The Secretary General of Telecommunications and Post at the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Konstantinos Karantzalos, noted that beyond SEEWQCI, major European initiatives such as BeneluxQCI, SBIQCI, BAT-QCI, PIONIER-Q-SAT, QUAPITAL, QRUSOE, CEQCI, and TransEuroOGS are currently underway, involving more than 15 Member States. He emphasized that sustained investment in quantum technologies, particularly in quantum communications, is vital for safeguarding Europe’s digital future.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Harry Theoharis, stated that Quantum Communication is a strategic tool for secure diplomacy and resilient governance, as diplomatic exchanges and critical governmental communications demand the highest level of protection. He stressed that the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands demonstrates that quantum-secure infrastructures are a collective European necessity, rather than a national choice.
Acting Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of Cyprus, Georgios Komodromos, underlined that for Cyprus, the development of an Optical Ground Station (OGS) is a strategic priority to ensure a reliable connection to EuroQCI. Through SEEWQCI, Cyprus has already secured funding and completed a market assessment for full compatibility with the EAGLE-1 satellite, enhancing the resilience and sovereignty of its communication infrastructure.
Technology Diplomat and Programme Director ad interim for the programme Quantum Safe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Ferdinand Griesdoorn, stated that the Netherlands is developing a national and European quantum network in collaboration with Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He stressed the importance of the space-based interconnection with Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria and mentioned the vision of an international secure network for the protected and secure communications for embassies, missions, and citizens in the new quantum era.
His excellency the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Embassy in Athens, Paul Schmit, highlighted his country’s leading role in the EuroQCI initiative, specifically through the development of satellite and fiber-optic QKD (Quantum Key Distribution). He noted this falls within Luxembourg’s national strategy for Data, AI, and Quantum Technologies, aiming for a sovereign and secure digital ecosystem.
The Director of Center for Technological Support, Development and Innovation of National Intelligence Service of Greece (KETYAK), Evangelos Zacharakis, underscored that the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat is a reality, making the transition to quantum-secure communications imperative. He described HellasQCI as a fundamental step in shielding national infrastructure, while SEEWQCI extends this effort to a cross-border level.
The Director of National Security (NSA) of Cyprus, Alexis Hadjiprokopis, noted that SEEWQCI establishes a vital satellite and cross-border bridge via EAGLE-1. He emphasized that this initiative effectively eliminates Cyprus’s geographical isolation, fully integrating the country into the European security landscape.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of GRNET, Stefanos Kollias, stated that the coordination of HellasQCI and SEEWQCI reflects Greece’s technical maturity and operational capacity. He emphasised that HellasQCI has already implemented a 650 km national backbone and 16 use cases, proving that quantum-secure communications are no longer a theoretical concept but a functional reality.
Dr. Ilias Papastamatiou, Senior Project Manager at GRNET and SEEWQCI Coordinator, described the project’s launch as a major milestone for Greece, as HellasQCI enters the second phase of EuroQCI. He expressed his gratitude to the political leadership and partners, stressing that collective commitment forms the foundation for a fully operational and secure European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI).