The Regional Government of Galicia is promoting the Quantum Technologies Pole of Galicia, which has a backing of more than 30 million euros and with plans to multiply this investment by five, up to 150 million euros, if it obtains European funding.

Quantum mechanics brings a number of advantages with it, including the ability to anticipate, predict and address diseases or climatic events, as well as countless previously incalculable data that will serve as a basis for the industry to create new applications.

This is a journey that began 20 years ago, meaning now is the time to consolidate all the experience and knowledge acquired, which involves making what some consider the greatest technological leap in history production-wise.

Quantum technologies are beginning to move out of research environments and into real-world applications, bringing a new era for computing, sensors and cybersecurity with them.

The Quantum Technologies Pole was created as a collaboration because the design of the whole strategy was created after consulting with more than thirty agents of the Galician R&D&I network; starting from Cesga itself, the three universities, the technology centres and the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), the ICT Cluster, companies and professional associations, and also with the contributions from the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, which today is a benchmark across Europe.

Galicia will have one of the most powerful quantum computers in southern Europe

The first step in the implementation of the Quantum Technologies Pole was the acquisition of a quantum computer for Cesga, which will be one of the most powerful in southern Europe. Its purchase represents an investment of 13.9 million euros. This improvement will mark a turning point for the digital transition in Galicia while positioning Cesga as a driving force and key technology partner of the Galician R&D&I ecosystem in this field.

The next steps to be taken will be to create a research group in quantum computing; four experimental laboratories; roll out the first quantum communication line between Santiago and Vigo; and bring this technology to the Galician aeronautical sector through the Galician Aerospace Pole, to delve into secure communication systems for unmanned aerial vehicles or for air traffic management.

The goal is for Galicia to be a European and international reference in quantum computing and communication by 2030, both at the academic and research level, as well as at the business and commercial level. Therefore, the Quantum Technologies Pole will be based on four foundations: the University, which will attract talent and train the professionals of the future; the R&D&I centres, headed up by Cesga, which will generate new knowledge as well as products and services based on quantum technologies; companies and the economy, with which it will work to promote innovation and the use of these technologies; and society, to raise awareness of the usefulness of this technology and the benefits achieved by investing in it.

Galicia is aware of the relevance that quantum communication has in this digital era to solve the growing scientific-technical demands of sectors ranging frommedicine, to logistics, to telecommunications, finance and the industry itself.

It is an area that has a direct impact on people's lives and on the progress of the economy, which is why the Regional Government of Galicia and all the agents involved have decided to give it the needed boost. Achieving these goals involves more collaboration with the business community so that this technology can respond to the challenges of the green and digital transition, the hiring of personnel for research in quantum computing and communications, programmes for attracting and retaining talent and joint work with the three Galician universities at the academic level.