10/03/2025 – In early March, Photonics Bretagne took part in the first meeting of the PhotonQBoost consortium in Porto. This event marked the operational launch of an ambitious project aimed at accelerating the adoption of photonic and quantum technologies by European SMEs. Over the course of a day and a half, the project partners exchanged views and worked together to structure the first actions to be implemented and to align themselves with the key strategies.
PhotonQBoost: a lever for the sustainability and competitiveness of European SMEs
Launched in December 2024 and funded by the Horizon Europe programme, PhotonQBoost’s mission is to help SMEs take advantage of innovations in photonics and quantum to improve their sustainability, efficiency and resilience. By facilitating access to these cutting-edge technologies, the project aims to strengthen the competitiveness of European companies on the global market.
With €3.6 million earmarked for direct funding of SMEs over the four years of the project, PhotonQBoost provides calls for projects and specialised services to support the development of innovative solutions tailored to today’s challenges, particularly those linked to the European Green Deal.
In order to support SMEs in adopting photonic and quantum technologies, PhotonQBoost will be putting in place several key initiatives:
▪️Direct funding for innovative projects,
▪️Networking events and delegation visits to facilitate partnerships,
▪️Activities to strengthen the ecosystem to fill gaps in knowledge, infrastructure and networks.
A consortium of 12 committed partners
PhotonQBoost is based on a strong, multidisciplinary consortium of 12 organisations from 9 European countries, including :
▪️7 European clusters specialising in photonics and quantum,
▪️4 consulting firms specialising in innovation and financing,
▪️2 research and technology organisations.
This partnership encourages cross-border collaboration, by networking complementary skills to maximise the impact of the project.
PhotonQBoost: towards a more sustainable and competitive future
At a time when the challenges of competitiveness, raw material supply and ecological transition are major, PhotonQBoost aims to give SMEs the means to innovate and stand out from the crowd. Europe has cutting-edge know-how in photonics and quantum technologies: it is now essential to turn this into concrete applications to support the industry and ensure its long-term survival.
Numerous opportunities will soon be available for SMEs wishing to benefit from PhotonQBoost support. Find out more about the conditions to come…
