circuit interferometers | Component | Receiver | Quantum key distribution systems | Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. |
| Classical post-processing | Subsystem | Quantum key distribution systems | Quantum key distribution systems | Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. |
| Rare-earth-doped crystals | Component | Storage media | Quantum memories for networks | Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. |
Know a European supplier for one of these stages? Tell the editors
Quantum software
8 confirmed items.
Courses and master’s programmes
5 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed and not listed here: 7.
News and events
20 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed and not listed here: 28.
JRC and EU analysis
Reports and pages of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). Identifiers are those of the JRC Publications Repository; the portal does not reproduce their data.
- JRC Quantum Communication and Sensing Laboratory (EuroQCI testing and evaluation laboratory)
The JRC has been selected to host the EuroQCI testing and evaluation laboratory, building on the Digital Europe project NOSTRADAMUS (launched January 2024). The JRC describes its role as generating reproducible technical evidence with a view to future certification, not as guaranteeing that a product is free of vulnerabilities.
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) experimental assessment (ThinkQuantum QuKy)
Functional testing of a commercial QKD system at the JRC. An experimental assessment, not a certification.
- EU role in the global quantum race
Policy brief on the global quantum technology landscape: public and private funding, innovation potential and market perspective.
- Future Directions for Quantum Technology in Europe
Background analysis for the Quantum Europe Strategy: companies, patents, publications, supply chains, public funding and venture capital, by sector (communication including QKD, computing including simulation, sensing, and post-quantum cryptography).
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Experimental Assessment (QTI Quell-X)
Performance assessment of a commercial QKD system installed at the JRC in February 2024. An experimental assessment, not a certification.
- Patent analysis of selected quantum technologies
Patent applications in the EPO Global Patent Index for quantum computing, quantum key distribution, quantum entanglement and cold atom interferometry, with a discussion of method (EUR 29614 EN).
Further reading
- Understanding Quantum Technologies 2025 (Olivier Ezratty, 8th edition, version 8.1 of 30 October 2025, arXiv:2111.15352 (v6), doi:10.48550/arXiv.2111.15352, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)See Part 4: Communications and sensing
- Understanding Quantum Technologies 2026 (Olivier Ezratty, 9th edition, version 9.0 of 17 October 2026 (latest edition))See Part 4: Communications and sensing
Olivier Ezratty, Understanding Quantum Technologies (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Links only; no text of the book is reproduced on this portal.
All technologies · How items are classified · Published classification method · Draft SRIA 2026 chapter: Communication