SQuA is born, the Spanish association that brings together the quantum technologies ecosystem
- Spanish Quantum Alliance is made up of 53 entities and has the mission of structuring and developing the quantum technologies ecosystem in Spain.
- Driven by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the association was presented at Q-Expo 2026, the international meeting on quantum technologies.
Bilbao, 19 May 2026. Spain will have for the first time a specific association for the development of its quantum technologies ecosystem. Under the name Spanish Quantum Alliance — SQuA and headquartered in Bilbao, the new entity groups 53 founding organisations, including corporations, research centres, universities, sectoral associations, SMEs and specialised startups with an interest in quantum technologies. SQuA is born with the objective of accelerating industrial innovation, research and technological development, covering all TRLs, and contributing to positioning Spain’s quantum technologies sector at the European and global forefront.
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 an economic opportunity of great magnitude. 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, defence 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 the development of research, talent generation and contribute to Spain playing a very relevant role in the future value chain of European quantum technologies, 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 and 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 organised 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 specialised 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, defence and security.
Based on this structure, the entity will develop scientific outreach activities, quantum literacy programmes, 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 applications with economic viability in strategic sectors, the analysis of trends with potential impact on 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 standardisation bodies. In parallel, talent development will be another area of activity, with the identification of training needs, the definition of profiles and competencies for the sector, and collaboration with universities and educational centres to adapt the training offer to the needs of the industry.
Founding members of SQuA – 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 centres, 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.