“The EU now faces a critical choice: continue to lead this transformation, or risk becoming dependent on others for this foundational technology,” says computer scientist and quantum physicist Stephanie Wehner. She is Professor in quantum information at Delft University (the Netherlands) and Director of the European Quantum Internet Alliance. She is also the laureate of the Körber European Science Prize, to be awarded this week at the Hamburg Science Summit.
The prize entails €1 million and recognises Wehner’s groundbreaking research in developing the quantum internet—an ultra-secure, ultra-fast network that that will enable entirely new applications and computing possibilities.
What are the primary areas of research you’re focusing on?
Most recently, for example, we have developed the world’s first operating system for quantum networks (QNodeOS) that makes it possible to program quantum network applications and run them on such networks without knowing any physics.
As director of the European Quantum Internet Alliance, I work with over 40 partners across Europe towards our mission to create what may become the first prototype quantum internet – interconnecting metropolitan-scale quantum networks via a long-distance backbone.
The quantum internet is based on a fundamentally different principles than the classical internet. Could you briefly explain how it works and what makes its infrastructure so unique?
Stephanie Wehner: The main difference is in the type of information we communicate: classical internet sends bits (0s and 1s), while a quantum internet sends quantum bits or qubits, which can be both 0 and 1 at the same time, and have very special properties. For example, we cannot just copy any qubit!
Two such qubits can also share a very special connection called entanglement, which has two very interesting properties: first, it cannot be shared, making it a form of private connection from the start – ideal for secure communications. Second, this special connection enables us to coordinate much better than would be possible classically. This different kind of information allows tasks that no classical internet can achieve.
Quantum computers are often said to be years away from solving real-world problems. What about the quantum internet – can it already address practical challenges today? What does it currently offer?
Stephanie Wehner: Quantum internet technology is characterised by two main parameters: distance (how far can the users be apart), and functionality (what can we do with this network). Today, commercially available technology can serve users over short (~100km) distances, limited to secure communication as its only functionality. It is already in use, for example, in the port of Rotterdam.
Development will be gradual: the ambition is to inter-connect users over ever larger distances, and to build a general purpose network serving ever more functionalities.
Unlike quantum computing – where one first needs to build a large-scale quantum computer – quantum networks already enable tasks no classical communication can come close to.
Like other quantum technologies, the quantum internet has a dual-use potential – it can serve both civilian and strategic security and defense purposes. Could you share some examples that illustrate this dual-use nature?
Stephanie Wehner: As mentioned above, a quantum internet enables fundamentally secure communication, untappable even by a future quantum computer. These are strategical applications for security and defense purposes, but we also know applications that have nothing to do with security at all: linking two distant telescopes for sharper images of the sky, or accelerating networks for more balanced video streaming allowing more users at the same time. There are even proposals cheat at online games using entanglement! There’s already quite a range of possibilities, but I am most excited about the completely new applications that may arise.
No technology is without risk. What are the most pressing concerns associated with the development and deployment of the quantum internet?
Stephanie Wehner: When thinking about this risk, it’s important to keep in mind that the technology is being built whether we in Europe want it or not. There are large efforts underway, especially in China, to build quantum-secured communication networks, which means the technology will be available to those who want to be untappable. This creates both security implications and a strategic risk if we become dependent on foreign systems.
Economically, Europe leads in quantum internet R&D, with many world firsts, but faces growing international competition: not only massive public investments abroad are underway, but also companies like Cisco and IonQ are emerging as key players – while our work is currently carried mainly by young startups and SMEs.
Given the significant global investments, quantum internet development may not be a matter of “if” but “when.” The EU now faces a critical choice: continue to lead this transformation or risk becoming dependent on others for this foundational technology.
Just as Europe has taken a distinctive approach to developing trustworthy AI, do you see a uniquely European path to building a secure and reliable quantum internet?
Stephanie Wehner: I am honestly not entirely sure what constitutes a uniquely European path. I love Europe, but I am perhaps a bit of an unconventional European, having lived on three other continents.
Taking some ambition from my stay in the US, maybe we can think of the following path: when I lived in Asia, I did dragon boat racing, which perhaps forms a good metaphor for what a European path should be. First, you cannot win a dragon boat race – or even finish in the top 3 – if you don’t want to win. It means we need real ambition for Europe.
Second, there is only one way to go fast in a dragon boat: to be in sync and to go together. For quantum internet, not one member state can do this alone. The only path is to go together.