Quantum Sweden Innovation Platform (QSIP) “Annual Days 2025” at KTH Innovation in Stockholm, 1-2 October, was a resounding success with over 120 attendees from both academia and industry from quantum and beyond. This number supersedes last year’s registered attendees of 80 and shows the growth potential and increased reach of the platform. The event stretched over two-days, structured from lunch-to-lunch, which allowed for networking and follow-up, appreciated by several attendees. The presentations were informative but brief, and the format varied from traditional presentations followed by Q&A to short start-up pitches and panel discussions led by audience questions. There was also a workshop open to all participants about the direction of QSIP and its continued work in the field of quantum innovation in Sweden and the Nordics.
The event kicked-off with a welcome and introduction to QSIP from Camilla Johansson, QSIP's director, followed by national and international quantum strategies. “I really appreciated the first two talks. I work in the lab so it’s nice to zoom out and gain some perspective on the landscape we find ourselves in” Aamir Ali, Chalmers. Since last December 2024, there have been several important bills and declarations both within Sweden and for Europe as a whole, including the Nordic Quantum Declaration (May 2025) and the European Quantum Strategy (July 2025). These efforts have led towards the realization of the Quantum Act which is expected in 2026 and will focus on five areas: research and innovation; infrastructure; ecosystem and industrialization; space and dual-use technologies; and quantum skills. “Tech is the core of geopolitics,” states Emil Görnerup, Head of Research and Innovation Policy, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, and it is clear that quantum technology that will shape geopolitics and the economy, for years to come.
This year the event included representatives from our Nordic neighbors, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, which Timothy Gibbons from RISE remarked upon as being a promising sign of collaboration. This sentiment was brought up again in the follow-up workshop, where one attendee stated: “borders are just in the way.” Nordic Quantum was also in attendance, as a platform that advocates for increased access across academic institutions to a broader offering of courses and opportunities focused on quantum with the aim to attract and retain talent. Görnerup presented a statistic that conveyed this message and need in stark terms: 70% of PhDs in quantum fields are of foreign origin, and of these, 40% leave after just three years. “It's not that there is not enough talent, it’s that we are not connected enough,” stated Karim Elgammal of EuroCC National Competence Centre Sweden (ENCCS). This is one of the areas that QSIP would like to help remedy in the coming years.
While the Swedish government funds research initiatives and universities, the safety net stops there, and many start-ups find challenges when trying to scale-up. There is a gap between research and industry which Sweden must overcome. This was emphasized in the start-up presentation sessions, as a part of Day 2 at QSIP Annual Days, with many founders naming the same difficulties, including: access to investors and funding; access to infrastructure, and access to talent. When it comes to investment in quantum-related companies, the US leads by huge margins, with over 40 percent; Finland receives a modest, but notable sum as a Nordic country, whereas Sweden doesn’t even merit a mention when it comes to investment in quantum startups. This can lead to frustration.
But for the start-ups, it’s all a learning process. When asked about their secrets to success, the founders gave clear advice mentioning both “validation through publications” (Peter Hörstedt, Arkeon Technologies) as Sweden has several accredited and reputable universities; in addition to providing good customer service, because the customer then acts as your salesperson (Marcus Rommel, ConScience). As stated above, the talent and motivation are here, but the doorway remains mostly shut and Swedish start-ups are looking for ways and help to remove the door jam. However, with two fruitful days of presentations and networking behind us, we are truly looking forward to the new stage that we are about to enter. During the coming two years, we will aim to continue to grow the community and be able to provide more activities for and within the Swedish eco-system for Quantum technology innovation. If you would like to stay updated about our activities and events, sign up for our newsletters and follow us on LinkedIn.
