Ann Mettler

🇪🇺 Europe has world-class research in quantum, but scientific excellence alone does not guarantee leadership or sovereignty. Without the capacity to transform breakthroughs into products, companies, and industries, Europe risks becoming the laboratory for others’ commercial success. It is with this ambition that QAI Ventures, together with almost 60 members of Europe’s quantum ecosystem, contributed its commercial and investment perspective into the Position Paper on the European Quantum Strategy, led by the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) 📝 bit.ly/3UWR0h6 👀 The paper sets out a collective vision for how Europe can lead globally in quantum technologies in practice, how we move from academic leadership into industrial capacity, commercial competitiveness, and technological sovereignty. From our point as early-stage investors, accelerator operators, and ecosystem builders, one message was crucial: startups are indispensable to quantum commercialization. Many are spun out of Europe’s research labs, founded by brilliant scientists. Yet they face steep hurdles in moving from lab to market. Without stronger support for commercialization,  Europe risks providing the science while others capture the business opportunities. We are convinced that QuantumAI innovation can only happen within a global approach, with Europe acting on eye level and collaborating as a pioneering partner. This requires putting the right conditions in place for startups to thrive. 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱-𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱-𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀. We thank the European Commission, European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC), and the broader community for including us in shaping this strategy, and we look forward to helping build the entrepreneurial conditions for European sovereignty. DLR Quantencomputing-Initiative, QURECA, QuantWare, Kipu Quantum, Alice & Bob, EY, Pasqal, xista innovation, Ethicqual, Tyndall National Institute, Riverlane, Multiverse Computing, Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, Erste Group Bank AG, Qblox, E.ON, QCentroid, kiutra GmbH, QUDORA Technologies, Airbus Defence and Space QUBIZ.team, TNO, SAP, QTI SRL, C12, Quandela, Equal1, Eviden, ParityQC, Bosch

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I’m pleased to share our latest report: Territoriality and multi-level governance of missions! Together with Elīna Grīniece and Michal Miedzinski, we explored how local and regional actors are engaged in mission-oriented innovation & industrial policies across the EU, and whether these policies allow for genuine ownership at the local level. Some of the key takeaways: ⚖️ Participation of regions, cities & rural communities in mission design and implementation remains still too limited and unevenly . 🤝 Vertical coordination (between EU, national, regional levels) exists, but multi-level collaboration mechanisms are often weak. 🥇 Putting in place enabling frameworks that allow place-based stakeholders to co-shape missions can help ensure “competitive sustainability.” 🚗 Using the example of sustainable mobility and the automotive sector, the report shows that different regions (urban vs rural) need different 'framings' to experiment with and deploy adapted solutions. If you are interested in innovation policy, regional development, or designing industrial missions that are socially inclusive, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eeYxVvZq #InnovationPolicy #RegionalDevelopment #MultiLevelGovernance #Sustainability #IndustrialMissions

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"Belgium climbs in UN innovation ranking" Belgium has risen to 21st place in the annual Global Innovation Index ranking of the world’s most innovative economies, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO. Belgium climbs three positions to 21st – its best result since 2013 and one of the highest jumps within the region. Belgium has a strong base of Researchers (7th) and high Gross expenditure on R&D (6th) – equaling 3.3 percent of its GDP in 2023 – with significant contributions from business (high ranks in gross expenditure on R&D performed and financed by business, ranked 6th and 7th, respectively). It also ranks well in University industry and international engagement (14th), and in Research talent (11th) and Knowledge-intensive employment (11th). Sources: https://lnkd.in/dPVDkGC2 https://lnkd.in/dbzCJjUR

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Europe’s Clean Transition: Investing in Our Environment and Our Future

 European Commission’s new budget proposal is designed to drive our clean transition — a strategic investment in a greener, more competitive, and resilient Europe by 2040, with the ultimate goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
 This budget puts people and businesses at the heart of the transformation. By mobilising over€700 billion with a 35% climate and environment spending target, we are supporting innovation, circularity, and sustainability across every region. 🔍 Key priorities include:
✅ A strong European Competitiveness Fund to boost the clean transition — including circular economy solutions and water-smart technologies.
✅ National and regional plans that will prioritise nature finance, with a new EU facility to support coordinated action at the European level.
✅ The ‘Do No Significant Harm’ principle applied simply and effectively — ensuring all EU-funded investments support climate and environmental objectives.

Our investment programmes will boost clean technologies, sustainable transport, industrial decarbonisation, and cross-border infrastructure — fostering a robust and future-proof economy. From the European Competitiveness Fund to Horizon Europe and Connecting Europe Facility, each instrument plays a vital role in this green and clean transformation.   Together, we are building a Europe that is more competitive, sustainable, resilient, and future-ready — for our citizens, our businesses, and generations to come.   Do you want to know more? Visit the European Commissions webpage: https://lnkd.in/dV4P3qgY

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🚀 Accelerating clean energy in European industry! The Strategic Energy Technology Plan is driving innovation through cooperation between technology providers and industrial sectors. Within the Implementation Working Group-Industry, five sectors – Iron & Steel, Chemicals, Pulp & Paper, Cement, Aluminum – are working towards: ✅ 30% CO₂ reduction by 2030 (vs. 2018) ✅ Climate neutrality by 2050 ✅ Deployment of clean heating & cooling technologies at scale 💡 A success story: cooperation between European Heat Pump Association and Confédération of european paper industries led to standardised industrial heat pump solutions for paper mills – lowering costs, reducing risks, and boosting the business case. First full-scale deployment is already on its way in Finland! 📅 Want to learn more? Join us at the SET Plan Conference 2025 in Odense this November – co-hosted by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities #SETPlan #EnergyTransition #CleanIndustry #HeatPumps #Innovation #EnergyEfficiency #HorizonEurope #LIFECET #Odense2025

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