Policy recommendations

Designing effective quantum policy

Emerging technologies like quantum introduce unique challenges for policy design, including deep uncertainty, long development timelines, and cross-sector impacts. To identify effective measures, it is essential to consider these complexities and assess the appropriate scale of national, Nordic-Baltic, or European for coordinated action.

The following summary provides an overview of the key considerations for designing effective quantum policies for the Nordic-Baltic level before delving into a more detailed examination of those.

Key considerations

Scientific uncertainty and slow path to market
Intensifying global competition for strategic technologies
Potential for transformative societal impact across sectors
Uneven development pace and varying impact across technologies
Lack of clear adoption roadmaps in industries
Need for a balance between supply-side and demand-side policies
Importance of targeted actions at the cross-country level for maximum impact

Designing effective policy for quantum technologies is uniquely challenging. Unlike mature sectors, quantum innovation unfolds amid deep scientific uncertainty, long and unpredictable development timelines, dual-use sensitivities, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Several features set quantum technologies apart as a policy domain. Key applications, especially in computing, may take 5 to 15 years to mature. Most industries still lack clear adoption roadmaps, further slowing market formation and practical impact. At the same time, rising concerns over security, technological sovereignty, and dual-use governance are intensifying as quantum intersects with critical infrastructure and defense systems.

Conventional policy tools, such as isolated R&D funding or market incentives, are insufficient in this context. Forward-looking quantum policy requires strategic foresight, systemic thinking, and adaptability. It should enable experimentation, support long-term capability building, and foster collaboration across sectors and borders while recognizing that quantum technologies offer competitive advantages and the potential to transform key societal systems for the better.

Greater impact through Nordic-Baltic collaboration

Cross-country efforts can help better leverage the opportunities presented by quantum technologies. Fragmented strategies, short-term funding cycles, and isolated pilot efforts limit the ability to compete globally, scale innovations, and build the necessary depth. By aligning national priorities, developing shared infrastructure, and amplifying joint strengths, Northern European countries can play a more influential role in shaping the global quantum future in specific domains.

When designing collaborative efforts, assessing which policy challenges and opportunities call for joint responses at this scale is critical. Some issues may be more effectively addressed through national programmes or European-level instruments, while others benefit from cross-country coordination, particularly where complementary strengths or shared needs exist.

In a globally competitive landscape, policies must also reflect the operating realities of quantum firms, which scale internationally from day one. Cross-border collaboration can create the right conditions for innovation, resilience, and visibility, supporting trusted partnerships and technological sovereignty without duplicating national efforts.

Need for balanced policy instruments

A balanced mix of supply—and demand-side policy instruments is essential to effectively developing and applying quantum technologies.

Supply-side instruments aim to strengthen the foundational ecosystem by investing in quantum research, funding PhD programs, establishing national quantum laboratories and testbeds, and supporting start-ups. These initiatives help build the necessary scientific expertise and technical infrastructure for developing quantum hardware, algorithms, and software.

Demand-side instruments are equally crucial but often underused in deep tech fields like quantum. Key measures include public procurement of quantum-safe encryption solutions, integrating quantum capabilities into national security and space programs, and setting standards for post-quantum cryptography. Innovation subsidies and pilot programs can also help various industries explore quantum applications.

Both sides are vital for a robust quantum ecosystem. Supply-side policies ensure the development of quantum solutions, but without concurrent demand-side initiatives, these technologies may lack real-world applications and market feedback. Conversely, demand-side policies without domestic capabilities can lead to dependency on foreign suppliers and missed strategic opportunities.

To foster the growth of quantum technologies, policymakers should create coordinated strategies that invest in research and development while stimulating early markets, guiding standards, and mitigating risks in key sectors.

