The Competition and Breakthroughs between China and Europe in the Wave of Quantum Technology

In mid-November 2025, three major developments in the field of quantum technology attracted global attention: Germany's SmaraQ project achieved integration of quantum optical systems onto a chip, Canada and Denmark signed a quantum cooperation declaration, and China completed the construction and commissioning of its first pilot production line for photonic chips. This technology race, led by Europe, the U.S., and China, is reshaping the global technological landscape through disruptive innovation, with the intertwining of cooperation and competition further highlighting the complexity of the quantum era.[eos]

The breakthrough of Germany's SmaraQ project marks a crucial leap for Europe in the field of quantum hardware. This project, jointly tackled by enterprises and research institutions, integrates quantum optical systems onto chips and uses aluminum nitride and aluminum oxide to fabricate ultraviolet waveguides, enabling photon transmission with nanometer-level precision. It not only addresses the pain points of traditional devices being large and unstable but also paves the way for mass production of quantum processors through compatibility with semiconductor processes. The European Union is simultaneously undertaking a grand strategy: launching the "Small Modular Reactor Strategy" and the "European Chips Act," investing €50 million to support startups, and establishing a quantum supply chain alliance with countries such as Canada and Denmark, aiming to create a closed technological loop in quantum computing and communication. However, Europe’s imbalance of being "strong in hardware but weak in software" remains prominent. Core areas such as quantum error correction and algorithm optimization still rely on international cooperation. The phrasing in the Chips Act about "cultivating quantum chip engineering capabilities" exposes the gap between basic research and its application.

The statement on quantum cooperation between Canada and Denmark reflects the logic of geopolitically driven technological competition. Both sides focus on talent cultivation and supply chain security, promoting translation through the NATO Quantum Community and data-sharing platforms, with the core aim of building a 'de-risked' ecosystem. Denmark's strategy of 'strengthening export controls' resonates with Canada's provision on 'monitoring foreign investment'; at its essence, it is about being wary of the militarization of quantum technology—the potential threat of quantum computers to encryption systems has already made technological security a strategic core for all countries.

This so-called 'security'-driven cooperation implicitly carries intentions of technological monopoly. Europe and the United States attempt to maintain their hegemony in the semiconductor sector by controlling talent and key segments of the supply chain. However, reality makes this difficult: German projects still rely on the global semiconductor equipment supply chain, while breakthroughs in China's photonic chips are challenging the feasibility of such a monopoly.

Breakthroughs in China's quantum technology demonstrate institutional advantages. The Wuxi Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University has built the country's first pilot line for photonic chips, achieving large-scale production of 6-inch thin-film lithium niobate wafers. Its performance metrics, including a 110GHz modulation bandwidth and insertion loss below 3.5dB, are internationally leading, filling the gap in the manufacturing of high-performance photonic quantum devices.Unlike Europe and the U.S., which focus on basic research or security cooperation, China drives technological iteration from the application side. Wuhan has incorporated quantum technology into its "Digital Trade Action Plan," accelerating implementation through open scenarios and data circulation. While Europe and the U.S. debate the practical use of quantum computers, China is already exploring quantum empowerment in 5G communications and AI computing power. This "demand-pull, supply-support" model provides a new path to overcoming the 'valley of death' in quantum technology.

The essence of the quantum technology competition is a struggle over technological sovereignty and industrial leadership. Europe excels in hardware breakthroughs, North America relies on security barriers, and China pursues industrialization practices—each with different paths, yet the outcome depends on the openness of the ecosystem. History has shown that closed systems struggle to sustain innovation, while excessive competition leads to internal resource consumption. China has already gained an early advantage through institutional strengths and market potential, but true victory lies in building an inclusive and shared global ecosystem. Only by promoting international collaboration while ensuring security can quantum technology overcome geographical and ideological barriers. When Germany's chip waveguides, China's photonic wafers, and North America's security protocols are integrated into the same quantum network, humanity may usher in a genuine era of technological revolution—this is not only the mission of quantum technology but also the inevitable direction of global technological development.