New European Commission Funding supports the next Stage in the Development of Quantum Internet Technologies and their Deployment –
The Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) has received €47.5 million in new funding from the European Commission to advance the development of a full-stack prototype for a Quantum Internet and prepare it for practical deployment. The funding, provided under the so-called Specific Grant Agreement 2 (SGA2), supports research and development of the full Quantum Internet Prototype over a period of 42 months. It builds on the achievements of the first project phase (SGA1), which ran from October 2022 to March 2026. Prof. Dr. Andreas Reiserer (TU München), a member of the QR.N consortium, is involved in the QIA.
During the first project phase, the QIA expanded its European platform for Quantum Internet Development. Researchers integrated hardware, software and networking technologies, laying the technological foundations for a future Quantum Internet. In the upcoming funding period, these components will be brought together into an integrated, programmable Quantum Internet Prototype capable of running Quantum Network Applications for the first time. An important milestone will be demonstrating the connection of two metropolitan Quantum Networks over long distances. Fibre-optic cables and Quantum Repeaters will be used for this purpose. The demonstration is expected to mark a significant step towards long-distance Quantum Communication.
In addition, the QIA aims to take the first steps towards a European initiative for the Quantum Internet. The focus is on moving Quantum Networking Technologies from the research lab into practical applications. Plans include preparing pilot facilities and establishing open infrastructures that will be accessible to researchers, developers, and companies. The QIA’s holistic approach also includes developing new use cases for Quantum Networks. At the same time, the project is intended to serve as a platform for connecting various European Quantum Internet Initiatives and fostering joint progress. This is intended to lay the foundations for a dynamic and internationally competitive Quantum Ecosystem. Further information about the QIA is available here.
Source references: https://www.nat.tum.de/en/nat/latest/physics/article/qia-enters-phase-to-build-full-stack-quantum-networks/; https://quantuminternetalliance.org/2026/10/01/qia-enters-phase-to-build-full-stack-quantum-networks/