Policy gaps at the Nordic-Baltic level

Although the Nordic-Baltic region has a strong scientific foundation and burgeoning commercial activity, its quantum ecosystem encounters several significant policy gaps that must be addressed to ensure global competitiveness, strategic coordination, and sustainable growth. These gaps underscore the need for a more strategic, coordinated, and well-funded regional policy approach that aligns national efforts, enables shared infrastructure, fosters demand-side uptake, and secures the Nordic-Baltic region’s place in the global quantum landscape.

Key policy caps

Fragmented national strategies and coordination
Insufficient long-term and strategic funding
Limited access to and participation in international programs
Low industry awareness and uptake
Lack of strategic differentiation and prioritization
Gaps in experimental infrastructure and hardware access
Talent and education gaps

Fragmented national strategies and coordination

Denmark and Finland have established an active national quantum strategy, providing a clear vision and structure for investments, talent development, and international collaboration. Norway and Sweden are preparing to launch their national quantum strategy shortly, signalling progress toward stronger national coordination. However, other countries in the region still lack a comprehensive national quantum strategy. This uneven landscape creates asymmetries in investment prioritization, limits alignment across stakeholders, and hampers regional coordination. The Nordic quantum community has broadly identified the lack of national coordination and coherent strategies as a critical weakness holding back the region’s collective potential.

Insufficient long-term and strategic funding

Many countries in the region report inadequate quantum-specific funding, particularly for long-term R&D, infrastructure, and talent pipelines. Lithuania and Norway note gaps in public funding and limited success in attracting EU project financing. A region-wide shortage of long-term investment mechanisms is a barrier to scaling deep-tech ventures and sustaining innovation.

Limited access to and participation in international programs

Countries like Lithuania highlight insufficient participation in international quantum programs and networks, resulting in slower progress and fewer collaboration opportunities. Non-EU countries like Norway face structural disadvantages in EU-wide initiatives like EuroQCI and DIGITAL Europe due to their status and funding rules, limiting their engagement and integration into broader European efforts.

Low industry awareness and uptake

Across the Nordic-Baltic region, there is low awareness of quantum technologies among industry players, particularly SMEs. End-users often lack the competence to evaluate or integrate quantum solutions, resulting in weak early demand. This slows down commercialization and prevents the formation of domestic lead markets.

Lack of strategic differentiation and prioritization

In smaller countries, with limited funding opportunities, the need for focused strategic prioritization is especially pressing. Without clear national choices on niche areas of strength, limited resources risk being spread too thinly. Strategic differentiation is essential for becoming a credible global partner in selected domains.

Gaps in experimental infrastructure and hardware access

Some countries report limited access to quantum hardware and experimental testbeds, constraining research, validation, and skill development. Norway, for instance, notes weak experimental activity as a significant obstacle to building a robust quantum R&D environment.

Talent and education gaps

A strong and future-ready talent base is essential for sustaining quantum innovation, yet countries across the region report significant challenges in education and workforce development. For example, Sweden identifies a shortage of skilled professionals, particularly postdoctoral researchers, and faces intense international competition for top talent. While quantum physics is typically included in university curricula, there is a notable lack of dedicated education in quantum engineering and applied technologies. Norway highlights the need for tailored education pathways, including study programs on quantum science and technology. Finland emphasizes the importance of cross-border coordination in education and the development of workforce retraining programs to help existing professionals transition into quantum-relevant roles. Without targeted and collaborative action, the region risks falling behind in the global race for quantum talent.

Operationalizing strategic goals

Designing effective quantum policy requires addressing both global competitive pressures and the unique challenges of emerging technologies. Six strategic objectives have been identified based on policy gaps and systemic needs analysis. These objectives reflect the areas where combining efforts and resources across the Nordic and Baltic countries can deliver a greater impact. They focus on strengthening capabilities and infrastructure, stimulating demand and ecosystem growth, and ensuring the Nordic's collective voice is heard on European and global stages.

Beyond impact and economic value creation, these objectives also draw on the shared values of the Nordic and Baltic countries. Collaboration is underpinned by a common commitment to openness, inclusivity, sustainability, and responsible innovation principles that are increasingly important in a world of geopolitical tension and technological competition. Like in the European AI policy space, the Nordic-Baltic countries can act as trusted and values-driven players in the development of quantum technologies.

