2025 has been a year of strong momentum for QIA, marked by scientific breakthroughs, growing engagement with industry and policymakers, and continued investment in talent and community building. From cutting-edge research to real-world outreach, here is a snapshot of what QIA achieved across the year.

Research and Innovation

25 Scientific Publications in 2025 | QIA partners contributed at least 25 peer-reviewed publications across leading journals, including Nature (1), Science Advances (1), Physical Review X (4), Physical Review Letters (5), Physical Review Applied (2), npj Quantum Information (4), PRX Quantum (1), Quantum (1), Physical Review A (1) and major IEEE conference proceedings. Together, these works advanced quantum network operating systems, memories and repeaters, heterogeneous networking, distributed sensing, cryptography and network software.

QNodeOS | The first operating system for quantum networks was introduced, making app development more accessible across hardware types.

Welinq’s Quantum Memory | A new high-performance quantum memory was launched, supporting scalable, interconnected quantum computing.

Events and Outreach

Mobile World Congress 2025, Barcelona | QIA joined the Quantum Europe space, showcasing the Quantum Network Explorer and engaging with visitors from across Europe and beyond.

Digital Weeks, Brussels | QIA presented current work and future directions to EU policymakers and researchers at the Council of the European Union.

QIA Conference Day, Amsterdam | As part of Quantum Meets ’25, QIA showcased emerging use cases, system progress and commercial pathways during a full day of talks.

QIA Spring Meeting 2025, Innsbruck | Nearly 100 members convened for technical updates, in-depth collaboration and strategic planning.

Quantum.Tech Rotterdam 2025, Rotterdam | QIA joined the Quantum Delta NL booth to highlight progress in quantum computer networking and engage with industry and policymakers.

PI+ Meeting 2025, The Hague | Principal investigators and technical leaders from across the consortium aligned on progress, priorities and next steps for QIA’s roadmap.

European Quantum Technologies Conference (EQTC) 2025, Copenhagen | QIA showcased QNodeOS, the Quantum Network Explorer and prototype quantum network hardware at Europe’s flagship quantum technology conference.

Education and Community

QIA Building for One Europe Internship Programme 2025 | Nine internship opportunities offered by QIA partners across Europe opened for students and researchers interested in quantum technologies. Four internship grants were awarded to PQI, LIP6, UPV and the University of Parma.

Use Case Lectures and Reels | A series of use case lectures for QIA members and public-facing use case reels were launched to raise awareness of real-world quantum network applications.

Quantum Internet Application Challenge (QIAC) 2025 | The third round of QIAC, which invites innovators to develop applications for the emerging quantum internet, opened in November and closes on 21 December 2025. The winner will be announced early next year..

Pan-European Quantum Internet Hackathon 2025 | Researchers, developers and students collaborated Amsterdam, Dresden, Paris, Poznań, and Santiago de Compostela to design and prototype quantum internet applications using SquidASM.

Project Milestones

QIA’s M27 Technical Review | The Technical Review covering progress from April to December 2024 was finalised and submitted to the European Commission.

SGA2 proposal | The second Specific Grant Agreement (SGA2) proposal was finalised and submitted, marking a key step in securing continuity and scale-up of QIA’s work.

Quantum Internet Initiative (QI²) | Progress accelerated on the EU-wide Quantum Internet Initiative (2026–2038), laying the groundwork to translate Europe’s quantum research leadership into an operational and sovereign quantum internet through coordinated research and industry efforts.

Together, these achievements reflect a year in which QIA significantly strengthened the scientific, technical and community foundations needed to build a secure, scalable and open quantum internet—made in Europe, for the world.