Nineteen partners from nine European countries have joined forces to strengthen collaboration between research, industry and institutions, creating new opportunities in the field of quantum technologies.
How can the potential of quantum technologies be translated into concrete opportunities for businesses? And how can a European network bring together expertise, resources and innovation initiatives?
These are some of the challenges at the heart of EQUIVALEMT – European Quantum Innovation VALleys as Strategic Emerging Technologies, a project funded by EISMEA, executive agency of the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme, which officially kicked off with a meeting held from 20 to 22 October 2026 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Hosted by the project coordinator, the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN), the meeting brought together representatives of the consortium to define operational priorities, discuss their respective areas of activity and plan the next steps.
The consortium comprises 19 partners from nine European countries, including regional authorities, universities, research centers, technology clusters and businesses. This collaboration brings together complementary scientific, industrial and institutional expertise to address some of the sector's key challenges, from fragmented regional ecosystems and limited access to funding to the need to align emerging technologies with market needs.
During the three-day meeting, partners discussed the project's main areas of activity, including technological landscape and market analysis, skills development, entrepreneurship support and the creation of new synergies among stakeholders across the quantum value chain.
The Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering at Politecnico di Milano is participating in the initiative through the expertise of the Quantum Computing & Communication Observatory. Under the scientific leadership of Professor Alessandro Perego, the Department will contribute to the development of strategies for strengthening the European quantum ecosystem and coordinate the Entrepreneurship and Value-chain Collaboration work package.
The Department's contribution will focus particularly on engagement with industry. Drawing on its experience in analyzing the quantum sector and working with businesses, it will help connect market needs with the opportunities offered by emerging technologies.
The kick-off meeting marks the beginning of an international collaboration in which the Department will contribute its expertise to building stronger connections among key players in Europe's quantum innovation ecosystem.