Strategic objectives

Strengthen the competitiveness in quantum tech
Stimulate demand and activate the ecosystem
Enhance global positioning and influence
Create a vibrant quantum talent and job market
Improve security, strategic autonomy, and resilience
Drive ethical and sustainable quantum innovation

This framework offers a coherent approach to advancing the region’s position in the global quantum technology landscape by identifying the most impactful policy actions under each objective. Policymakers can use these actions to select and implement measures that align with their strategic priorities, thereby turning these shared goals into practical steps for quantum innovation and societal benefit.

By identifying the most impactful policy actions under each objective, a comprehensive framework emerges to guide the development of targeted, practical measures. These measures provide a pathway to turn strategic goals into actionable steps that advance the Nordic-Baltic position in the global quantum technology landscape.

Strengthen competitiveness in quantum tech

The first set of policy actions focuses on reinforcing the supply side of the quantum ecosystem by supporting researchers, startups, and scale-ups through targeted Nordic-Baltic-level initiatives. These measures aim to translate scientific excellence into sustainable economic growth and long-term technological leadership.

Policy action	Implementation	Key stakeholders
Nordic-Baltic quantum infrastructure access program	Provide cross-border access to testbeds, processors, and simulators via a virtual portal and federated infrastructure with shared scheduling.	Research labs, HPC centers, digital infrastructure providers, funding agencies.
Quantum export acceleration	Promote internationalization through joint export services, pitch events, delegations, and market entry support.	Trade promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, national export offices, quantum firms.
Startup and scale-up support program	Support growth through access to incubators, accelerators, mentoring, and early-stage funding across the region.	Startup hubs, tech parks, venture capital firms, regional economic development offices.

Stimulate demand and activate the ecosystem

Creating early demand is essential for transforming Nordic-Baltic quantum research excellence into real-world impact and commercial success. While the region has a strong scientific foundation, the market for quantum technologies remains nascent and fragmented.

To bridge this gap, policy efforts should focus on de-risking early adoption, raising awareness among industry and public sector users, and enabling practical experimentation. By stimulating demand through targeted procurement, use-case challenges, and adoption incentives, the region can help build lead markets, validate business models, and accelerate the growth of a robust quantum economy.

The following policy actions outline concrete steps to drive demand and position the Nordic-Baltic region as both a testbed and an early adopter of quantum innovation.

Policy action	Implementation	Key stakeholders
Quantum industry awareness program	Raise understanding and readiness through sector-specific workshops, use case handbooks, readiness tools, and targeted outreach campaigns.	Industry associations, chambers of commerce, innovation agencies, quantum startups.
Quantum use case roadmaps by sector	Co-develop sectoral roadmaps and impact assessments via consultation and foresight exercises with industry and research stakeholders.	Sector-specific stakeholders (energy, logistics, health), policy think tanks, research groups.
Quantum use case fund and adoption vouchers	Launch open innovation challenges with funding, mentoring, and testing support. Offer micro-grants (€10k–€50k) for feasibility studies and prototype development.	Universities, research institutes, startups, large corporates, funding bodies.

Enhance global positioning and influence

Individually, the Nordic and Baltic countries are relatively small players in the global quantum landscape. However, they can significantly amplify their influence by acting together as a coordinated regional bloc. Aligning national strategies, presenting a unified voice in European and international forums, and showcasing regional excellence in research and innovation enables the region to shape global standards, funding priorities, and technology governance. Joint action strengthens the region’s visibility, credibility, and ability to form strategic partnerships, positioning the area as a respected and influential actor in the future of quantum technologies.

