Forget AI, Europe has a plan to win the next tech revolution

Europe is preparing a quantum computing strategy that will prioritize industrial policy and investment over regulation, according to a draft document obtained by POLITICO, a departure from the EU's heavily regulatory approach to artificial intelligence. The draft strategy signals Brussels' recognition that it risks falling behind the US and China in the next major technology race, where quantum computing promises breakthroughs in drug discovery, materials science, and cryptography. While specific funding figures were not disclosed in the draft, the EU has previously committed roughly €1 billion through its Quantum Flagship program, and the new strategy is expected to align with broader initiatives like the €200 billion European Chips Act ecosystem. The plan reflects growing pressure from European industry leaders, who have warned that fragmented national efforts and limited venture capital have left the bloc's quantum startups at a disadvantage against better-funded American and Chinese rivals. Officials are expected to finalize the strategy in the coming months, with implementation details—including funding commitments and coordination mechanisms among member states—to watch as the key indicators of whether Europe can translate policy ambition into commercial quantum capability.