Nearly 200 researchers, industry representatives, and policymakers convened in Lisbon on September 28-29, 2026, indicating strong engagement within Europe’s developing quantum internet community. The Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) Community Event connected scientific progress with European strategy, as Laurent Olislager of the European Commission shared the Commission’s quantum internet strategy at the gathering. The event presented advances ranging from 50 kilometer entanglement of qubits to the development of QNodeOS, an operating system for the quantum internet.
European Commission Outlines Quantum Internet Strategy
The event, held in Lisbon, provided a platform to translate scientific advancements into actionable policy, a key element for maintaining European leadership in the emerging quantum field. Lopez of Telefónica brought perspectives from research and education networks and the telecommunications sector. A panel discussion, moderated by Leo Trukšāns, brought together representatives from diverse sectors, including finance, telecommunications and space exploration, to explore potential use cases and identify the specific requirements of future industrial users.
The mix of startups, technology developers and established organizations brought different perspectives to the question of who will use quantum networking technologies and what they will need. Scientific presentations at the event presented tangible progress towards realizing a functional quantum internet.
Ben Lanyon presented results demonstrating entanglement of trapped-ion qubits over a 50 kilometer fiber link, a significant step towards extending the range of quantum communication. Researchers also detailed advancements in multiplexed quantum memories, essential for enabling long-distance quantum networks, and QNodeOS, an operating system designed to manage and control quantum internet nodes. The QIA Community Event itself, attracting nearly 200 onsite participants and approximately 130 online attendees, demonstrated a high level of engagement within Europe’s quantum internet community.
Stephanie Wehner, QIA Director, articulated the ambition for a global quantum internet originating in Europe, a vision that requires sustained investment, collaborative partnerships and a clear strategic direction. The event concluded with a workshop focused on strengthening the quantum internet community and exploring the role of the Quantum Internet Initiative (QI²) in achieving Europe’s long-term goals, solidifying the commitment to building both the network and the collaborative spirit needed to sustain it.
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