11/02/2026
The National Research Council of Italy (CNR) and the autonomous region Friuli Venezia Giulia announce the launch of QCIMED – Mediterranean Quantum Connectivity, a strategic European initiative co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme, aimed at developing an advanced quantum communication infrastructure between Italy, Austria and the Mediterranean area.
The project, coordinated for the CNR by Francesco Saverio Cataliotti, Professor at the University of Florence, started on 01/01/2026 and will last 42 months. It is a genuine joint effort among research institutes, territorial bodies and technological partners, with the goal of making a decisive contribution to the future EuroQCI network.
Guido Caldarelli, Director of the CNR Institute for Complex Systems (CNR-ISC), states: “CNR will play a leading role in project management, technical and scientific supervision, risk monitoring and integration with major European initiatives in quantum security.”
The interdisciplinary collaboration, which brings together expertise in metrology, optics, quantum cryptography, network infrastructure and space applications, constitutes one of the most innovative and distinctive elements of the project. Alongside the CNR, QCIMED brings together some of the most authoritative Italian and European research bodies: ASI – Italian Space Agency, responsible for activities related to the space segment, will provide two optical communication stations, one fixed and the other mobile, to extend the range of communications where fibre optics cannot reach; INRiM – National Institute of Metrological Research, involved in the development and testing of quantum technologies over long distances; AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology, a key partner for the implementation and validation of quantum infrastructures on the Austrian side.
“In full fulfilment of the mandate of the organisation, the synergy between CNR, the autonomous region Friuli Venezia Giulia, ASI, INRiM and AIT, QCIMED will strengthen the security of national and European critical infrastructures, promote technological sovereignty in the field of quantum communications and offer a model of cross-border cooperation, creating new opportunities for industry, research and public administration,” declares Stefano Fabris, Director of the CNR Department of Physical Sciences and Technologies of Matter.
The autonomous region Friuli Venezia Giulia, which a few months ago activated its first quantum link between the two regional universities and is now engaged in the creation of the first quantum network supporting the twelve hubs of its logistics platform, plays a fundamental role as leader of the Work Package dedicated to terrestrial cross-border connections and will also be involved in the extension of the Regional Public Network (RPR) as an element of the future Italian quantum backbone from Tarvisio to the Coccau pass.
“The involvement of the Region confirms Friuli Venezia Giulia as a European gateway for advanced technologies and a leading area in communication security. By participating in QCIMED, the Region consolidates its role in creating innovative infrastructures, fundamental for the Italian quantum network. The creation of the new fibre connection up to the Coccau pass and the use of the regional public network demonstrate a concrete commitment to cross-border connectivity. These actions strengthen the regional position in the European quantum technology landscape and represent an excellent opportunity to attract talent and enhance the competitiveness of the regional system,” concludes Sebastiano Callari, Regional Councillor for Information Systems.
Per informazioni:
Francesco Saverio Cataliotti
QCIMED - Mediterranean Quantum Connectivity coordinator
francescosaverio.cataliotti@cnr.it
Ufficio stampa:
Francesca Gorini
Ufficio stampa Cnr
francesca.gorini@cnr.it
Responsabile Unità Ufficio stampa:
Emanuele Guerrini
emanuele.guerrini@cnr.it
ufficiostampa@cnr.it
06 4993 3383