Key Developments
On 23 July 2026, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence said it was seeking scientists and consortia for quantum technology research, with about €4.5 million available. The ministry said the work would focus on portable entanglement and post-quantum cryptography to support operational advantage and digital resilience.
Key Statistics
- €4.5 million in Dutch defence funding was available for quantum technology research, according to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
- 2 research lines were identified for the current call, portable entanglement and post-quantum cryptography, according to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
- €100 million in historical initial capital backed the Dutch SecFund defence innovation fund, according to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
- 7 companies had historical SecFund support for promising defence technologies, according to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
Main Body
On 23 July 2026, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence announced a call for scientists and consortia to propose quantum technology research, with around €4.5 million available. The ministry said the programme was intended to build a durable defence knowledge base linked to operational advantage and digital resilience.
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence said the call covered 2 research lines, portable entanglement and post-quantum cryptography. The ministry also said it planned an online information session for interested applicants on 15 September, setting out an administrative route for researchers before proposals were submitted.
The quantum call followed other Dutch defence technology moves. On 20 July 2026, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence said its SecFund investment fund had €100 million in initial capital, supported 7 companies, and had produced its first fielded application through Tective’s SkyHive drone system at Camp Heumensoord during the Nijmegen 4Daagse. On 16 July 2026, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence said it had contracted Optics11 to develop the Aswinabo fibre-optic acoustic observation system for submarine detection and underwater infrastructure monitoring.
The practical significance was that the Netherlands Ministry of Defence tied quantum research directly to digital resilience, while its recent SecFund update linked defence innovation to a stronger domestic technology base and reduced dependence on foreign suppliers. Together, the announcements showed a policy focus on converting research and small-company innovation into usable military capabilities.
