The European IP Helpdesk continues its interview series with Robert Harrison, exploring the opportunities and challenges emerging at the intersection of quantum technologies and intellectual property.
In this latest episode, Harrison shares insights from his role as a member of the Board of the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC), discussing the organisation’s current activities and recent developments shaping Europe’s quantum ecosystem.
The interview also examines one of the key challenges facing innovators in the field: how to secure patent protection in an area where scientific advances occur at an exceptionally rapid pace. The discussion explores the difficulties of filing patents that remain commercially relevant long enough to generate value, while balancing the need for protection with the realities of fast-moving technological progress.
Finally, the conversation compares different approaches to protecting innovation in the quantum sector, including patents, trade secrets, and open-source models. The interview provides valuable insights into how companies and researchers can navigate these strategies to support innovation, collaboration, and commercialisation in one of today’s most transformative technological fields.
Watch the new video here.
Sources
- Publication date
- 14 June 2026
- Author
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency