2025 marks a turning point for quantum technologies, as investment continues to rise and innovation moves from research to real-world applications. According to McKinsey & Company’s Quantum Technology Monitor 2025, the global market for quantum computing, communication, and sensing could reach up to €90 billion by 2035. Funding momentum is strong. In 2024, venture investment in quantum startups grew by around 50% compared to the previous year, reaching nearly €1.9 billion. Investor focus is also shifting: about 70% of total funding now flows to more mature companies with proven technologies, while selective investment continues in early-stage startups with breakthrough potential.
Unlike classical computers that use bits (0 or 1), quantum computers use qubits: particles that exist in multiple states at once. This enables them to process vast amounts of information simultaneously, solving problems that would take traditional supercomputers millennia. Backed by billions in public and private funding, Europe’s quantum startups are transforming research into commercial reality.
ExciteLab alumni Saxon Q from Leipzig (Germany) has created the world’s first mobile quantum computer that runs at room temperature. A spinout from Leipzig University, it uses diamond-based chips that require no bulky cooling systems. With awards from KfW and Saxon Founders, Saxon Q is already supplying research labs and industrial clients bringing quantum power out of the lab and into real-world use.
Paris-based Alice & Bob is tackling one of quantum computing’s biggest challenges: error correction. Their revolutionary cat qubits can self-correct, reducing the need for complex error management by up to 200x. The startup raised over €130M and is supported by the French government’s PROQCIMA program.
Pasqa from France, develops quantum processors based on neutral atoms trapped in optical lattices, a technology that allows computing power to scale efficiently and sustainably. Its systems are already used by major industrial players such as Saudi Aramco, BMW, and Airbus. In 2023 the startup secured €100 million equity Series B funding.
planqc, a Max Planck Institute spinout, is part of Germany’s Quantum Valley. Backed by €50M in funding, the company is developing a 1000-qubit quantum computer for the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre by 2026. planqc’s technology is already being used for simulations in climate, chemistry, and automotive research, marking a major step toward scalable quantum cloud computing in Europe.
Cambridge-based Riverlane is building the software and chips that make quantum computers reliable. Its Deltaflow™ platform identifies and corrects qubit errors in real time on a scale of millions, even billions of corrections per second. With €69.8M raised and collaborations with Rigetti, Oak Ridge, and national labs, Riverlane is targeting one million error-free quantum operations by 2026.
Espoo’s IQM Quantum Computers is one of Europe’s most advanced superconducting quantum hardware companies. With €558 raised and global clients across Asia, the U.S., and Europe, IQM leads in system deliveries and data center operations. Its goal: scaling from thousands to millions of qubits while keeping Europe at the forefront of commercial quantum computing.
Copenhagen’s Kvantify combines quantum and high-performance computing to accelerate drug discovery. Its Koffee platform helps pharmaceutical companies model molecular interactions faster and more accurately. With €10M in funding, Kvantify is demonstrating how quantum-enhanced tools can bring real value to the life sciences even before full quantum machines exist.
Quandela is Europe’s leader in photonic quantum technology, using single photons as qubits for efficient and modular computing. With €50M in funding, Quandela opened Europe’s first quantum computer factory in 2023 and delivered its first commercial system to OVHcloud. Its MosaiQ platform and Prometheus photon source are advancing France’s EuroQCS initiative and pushing quantum photonics into production.
eleQtron from Siegen uses its patented MAGIC technology to control trapped ions with magnetic fields instead of lasers, making quantum systems simpler and more scalable. Supported by over €50M in funding and partnerships with Jülich and Infineon, eleQtron is developing modular ion-trap processors that could form the backbone of Europe’s first quantum supercomputers.
Espoo-based SemiQon is building cryo-optimized silicon quantum chips using CMOS technology, enabling affordable and energy-efficient processors. With €17.5M from the European Innovation Council, SemiQon is scaling its production to support future quantum and high-performance computing systems, helping position Finland as a leader in sustainable quantum hardware.
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