Policy action	Implementation	Key stakeholders
Nordic-Baltic quantum brand and visibility campaign	Strengthen international visibility through digital storytelling, brand toolkit, showcase events, and targeted media engagement.	Trade promotion agencies, communication strategists, scientific publishers, tech ambassadors.
Convene a Quantum foresight network	Bring together key research, industry, and government actors to form agile Quantum foresight network. The goal is to inform strategic decisions, guide policy adjustments and help prioritize investments.	Research leaders, industry experts, ethics councils, innovation agencies.
Multilateral quantum tech diplomacy dialogues	Advance trust-based global partnerships through regular high-level dialogues with EU, US, Japan, Korea, and other quantum-active regions.	Foreign ministries, R&D diplomacy networks, think tanks, multilateral cooperation bodies.

Create a vibrant quantum talent and job market

A strong quantum workforce is the foundation of a globally competitive innovation ecosystem. For the Nordic-Baltic region to lead in quantum technologies, it must develop a deep and diverse pool of talent and ensure that talent can find meaningful, well-aligned employment across research, industry, and government. This requires investing in education and skills and supporting career mobility, job creation, and workforce adaptation. The following policy actions aim to match the growing supply of quantum-competent professionals with emerging demand across sectors and borders, building a dynamic and attractive job market.

Policy action	Implementation	Key stakeholders
Nordic-Baltic joint quantum education program	Launch joint MSc/PhD programs, shared modules, and credit recognition to support harmonized quantum education across borders.	Universities, national education ministries, academic consortia, accreditation bodies.
Quantum career mobility and fellowship scheme	Offer postdoc fellowships, industry internships, and mobility grants to promote regional knowledge exchange and talent circulation.	Research institutes, funding agencies, industry partners, talent mobility organizations.
Quantum workforce upskilling and retraining initiative	Deliver modular online courses, bootcamps, and certifications in collaboration with industry to retrain and upskill the existing workforce.	Vocational institutions, training providers, chambers of commerce, innovation agencies.

Improve security, strategic autonomy and resilience

As quantum technologies advance, urgent challenges emerge in cybersecurity, defense, and industrial sovereignty. The Nordic-Baltic region must prepare for post-quantum threats and reduce reliance on fragile or foreign-controlled supply chains, especially in hardware. Strengthening secure infrastructure, export controls, dual-use governance, and strategic foresight is essential for long-term resilience. The policy actions below aim to build sovereign and trusted capabilities aligned with shared values and interests.

Policy action	Implementation	Key stakeholders
Strategic materials and hardware supply chain strategy	Map supply chains, assess risks, and strengthen resilience through stockpiling and strategic industry partnerships.	Quantum hardware companies, industry alliances, supply chain analysts, trade ministries.
Sovereign capability development for critical applications	Fund long-term R&D and build regional capabilities for defense-relevant quantum sensing and encryption solutions.	Defense ministries, national labs, dual-use research centers, strategic innovation funds.
Secure quantum communication infrastructure initiative	Leverage EuroQCI to build secure, sovereign Nordic–Baltic quantum networks	Telecom operators, national security agencies, EuroQCI coordinators, digital ministries, innovation funds.

Drive ethical and sustainable quantum innovation

As quantum technologies advance, their development must align with the Nordic-Baltic region’s responsibility, inclusivity, and sustainability values. The proactive policy can ensure that quantum innovation serves technological and economic goals and addresses broader societal and environmental implications. This section outlines selected policy actions integrating ethical foresight, public engagement, education, and governance into the region’s quantum agenda, positioning the Nordic-Baltic countries as global leaders in responsible quantum development.

Policy action	Implementation	Key stakeholders
Position paper on responsible quantum development	Develop a shared Nordic-Baltic voice on ethical, sustainable, and human-centered quantum innovation through joint drafting, consultation, and publication.	Ministries, ethics councils, quantum researchers, innovation agencies.
Ethics and society modules in quantum education	Integrate ethical, legal, and sustainability aspects into quantum education via curriculum development and joint MSc/PhD initiatives.	Universities, education ministries, academic networks, quantum industry advisors.
Ethical guidelines for quantum innovation	Establish ethical guidelines for quantum R&D by benchmarking global practices and engaging expert working groups for voluntary adoption.	Research institutions, funding bodies, legal and ethics experts, industry representatives.

