Overview of the Italian Quantum Ecosystem

In Italy, the quantum technology industry is going through a phase of rapid development, attracting growing international attention. Understanding the dynamics behind this growth is increasingly relevant for policymakers, investors, and industry leaders alike. Drawing on data from the Quantum Computing & Communication Observatory at Politecnico di Milano, this article offers an analytical overview of the Italian quantum ecosystem mapping its public foundations, emerging supply side, cautious demand side, and the strategic choices that will determine its long-term trajectory. Compared to the United States, which began structuring national quantum investment programs around 2010, and to several European countries that followed suit from 2014 onward, Italy entered the field relatively late. Yet the country has moved with notable determination once it has been committed to the sector. While Italy has long been internationally recognized for academic excellence in the field (ranking seventh worldwide for scientific publications in Quantum Computing, with more than ten dedicated Master’s and Graduate degree programs on the subject) the lack of a coordinated network had limited the sector’s industrial potential until 2022, which marked a turning point, with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) promoting the creation of an integrated…