autumn 2026 Luxembourg is building an emerging quantum ecosystem that combines frontier research, industrial innovation and cross-border partnerships – all this to develop secure digital infrastructure. BY EMILIO NAUD At the same time, the INT-UQKD project extends this work through a consortium including Starion Luxembourg, POST, the University of Luxembourg and HITEC Luxembourg, alongside international partners. Its terrestrial QKD link targets regulated sectors with high security needs, particularly fi- nancial institutions. HITEC Luxembourg is contrib- uting to this project through BELUCA 080, an optical ground station designed to receive photons carrying quantum keys from satellites while preserving their quantum properties. Satellite links could extend QKD networks beyond the distance and infrastructure lim- its of terrestrial connections. Mathieu Esteve, Manager of the Ground Segment Division at HITEC Luxembourg, describes the engi- neering challenge as combining precision satellite tracking with the fragility of quantum states. The pro- ject’s ambition goes beyond a single demonstration. .“We did not design it as a demonstrator,” Mr Esteve says. “It was designed from the beginning to be in- dustrialised as a product.” A hub that works Both experts point to the same structural advantage Luxembourg holds: the density of actors operating in proximity, connected to each other and to the govern- ment. This can help move projects from the research phase towards application. “In Luxembourg it is very easy to engage policy- makers in dialogue compared to other countries,”. says Mr Rančić. Mr Esteve agrees: “It is easier to involve governmental actors to support the solu- tion, and they are willing to back up the quantum environment.” Luxembourg’s national quantum strategy also en- visions a Quantum Factory: a collaborative network of research and service hubs inspired by the Luxem- bourg AI Factory model. It would bring academia, companies and government together under a shared architecture. Professor Rančić, who chose Luxembourg over larger university systems in Germany precisely be- cause of its ecosystem and entrepreneurial openness, puts it simply: “If I was to open a company anywhere, I would open it here.” The question for companies considering Luxem- bourg is no longer whether quantum technologies will have an impact, but when and how to prepare for it. According to a 2024 McKinsey study, the global quantum market may reach $90 billion by 2030. The market potential is here and Luxembourg is very well positioned to play an important role in it. AI SOVEREIGNTY