High-priority policy recommendations

In this final section, we focus on identifying and presenting a set of easily communicable and practical policy recommendations that align with the strategic objectives outlined earlier in this chapter. While the preceding sections have mapped out the key challenges, policy gaps, and a rich toolbox of policy measures, this section highlights a focused set of high-impact measures designed to be both highly implementable and influential at the cross-country level.

The aim is to leverage shared capabilities, foster collaboration, and amplify the region’s role in shaping the future of quantum technologies. These recommendations also emphasize the need to align national and cross-country actions, ensure efficient resource use, proactive adaptation to evolving technologies and markets, and strengthen positioning on the global stage.

Prioritized high-impact policy recommendations

Establish a Quantum coordination forum

Establish a Nordic-Baltic quantum thought leadership and strategic influence initiative

Launch ambitious cross-country quantum pilot projects

To turn strategic ambitions into tangible results, three high-priority actions have been identified for their strong potential impact and practical feasibility. Two of these actions focus on improving regional coordination and projecting a unified Nordic-Baltic voice in global quantum discussions, which are crucial in a fast-moving landscape marked by technological disruption, fragmented investments, and increasing geopolitical complexity. These efforts are designed to align national strategies, coordinate input, and ensure that the region plays an influential role in shaping international quantum agendas. The third action, launching joint pilot projects, demonstrates how cross-border collaboration can translate shared goals into real-world outcomes. The following sections explore each of these priority actions in more detail.

Establish a Quantum coordination forum

To ensure strategic alignment and efficient use of resources, we propose the establishment of a lightweight Nordic-Baltic Quantum Coordination Forum. This forum would convene representatives from national innovation agencies, research networks, and quantum industry clusters to coordinate cross-border efforts and provide a shared platform for strategic dialogue, joint planning, and the identification of regional synergies.

The forum should build on and leverage established cross-country coordination structures (e.g. Nordic Quantum). Moreover, existing organisations already active in orchestrating national-level quantum activities must play a central role in this initiative. The forum would act as a connective layer, enhancing coherence, aligning timelines, and enabling mutual learning across the region. This approach will also help avoid fragmentation and ensure complementarity with national strategies and programmes.

While the exact institutional structure should remain flexible, a suitable host could be identified from among existing Nordic-level organisations with a track record in coordinating innovation, research, or industrial collaboration. Crucially, dedicated funding must be secured to support the forum’s coordination activities, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation of cross-country initiatives.

This forum would serve as a foundational mechanism for achieving the broader vision outlined by the Nordic Prime Ministers’ Joint Statement on Quantum Technologies, helping translate political ambition into sustained collaboration and long-term impact.

Establish a Nordic-Baltic Quantum Thought Leadership and Strategic Influence Initiative

Position the Nordic-Baltic region as a globally recognised thought leader in quantum technologies by coordinating joint contributions to international discourse, policy development, and standards setting. This initiative would support the publication of white papers, participation in expert panels, and representation in key global forums, such as ISO, ETSI, and relevant EU or OECD groups, on topics including interoperability, ethical frameworks, governance models, and strategic technology foresight. By mobilising research leaders, industry experts, and innovation agencies, the region can shape emerging global agendas, promote responsible quantum development, and ensure that its values and priorities are embedded in future international frameworks.

Launch ambitious cross-country quantum pilot projects

Establish a coordinated program of bold, research-driven quantum pilot projects involving research organizations, technology providers, and end-user companies across Nordic and Baltic countries. These pilots actively engage end-users in development, accelerating technology readiness and market entry while elevating the Nordic-Baltic brand as a global quantum technology leader. The projects will attract a diverse funding mix, combining public investment with contributions from major foundations, and will strengthen collaboration across the entire quantum technology value chain.