Madrid, 11 May 2026
The new Telefónica–UPM Joint Research Unit on quantum technologies has been formalized today, building on more than a decade of collaboration between the two organizations. QCentroid is part of the innovation ecosystem supporting the initiative.
The agreement was signed by Óscar García Suárez, Rector of UPM, and Juan José Marfil Márquez, Director of Network, IT, and TV at Telefónica. It builds on more than twelve years of joint work between the two organizations in advanced communications and becomes their second JRU, following one already in place focused on data communications.
Hosted at UPM’s School of Computer Engineering and linked to the Quantum Information Group (GIICC), the new unit is designed to scale up European collaboration in quantum communications. Joint Research Units allow corporates and public research bodies to act as a single team when applying for EU-funded programs, making it easier to take on large, high-impact projects and to transfer knowledge between academia and industry.
A decade of collaboration behind the new Telefónica–UPM Joint Research Unit
The Telefónica–UPM partnership has been involved in most of the major European quantum communications projects since 2016, including CIVIQ, OPENQKD, DISCRETION, and EuroQCI-Spain — initiatives that strengthen Europe’s own technology base and contribute to digital sovereignty. Both organizations are also active in international standardization work at ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).
At the national level, UPM has coordinated Spain’s complementary plan for quantum communications, while Telefónica has led the deployment of one of the first private experimental fiber networks for quantum communications in the Madrid metropolitan area (TEFQCI) and contributed to the MADQCI ecosystem.
The collaboration also brings in specialized startups and SMEs — including Qoolnet, a UPM spin-off, and QCentroid, which develops platforms for accessing quantum computing. Their role is to help translate research outputs into practical use cases and broaden the technology’s practical reach.
“Quantum technologies are at the heart of a new revolution. With this agreement, UPM reinforces its leadership in transferring these technologies to industry,” said Óscar García Suárez, Rector of UPM.
Juan José Marfil added: “This agreement reflects Telefónica’s innovation profile and our commitment to giving businesses, citizens, and public administrations the best path into digital technologies. We are proud to keep working with UPM on quantum-based research and solutions.”
With the new JRU, Telefónica, UPM, and their ecosystem partners are positioning Spain as a relevant player in quantum communications at the European and international level.