Finland to lead EU defence project on quantum technology

By admin On May 31, 2025

Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen. Photo: Mikko Stig / Str / Lehtikuva

Finland will head a new European Union defence project aimed at applying quantum technologies to future battlefield and surveillance systems, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Friday.

The project, named Quantum Enablers for Strategic Advantage (Quest), is part of the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (Pesco) initiative. It focuses on the use of quantum computing, sensing and metrology in areas such as encryption-breaking, positioning and air and missile defence.

The initiative was proposed by Finland and drew the broadest interest among the 11 new defence projects announced under Pesco. It will be developed in collaboration with Germany, Denmark, Latvia and Italy, while Sweden, Greece and the Netherlands will join as observers.

“Finland has cutting-edge expertise in quantum technology, and we have one of the most advanced quantum technology ecosystems,” Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said in a statement.

The programme will be jointly coordinated by Finland’s Ministry of Defence and the VTT Technical Research Centre.

Although practical implementation plans and budget figures have not yet been disclosed, the ministry stressed the project’s strategic importance in light of emerging technological threats and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to Häkkänen, the Quest project will “create a solid foundation for the application of quantum technology for defence” in cooperation with European partners.

While quantum computers are still in early stages of development, recent warnings from the US intelligence community have highlighted the urgency of investment in this field. On Wednesday, the US Defense Intelligence Agency stated that “quantum technologies are nearing battlefield relevance”, particularly for sensors and computing.

Officials noted that both China and Russia have developed high-performance quantum computers, which could be used to break encrypted communication or locate objects such as submarines or underground structures in areas where GPS is unavailable.

Quantum computing operates on a fundamentally different logic than traditional computing and could, in theory, process vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds. Although commercial and military applications remain limited, expectations for their future capabilities are high.

“Quantum computing has not so far produced any useful solutions that would give an advantage compared to classical computing,” said Markus Holmgren, a research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

“But the promise is so great that the technologies are already influencing power politics,” he added.

So far, Holmgren noted, only quantum sensors and measurement systems have produced tangible benefits. Some of these technologies have existed longer than expected, but the field is expanding rapidly due to its strategic potential.

The EU project will place a strong emphasis on sensors and metrology, seen as the most immediate areas where quantum applications can provide military benefits. These tools can enhance surveillance and positioning, potentially giving forces a tactical edge in complex environments.

The United States has also signalled growing interest in Finland’s role within the NATO research landscape. Last year, former US Ambassador Douglas Hickey and Senator Lindsey Graham proposed that Finland should host a NATO research hub for artificial intelligence and quantum technology. Häkkänen responded cautiously at the time, saying Finland would evaluate its role case by case.

Finland already hosts two NATO test centres for new technologies, run in partnership with VTT, and the University of Helsinki is involved in another NATO project supporting small companies working on quantum innovation.

Häkkänen made his remarks on Friday ahead of his participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a security forum attended by officials from 47 countries. He will also attend a NATO defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels next week.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi