One billion euros in 10 years. The ministry wants to invest in a groundbreaking industry.

• Consultations on the Quantum Technology Development Policy will last until September 30.

• The Ministry of Digital Affairs wants to include investments in this sector amounting to around one billion euros over 10 years.

• The money is to be used for, among other things, implementation support, research grants, and staff training.

• The ministry also wants to stimulate demand for quantum technologies, including through tax incentives for companies ready for the demonstration phase.

• However, according to scientists involved in the sector, the document is far from perfect.

By 2035, Poland will become a leader in the European Quantum Valley, the Ministry of Digital Affairs hopes. This is one of the main goals of the Quantum Technology Development Policy, published by the ministry on Friday (August 29). The document is now open for public consultation.

The success of the quantum sector will be decided in two years

The ministry's proposal divides the strategy into three phases. In the first, by 2027, the government should conduct an inventory of the ecosystem, secure rapid proof-of-concept grants, and implement pilot programs for collaboration between the academy, the military, and industry. The ministry explicitly emphasizes that the next two years will determine the project's success.

In the second phase, between 2028 and 2030, the expansion of computational networks should continue. MC's vision is for technology demonstrators and spin-offs to be established in Poland during this period. Commercial-scale implementation of solutions should begin by 2035. Poland aims to become a major global player in quantum technologies and a globally recognized brand.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs would be responsible for coordinating the implementation of quantum policy. The ministry plans to establish a supervisory team consisting of representatives from other ministries, such as defense and development and technology.

A billion euros in ten years

The Ministry of Digital Affairs has included one billion euros in its strategy for the sector's development over the next 10 years. This would translate to PLN 400 million invested in the development of quantum technologies each year. Ministry representatives assure us that this amount does not include subsidies already granted in Poland – it is simply additional funding for the sector .

According to the scientists we spoke with, this is a promising amount. For comparison, according to estimates cited in the MC document, the UK invests around €250 million annually in quantum technologies, and Germany around €300 million annually.

According to the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the funding would cover the training of personnel for the sector, including funding for teaching infrastructure and university courses. It would also cover computing and communications infrastructure. The funds would also be invested in grants and equity financing with venture capital funds.

Quantum money also for entrepreneurs

The ministry also wants to stimulate demand for quantum technologies, including through tax incentives for companies ready for the demonstration phase.

The Ministry emphasizes that the final document should include a strategy for accessing quantum computing power. The authors of the strategy's assumptions propose purchasing off-the-shelf quantum computers, purchasing computing power in the cloud, and building our own infrastructure.

The ministerial document also assumes that Poland should decide this year which specific areas of the quantum sector it would like to specialize in. While quantum computers, which may become truly useful only in the future, attract the most attention in the technology discussion, the field itself is much broader. It includes, among others:

• Quantum simulators – special quantum systems used to model phenomena that cannot be controlled well otherwise; they already exist and are used in science.
• Quantum communications – these include quantum random number generators used to create unpredictable passwords and cryptographic keys, and to securely distribute encryption keys in IT networks.
• Quantum sensors and metrology – highly sensitive measuring devices based on single quantum systems, with potential applications in medicine, science and advanced technologies.

Poland has already achieved successes in all areas.

"Regardless of the model adopted, the goal should be to systematically build the broadest possible technological sovereignty in Poland," we read in the assumptions to the strategy.

According to scientists, the ministry still has a lot of work to do

What do scientists think about the ministry's ideas?

" In its current form, the document treats quantum technologies very superficially. It takes into account neither the significant achievements of Polish scientists nor the resulting national development and economic potential," says Professor Konrad Banaszek of the University of Warsaw.

- To play its role, the material presented will require significant changes at the public consultation stage - he adds.

Prof. Michał Tomza, professor of physical sciences at the Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, admits that the document is an interesting proposal, especially the part concerning financing the sector.

" If the government were to truly support quantum technology research with €100 million annually, it would be an investment that could bring Poland real benefits, " he says. "However, I think there's too much emphasis on purchasing external technologies," he argues.

The consultations will last until September 30. After that, the ministry will work on the appropriate document.