Italy’s National Quantum Science and Technology Institute (NQSTI) was formally launched in December 2022 as an extended partnership funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) approved the project through Concession Decree No. 1564 of October 11, 2022, with a total allocation of approximately €138 million from the EU’s NextGenerationEU program.
According to NQSTI’s published mission, the institute is a consortium of 20 Italian entities organized through a hub-and-spoke model with seven research spokes covering information processing, simulation, atom-based platforms, photon-based platforms, electron-based platforms, integration, and complete quantum systems. The project runs for three years.
NQSTI addresses the full innovation chain, from low-technology-readiness-level research to prototype development and technology transfer. A dedicated incubator program supports the creation of quantum spin-offs and startups, with a particular focus on southern Italian regions, where 70% of education and outreach funding is allocated.