SQuA, the Spanish association that brings together the quantum technologies ecosystem

Bilbao, 19 May 2026 – Spain will have, for the first time, a dedicated association to develop its quantum technologies ecosystem. Under the name Spanish Quantum Alliance (SQuA) and headquartered in Bilbao, the new entity groups 53 founding organizations, including corporations, research centers, universities, sectoral associations, SMEs, and specialized startups with an interest in quantum technologies.

SQuA is born with the objective of accelerating industrial innovation, research, and technological development across all TRLs, and of contributing to positioning Spain’s quantum technologies sector at the European and global forefront. The association, driven by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, was presented at Q-Expo 2026.  Luxquanta contributes as one of its founding members, with its CEO, Vanesa Diaz, as president of SQuA.

With this structure, the alliance aspires to become the benchmark for the quantum technologies sector in Spain before national and international institutions, entities, and bodies. Its creation is framed within the European debate on how to accelerate the development of the quantum technologies industry and gain scale compared to other markets, as reflected in the European Quantum Market Consolidation report, produced by QuIC, the European Quantum Industry Consortium, which warns of the risk of loss of competitiveness if the EU does not consolidate and scale its quantum technologies ecosystem.

The main international reports also point to a significant economic opportunity. The McKinsey Quantum Technology Monitor 2026 estimates that the global quantum technologies market could reach between $60 billion and $100 billion by 2035, driven especially by applications in sectors such as energy, finance, health, industry, defense, and logistics.

Meanwhile, the State of the Global Quantum Industry 2026 report places the current global market at $1.9 billion, with annual growth rates above 30%. In this scenario, SQuA aims to foster public-private collaboration, promote research and talent development, and help Spain play a highly relevant role in the future value chain of European quantum technologies, thereby reinforcing the sovereignty of the Union.

The association was officially presented during Q-Expo 2026, the international reference meeting on quantum technologies held in Bilbao from 18 to 19 May, which brought together leading individuals, companies, and institutions in research and industrial applicability worldwide.

Conceived as an open event for both specialists, companies, and individuals interested in understanding the potential of quantum solutions, Q-Expo is consolidating itself as one of the main international forums in the sector.

“Quantum technologies represent one of the greatest technological and industrial transformations of the coming decades. Spain has the talent, companies, and scientific capabilities to play a relevant role in this new global scenario. SQuA is born to structure, connect and strengthen this ecosystem and to ensure that our country and the European Union do not miss a strategic opportunity for their competitiveness and technological sovereignty”, says Vanesa Díaz, President of SQuA and CEO of Luxquanta.

An innovative agenda for quantum in Spain

SQuA’s activity will be organized around the main verticals of quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum communications, metrology and sensing, and enabling technologies. To this end, the association plans to create technical committees specialized in each of these verticals, as well as working groups focused on use cases and market trends, research and technology transfer, education and talent, industrial roadmaps, financing for SMEs and startups, national and European coordination, society, defense, and security.

Based on this structure, the entity will develop scientific outreach activities, quantum literacy programs, R&D&I networks and calls, collaboration with public and private bodies, promotion of standards and certifications, and strategic alliances with national, European, and international entities. These lines of action are complemented by the identification of economically viable applications in strategic sectors, the analysis of trends with potential impact on the Spanish industry, and support for the development of new products and services based on quantum technologies.

In research and technology transfer, SQuA plans to work on the generation and protection of intellectual property, the promotion of standards that facilitate market development and the interoperability of quantum technologies, and coordination with national, European, and international standardization bodies. In parallel, talent development will be another area of activity, including identifying training needs, defining sector profiles and competencies, and collaborating with universities and educational centers to adapt the training offer to industry needs.

Founding members of SQuA, the Spanish Quantum Alliance

Adigital, Ametic, BBVA, BluSpecs, Bull, CollabWith, CRUE, CTIC, EHU, Energesis, Entangle Tech Hub, Eye4Sky, Falcondale, Fidesol, Fraktalde, Fujitsu, Fundación Cibervoluntarios, GAIA, Global Data Quantum, GMV, Gradiant, ICFO, IDEADED, Indra, IQM, ITCAM, LKS Next, Luxquanta, Martram Ventures, Medalla Tech, Multiverse Computing, Oesía, Pons IP, QCentroid, Qilimanjaro, QSpain, Quantum Mads, Quanvia, Qubiz.Team, QURECA, Quside, Samira DTX, Santander, Scayle, SECPHO, Sener, Serikat, Tecnalia, Telefónica, UCLM, UPC, UPNA ,and UPO.

About SQuA

SQuA, the Spanish Quantum Alliance, is the first national association that brings together the Spanish quantum technologies ecosystem. Chaired by Vanesa Díaz, CEO of Luxquanta, the entity groups 53 large industrial groups, technology multinationals, SMEs and startups, universities, research and technology centers, and sectoral associations under a single coordinated voice. Its mission is to accelerate the industrial, technological, and social development of quantum in Spain, reinforce national technological sovereignty, and ensure that the country plays a relevant role in the emerging European quantum economy, in alignment with the Spanish Quantum Technologies Strategy 2025–2030, the European Quantum Strategy, and the future EU Quantum Act.