EU Supports Slovakia’s Quantum Vision
At the end of the year, we hosted two significant delegations to showcase the country’s progress in research and innovation, supported by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
European Commission Delegation Visits Slovak Research Institutes to Review Recovery Plan Projects
On December 5, 2024, a high-level delegation from the European Commission, led by Céline Gauer, Director-General of the Taskforce RECOVER, visited Slovak research institutions to assess projects funded under the country’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. This visit was organized by the Slovak Government Office, Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery Plan and Knowledge Economy – Peter Kmec – and included stops at the Biomedical Research Center (BMC SAS) and the Research Center for Quantum Information (RCQI) at the Institute of Physics SAS.
The visit began at the Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (BMC SAS), where the delegation was welcomed by Prof. Silvia Pastoreková, Director of BMC SAS. In her opening remarks, Professor Pastoreková highlighted the critical role of RRF funding in enhancing research infrastructure and supporting talent retention.
The program featured a poignant address by Dr. Volodymyr Vinnikov, a researcher at the Slovak Academy of Sciences and recipient of the Scholarship for Excellent Researchers at Risk Due to the War in Ukraine. His speech symbolized the importance of international collaboration and solidarity in the scientific community. Dr. Djeylan Aktas followed with a brief but impactful presentation that provided an overview of the RCQI’s groundbreaking work in quantum technologies. The presentations underscored the pivotal role of Recovery Plan funding in advancing Slovak science and innovation.
Showcasing Slovakia’s Quantum Network
The second part of the visit shifted to the QUTE Pavilion of Quantum Technologies, where the delegation was welcomed by doc. Mário Ziman, PhD, Director of Institute of Physic SAS. The lab tour was led by Dr. Djeylan Aktas, Head of the Photonic and Quantum Communication team, who highlighted Slovakia’s advancements in quantum technologies, particularly through the skQCI project. Funded by the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme, the NextGenerationEU Programme, and the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic, skQCI aims to establish a robust national quantum communication network.
The delegation toured state-of-the-art laboratories, where they were introduced to the six nodes of the Slovak Quantum Communication Infrastructure. These nodes will be deployed in Slovak cities outside Bratislava to form the backbone of a secure communication network using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a cutting-edge technology that ensures unparalleled data security.
Strengthening Slovakia’s Quantum Future
On December 12, 2024, during the General Assembly of QUTE.sk, representatives from the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development, and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (MIRRI), including Ing. Ivan Ivančin, State Secretary, and Ing. Michal Ilko, Director-General of the Section of Digital Agenda, were briefed on the progress of the skQCI project. The ministry representatives were informed about the deployment of the first six nodes of Slovakia’s quantum communication infrastructure, which are foundational for secure communication and cybersecurity applications.
This visit underscored the strategic importance of quantum technologies and the collaboration between the scientific community and governmental stakeholders. Discussions highlighted the essential role of EU funding, particularly through the RRF, in positioning Slovakia as a leader in quantum innovation and ensuring its technological sovereignty. This visit reaffirmed the shared vision of MIRRI and QUTE.sk to position Slovakia as a leader in quantum technologies, contributing not only to national security and technological sovereignty but also to the broader European quantum ecosystem.
A Shared Vision for the Future
Both visits underscored the transformative impact of European funding in driving innovation and strengthening Slovakia’s research ecosystem. The skQCI project exemplifies how targeted EU investments can accelerate technological advancements and enhance national and European resilience in critical areas such as secure communication and digital infrastructure.
Both the European Commission and MIRRI representatives emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between Slovak research institutions and European initiatives. With projects like skQCI, Slovakia is making significant strides toward becoming a leader in quantum technologies while contributing to Europe’s broader goals for a secure and sustainable digital future.
Photo Report from EC visit:
