by Carlo Mastroianni (CNR-ICAR) and José Francisco Chicano García (UMA)
On 2 December 2025, the inaugural workshop of the newly established ERCIM Working Group (WG) on Quantum Technologies (QT) was held at the Lloyd’s Baia Hotel in Vietri sul Mare, Italy. Organised as a central part of the XXI ICAR-CNR workshop, this event brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the future of quantum computing, communication, and sensing. The meeting was sponsored by the National Quantum Science and Technology Institute (NQSTI) and supported by the newly formed WG, marking a significant milestone in ERCIM's commitment to the emerging quantum economy.
Strategic Vision of the Working Group
The establishment of the QT Working Group is a response to the rapid reshaping of information processing and sensing driven by quantum technologies. The working group, currently chaired by Francisco Chicano (University of Malaga) and Carlo Mastroianni (CNR), aims to strengthen European research by bringing together expertise from academia and industry to address critical bottlenecks such as scalability, error correction, system integration and benchmarking.
Guided by its chairpersons and a Steering Committee (SC), which is still under development, the Group aims to accelerate the transition from laboratory-based experiments to deployable quantum technologies. This synergy is essential for Europe's leadership in the emerging quantum economy. More specifically, the Working Group aims to focus on a series of activities such as projects, workshops and knowledge dissemination for fostering the European research and development on quantum computing, communication, sensing and hardware platforms. These will be among the main issues of current and future research efforts for “quantum technologies” in a broad sense in Europe [L1, L2] ). One main source of possible funding will be EU research programmes. In particular, the scope of the WG matches the objectives of the Quantum Flagship [L3] and the funding opportunities offered by EU calls [L4].
Fabio Martinelli, Director of CNR-ICAR, addresses the participants at the ERCIM event on Quantum Computing, held as part of the XXI ICAR–CNR Workshop on 2 December 2025.
Morning Session: Future Trends in Academia
The workshop [L5] opened with introductions from Emilio Fortunato Campana (Director of the DIIET Department of CNR) and Han La Poutré (CWI and Elected President of ERCIM). The morning sessions focused on research trends within academia and research institutes, featuring contributions from a wide range of ERCIM and external institutions including NQSTI (Italy, Francesco Saverio Cataliotti), University of Malaga (Spain, Francisco Chicano), FORTH/University of Crete (Greece, George Stamatiou), King’s College of London (UK, Mohammad Reza Mousavi), CNR (Italy, Carlo Mastroianni), NTNU (Norway, Asle Sudbø), SBA (Austria, Sebastian Raubitzek), and RISE (Sweden, Miroslav Dobsicek).
Key research areas discussed included:
- Foundations and Algorithms: investigating quantum algorithms for optimisation, information retrieval, and machine learning.
- Networking and Security: exploring Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and the protocols necessary for a future Quantum Internet.
- Hybrid Systems: analyzing the interplay between quantum hardware and classical High Performance Computing (HPC).
- Quantum Software Engineering: adapting and creating new methodologies to design, test, and debug quantum and hybrid systems.
The academic dialogue was further enriched by a contribution from the European Commission, represented by Prof. Oscar Diez (DG CONNECT) who highlighted the alignment between the WG’s goals and major European initiatives such as the Quantum Flagship and the development of the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI).
Afternoon Session: Industrial Contributions
The afternoon session, chaired by Marco Pota (ICAR-CNR) was dedicated to industrial research innovation trends. It featured an in-depth exchange with representatives from major industrial players and specialised quantum technology companies, including D-Wave, Quantum2PI, Leonardo, IQM, Fujitsu, QuantumNet and QTI.
The goal of this session was to identify industrial challenges that can be tackled through academic research and vice versa. Industry experts and researchers discussed the development of diverse hardware platforms, such as superconducting, photonic, and ion-trap systems, while emphasizing the need for best practices in scientific reproduction and performance benchmarking.
Key Outcomes and Future Initiatives
The workshop was characterised by intense engagement and productive networking, including several collaborative initiatives on specific scientific themes, which will help to define the WG’s trajectory in the coming years. A major focus of the discussions concerned joint participation European research funding programmes. The WG is actively encouraging its members to prepare joint proposals targeting opportunities under the Quantum Flagship and other EU funding schemes. Furthermore, there was a clear consensus on extending the group’s membership. Plans are already underway to expand the WG beyond its initial core to include other ERCIM institutions, external research entities, and industrial partners. This expansion is intended to create a more comprehensive and inclusive ecosystem for quantum research in Europe.
In addition to these research goals, dissemination also represents a key mission. A Special Issue of ERCIM News dedicated to Quantum Technologies is currently under preparation, aiming to showcase recent scientific advances and strategic developments within the community. Building on the success of this inaugural event, planning has already begun for the next workshop, which is expected to further consolidate the group's role as a cornerstone of European quantum innovation.
The workshop organised by ICAR-CNR was held in Vietri sul Mare, Italy on the beautiful Amalfi coast.
Conclusion
The first workshop of the Quantum Technology Working Group successfully established a platform for innovation and collaboration. By supporting the growth of early career researchers, stimulating mobility, and strengthening links between academia and industry, the WG is well positioned to drive the transition of quantum technologies from theory to reality. The foundations laid in Vietri sul Mare promise a vibrant and productive future for the ERCIM quantum community.
Researchers interested in contributing to the activities of the Working Group are warmly invited to participate and are encouraged to contact the chairs for further information.
Links:
[L1] https://qt.eu/
[L2] https://kwz.me/h8I
[L3] https://qt.eu/about-quantum-flagship/
[L4] https://qt.eu/funding-opportunities/
[L5] https://ercim-qt-wg.icar.cnr.it/
Please contact:
Carlo Mastroianni, CNR-ICAR, Italy
Working Group co-chair
Francisco Chicano
University of Málaga, Spain
Working Group co-chair
