On 18 August, the Swedish government unveiled Sweden’s first national strategy for quantum technology. The strategy identifies WACQT, Chalmers NextLabs, and Chalmers’ research infrastructures as national strengths in the field, while emphasizing the need for stronger national coordination in quantum technology, fully aligned with the Swedish Center for Quantum Technology that Chalmers is establishing together with five other universities.
The Swedish strategy for quantum technology aims to provide a unified direction that will enable Sweden, as a leading research nation, to take the next step towards a coordinated and long-term national effort in quantum technology.
“It is reassuring to see that the Swedish government now acknowledges the present and future importance of quantum technology for Sweden. It is especially rewarding in the light of the continuous efforts towards this goal from a large part of the WACQT community, starting with the work leading up to the 2023 Swedish quantum agenda,” says Göran Johansson, Professor of Applied Quantum Physics at Chalmers and Head of the Wallenberg Centre of Quantum Technology, WACQT, Sweden’s most extensive research programme in the field.
Among other things, the strategy highlights the importance of scientific excellence and advanced research infrastructure, pointing to WACQT and Sweden’s national nanofabrication facilities as strong examples. The quantum testbeds at Chalmers and within Chalmers NextLabs are also highlighted, alongside the Quantum Sweden Innovation Platform (QSIP), as key actors in bridging the gap between research and industrial application.
Another prominent theme in the strategy is the need for stronger national coordination between research, innovation, and implementation within Sweden’s quantum technology landscape.
“The government highlights the importance of long-term commitment, coordination, skills development, and stronger links between research and innovation. These are all areas where WACQT has been building expertise and driving progress for many years," says Göran Johansson.
As recently as June, six Swedish universities joined forces in an initiative to establish the Swedish Center for Quantum Technology, a national centre for research, innovation, education, and capacity building in quantum technology. Coordinated by Chalmers, the initiative aims, in full alignment with the government’s strategy, to strengthen national coordination in the field.
Together, the participating universities will contribute to research, education, infrastructure, and innovation across the entire value chain, from fundamental research to early-stage industrial and societal applications. Through a clearer organisational structure and better coordination of expertise, infrastructure, and funding, the initiative aims to strengthen Sweden’s position as an attractive partner in the Nordic region and across Europe.
“To remain competitive in an increasingly intense international landscape, we need a shared vision and close collaboration between academia, industry, and government. Through this initiative, we are bringing together expertise and resources in an entirely new way and taking important steps toward the goal of making Sweden a European leader in quantum technology by 2035,” said Maria Messing, Head of the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience at Chalmers, as the initiative was announced in June.
The universities participating in the Swedish Center for Quantum Technology are Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, Stockholm University, Linköping University, and Uppsala University.
Read more about the initiative: New centre to strengthen Sweden in the quantum race | Chalmers
Read Sweden’s strategy for quantum technology in full (in Swedish): Sweden’s Strategy for Quantum Technology | Government Offices of Sweden.
- Full Professor, Applied Quantum Physics, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
- Head of Department, Microtechnology and Nanoscience