Narratives shape the direction of technological development, innovation pathways, and societal expectations. They influence which technologies receive political support, are given economic priority, and become culturally embedded. This is particularly true for quantum technologies (QT). Although technological roadmaps are largely being met and technical implementation appears realistic in the medium term, concrete applications, societal significance, and acceptance remain uncertain. In this phase of expectation building, the interpretation of technologies plays a decisive role in shaping the future and determining which innovation pathways will take hold.

Currently, the international QT discourse is dominated by narratives focused on competition, security, and technological dominance, particularly outside of Europe. These interpretations justify high levels of investment, emphasize claims to geopolitical leadership, and thus shape technological priorities. European (and German) narratives often counter this with models of responsibility, security, and technological sovereignty. However, so far, they have had a predominantly normative and administrative impact. They structure governance and funding logics but have limited societal resonance or economic momentum. In the media and cultural public sphere, there is a lack of emotionally resonant narratives, which hinders visibility of QT, private investment, and the enthusiasm of young talent.

At the same time, weak signals of new narratives are emerging at the intersection of QT with AI, biology, and brain-computer interfaces (“QT+x”). These emerging interpretive patterns, often originating from non-European contexts, may influence future developments in research, markets, and talent. Germany and Europe have not yet responded systematically to these dynamics. This gives rise to the project’s central challenge: How can Germany and Europe gain narrative sovereignty in the field of QT, that is, the ability to independently develop socially and governance-relevant visions of the future, reflect critically on them, and translate them into research, funding, and cultural practices?

Against this background, the Q-Narrative project, funded by the BMFTR as part of “INSIGHT II – Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Disruptive Innovations,” pursues two interrelated main objectives:

1. Analysis: Mapping, analyzing, and evaluating the impact logic of existing and emerging narratives in quantum technologies and related fields. Building on hermeneutic technology assessment, narratives are understood as early forms of societal technology impacts and indicators of potential innovation dynamics. The goal is to develop hermeneutic criteria and indicators that can be used to assess societal and governance relevance and innovation effectiveness.
2. Design: Development of socially relevant European future narratives for quantum technologies that combine motivation, responsibility, and innovation dynamics. Through participatory and artistic formats, we design and reflect upon narratives that give concrete form to European visions. These narratives are introduced into scientific, political, and public discourses. The goal is to create alternative European narratives of the future (“European Quantum Futures”) that integrate technological development, societal values, and innovation policy perspectives.

The project thus bridges the gap between scientific and technical knowledge, political governance, and cultural meaning making. It contributes to forward-looking innovation policy and the long-term strengthening of Germany’s and Europe’s narrative and technological sovereignty in the field of disruptive technologies.

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