Italy

A clearer framework for quantum network switching lowers the complexity barrier for smaller companies entering the quantum technology space. By harmonising terminology and defining core functions such as entanglement management, the project removes ambiguity that slows down development and increases costs. SMEs gain access to a shared reference point—state-of-the-art analysis, identified gaps, and actionable definitions—which helps them build interoperable solutions, align with emerging global standards, and participate in early-stage quantum markets with greater confidence and reduced risk.

A key challenge in building the Quantum Internet is integrating different qubit technologies, each with its own strengths and limitations, since no single qubit platform can fulfill all the requirements for storage, processing, and communication simultaneously. Indeed, both the scientific and industrial communities widely agree that the Quantum Internet will likely rely on superconducting qubits for information processing while flying qubits will be used to distribute entangled states across network nodes.
Indeed, on one hand, superconducting circuits are adopted for quantum computation because of their capabilities to realize fast gates and their high scalability. These benefits come at the price of operating at cryogenic temperatures, which in turn challenge the development of large-scale quantum networks. On the other hand, optical photons are recognized as quantum carriers to fulfill communication needs, as they enable high-rate, low-loss transmission and can be easily controlled using standard optical components. However, the main challenge underlining the interaction between these two technologies lies in the huge gap between their operating frequencies: optical photons work at hundreds of terahertz while superconducting circuits at a few GHz.
Therefore, it is mandatory to realize a matter-flying interface, namely a quantum transducer, performing quantum transduction to enable the interaction among different qubit platforms. This interface must convert one type of qubit to another and be compatible with the characteristics of the physical channels used for flying qubits, including optical fibers and free-space optical links.
In this project, we present quantum transduction from a communication perspective, by shedding the light on its fundamental role within quantum network design and deployment.

Generally speaking, the direct participation of SME in the standardisation process has two aims; firstly, to influence and make standards created for or by large companies even usable by small companies. And secondly, to lead SMEs to understand and use standards to better compete in the marketplace. Participating in this WS falls under both cases. The most positive impact would be to find a way to make the knowledge gained available to SMEs in order to spread the knowledge of these frameworks for the industrial use of AI.

The EU stakeholders will benefit from using a consistent application in projects to avoid waste of efforts. It will be a reference for EU manufactures in their product libraries to reach the right specification level of their products. EU SMEs will reduce time in creating their own specification as they can use something already available in the industry. In this way, they will be able to work across different countries, projects, and clients.
EU Private and public clients will more easily be able to define what information they require in a repeatable way. The EU supply chain will be facilitated in producing better quality information thanks to software applications that allow automated information delivery, including checking and validation of information delivered. With the vendor-neutral, interoperable data exchange standard, software developers are provided with equal access to the market, reducing vendor lock in and enabling fair competition.

The EU stakeholders will benefit from using a consistent process in projects to avoid waste of efforts. European SMEs will reduce time in creating their own processes and specification as they can use something already available in the industry internationally, as the standards I contributed to are developed at CEN and ISO levels. In this way, they will be able to work across different countries, projects, and clients.
Furthermore, European private and public clients will more easily be able to identify who is responsible for information management in their organisation and to set requirements in a digital way for transparent and more effective processes. The EU supply chain will be facilitated in producing better quality information thanks to software applications that follow standardised procedures included in ISO 19650 standards during the entire project lifecycle.

Use of technologies based on wireless energy sharing are extending to more and more applications yielding a fast-growing market in the consumer electronics sector. Society and industry should overcome obstacles for stakeholders to fully take advantage of this technological opportunity: The current wired (and non-P2P wireless)-based development model that makes charging applications highly centralised and inflexible generates inconvenience to users. The P2P wireless energy sharing vision that universally accessible standards can have the same positive effects on society as wired energy sharing standards and has identified P2P wireless energy sharing interactions as an area where standards can foster the development of innovative approaches, promote use of P2P applications and contribute to the solution of existing social energy sharing challenges.