“No better place to strike quantum conversations”: CERN hosts European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC)
Designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, 2025 was a pivotal year for quantum technologies worldwide, underscoring the urgency of translating lab breakthroughs into practical applications.
CERN, long known for pushing the frontiers of physics, positioned itself at the centre of Europe’s quantum landscape by hosting the annual QuIC Business Community (QBC) Summit in November. The event brought together over 100 leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to discuss the commercialisation, scaling, and societal impact of quantum technologies.
The summit illustrated CERN’s dual role as a driver of scientific excellence and a facilitator of industrial partnerships.
“There is no better place than CERN to strike delicate yet honest quantum conversations.”
Thierry Botter, QuIC Executive Director
The CERN Quantum Technology Initiative (QTI), coordinated by Sofia Vallecorsa, studies the impact of quantum technologies on the CERN research programme, while investigating the application of CERN technologies to quantum science. Through CERN QTI, the Organization provides a platform for co-development, offering access to technologies, testbeds, and expertise to support quantum startups and industrial partners alike.
The QBC Summit comprised nine panels and keynote talks over two days. Sessions like Quantum for Good highlighted how quantum computing could address societal challenges, including climate modelling, cybersecurity, advanced materials, and healthcare. Industry panels emphasised bridging research and applications, with CERN cited as a prime example of an institution that functions both as a testbed and early adopter of quantum solutions. Amanda Díez Fernández, CERN QTI Partnerships Coordinator, explained, “Through the QTI, CERN provides potential use cases for quantum computers and makes its technology and expertise available to quantum technology companies.”
Other discussions focused on talent cultivation and startup support.
“CERN plays a crucial role in the creation and education of
Tomek Schulz, Co-founder of Kiutra, a startup providing cryogenic cooling solutions
talent in regard to quantum and beyond.”
Panels such as Building Quantum Unicorns and Converging Bits and Qubits stressed the importance of deep-tech startup acceleration, where programmes like CERN Venture Connect provide access to technologies, networks, and investor communities.
The summit also highlighted Europe-wide quantum infrastructure initiatives. Discussions referenced the Quantum Internet Alliance, EuroQCI, and Geneva’s first six-node quantum network.
CERN technologies for quantum applications
CERN contributes key enabling technologies and expertise that are helping shape Europe’s quantum ecosystem.
The White Rabbit technology, born at CERN as a result of a collaborative effort, provides sub-nanosecond timing and synchronisation, powering quantum networks such as the Geneva Quantum Network.
The laboratory is also supporting the quantum company, PASQAL, to help them extend their qubit life by improving their vacuum system. Precision ASICs, including PicoTDC, enable ultra-accurate time-to-digital conversion for quantum measurements and experiments, exemplified by ID Quantique’s ID1000 time-tagger. Beyond devices, CERN also provides use cases for quantum technologies, allowing startups and industrial partners to validate and scale quantum technologies in real-world conditions.
Nu Quantum, a UK-based firm, partnered with CERN’s White Rabbit Collaboration to connect modular quantum processors for scalable quantum computing.
“The high-value systems we are creating need very precise and synchronised orchestration: White Rabbit is the perfect tool to deliver this, and
Ed Wood, Nu Quantum VP of Product
we are delighted to be collaborating with CERN to make it happen.”
This collaboration, part of the White Rabbit industrial partnership programme, allows Nu Quantum to accelerate the deployment of Quantum Networking Units capable of connecting multiple processors into distributed quantum machines, demonstrating CERN’s tangible contribution to industrial-scale quantum solutions.
By hosting the 2025 QuIC Summit, CERN not only facilitated dialogue across the European quantum ecosystem but worked with the partners present to actively shape it. With measurable impacts including technology transfer, startup acceleration, and talent development, CERN’s contributions demonstrate that large research infrastructures can drive industry-scale innovation. As Benjamin Frisch, Head of CERN Business Development, concluded, “Progress in the quantum field depends on strong collaboration across research, industry, and policy with each entity playing a crucial role in ensuring that quantum technologies develop responsibly and deliver real value to society.”
CERN technical contacts: Sofia Vallecorsa, Coordinator of the CERN Quantum Technology Initiative; Michele Grossi, Maurizio Pierini, Edoardo Martelli and Amanda Diez, coordinators of the four Centres of Competence of the QTI.