The European Commission has opened a Call for Evidence on the future of Joint Undertakings (JUs). These are European Partnerships that pool resources from the EU, Member States and industry to drive research and innovation in strategic technologies. For the future of Europe’s quantum community, this is a defining moment.
Making Europe's quantum voice heard
Europe has built a world-class quantum research and innovation base. The design of the next generation of partnerships will help determine whether that base translates into industrial and strategic leadership.
If you care about how quantum is funded, governed and scaled in Europe over the coming decade, this is the moment to put your evidence on record. There is one message the quantum community should make clear in its contributions: the quantum ecosystem needs a dedicated governance structure. One that understands its specific needs and protects its interests when it comes to strategy, coordination and budget. Crucially, this means a ring-fenced budget exclusively for quantum, not pooled or shared with other digital technologies. As the Commission weighs how to streamline and consolidate partnerships, make the case that quantum's distinct requirements should not be diluted within broader thematic groupings. Ensure the quantum community's voice is heard on this point, and put the argument on record while the window is open.
How can you do it?
By going into the "Have your say" portal by the European Commission and submit your contribution before the window closes on the 14th of July 2026.
If you need a little bit more context on why this is important, what the EC is asking for and how to make your voice heard, please keep reading!
Why this concerns the quantum ecosystem
The Call for Evidence accompanies a forthcoming proposal for a Single Basic Act (SBA). This SBA would place the next generation of Joint Undertakings on a single, coherent legal basis for the next Horizon Europe framework programme (2028–2034). The aim is to streamline governance, harmonise rules across partnerships, and tie research investment more tightly to deployment. All of this would be done through a European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) that covers the whole journey of innovation: from research to commercialisation.
Quantum technologies are at a defining moment, that is addressed directly by this initiative. The Commission has identified several problems it wants to tackle regarding the JUs:
Anyone who has worked to move quantum research toward market uptake will recognise these challenges. And therefore, it is important that the European Quantum Comminity contributes with evidence.
What the Commission is asking
This is a Call for Evidence, not yet the full public consultation. We’re at an early stage, where the Commission gathers input on its understanding of the problem and the possible solutions before drafting legislation.
The Commission is particularly interested in evidence on how the partnership instrument could be improved to strengthen Europe's competitiveness: for example, on the architecture of JUs (including possible new topics, or merging existing ones by thematic area), the need for stronger links to deployment and the ECF, their governance, financing of higher-TRL activities, and making partnerships more accessible to start-ups and scale-ups.
Your contribution counts — here's how to make it count
The Commission weighs feedback on its quality and relevance, so a well-prepared contribution carries real weight. To follow the EU's rules for feedback:
Feedback received is published on the portal and feeds directly into the Commission's impact assessment, which will run through 2026. A separate, longer public consultation is expected to follow this call for evidence, giving further opportunities to engage.
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