New ERA-LEARN Policy Brief on Technological Sovereignty & Global Competition – The Case of Quantum Technologies
Technological sovereignty has become a strategic priority for Europe, particularly in critical and emerging technologies such as quantum. Our latest policy brief explores how European Partnerships under Horizon Europe contribute to strengthening Europe’s position in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Key insights:
- Technological sovereignty is not about self-sufficiency, but about strategic positioning in global value chains.
- Sovereignty also depends on upstream conditions such as access to raw and advanced materials, procurement rules and governance frameworks, and calls for stronger monitoring, dual-use transparency, and reciprocity in international cooperation.
- International cooperation should follow a differentiated logic: more openness and values-based collaboration at lower TRLs, and stronger reciprocity, safeguards and caution at higher TRLs.
- European Partnerships are essential to connect early-stage research with industrial uptake across different TRLs, helping Europe reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience.
- A major priority is better coordination across Europe’s fragmented funding and policy landscape, with stronger alignment between Partnerships, networks, national and regional initiatives, and EU flagship programmes.
The report highlights the complementary roles of initiatives such as QuantERA, Chips JU and EuroHPC JU, and outlines how better coordination, stronger governance and targeted international cooperation can reinforce Europe’s leadership.