QuantumDiamonds, Munich-based, develops the first commercially available semiconductor inspection system using quantum sensing, deployed in US and Taiwan; Boosts Europe's AI competitiveness.

QuantumDiamonds, Munich-based, develops the first commercially available semiconductor inspection system using quantum sensing, deployed in US and Taiwan; Boosts Europe’s AI competitiveness.

State of the Union 2026: Your stories - European Commission

Dr Lindsay Bassman Oftelie is a computational physicist who works on developing more energy-efficient quantum computers. In 2022, she chose Europe. She moved from Berkeley Lab in the United States to CNR Nano in Pisa through a Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions Postdoctoral fellowship . Dr Bassman Oftelie has been recognised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her science communication and diplomacy efforts.

QuantumDiamonds, a Munich-based scale-up, has developed the world’s first commercially available semiconductor inspection system based on quantum sensing. Its machines detect defects in modern microchips that no other technology could see before and are already deployed with customers in the US and Taiwan. With chip complexity rising, this cutting-edge innovation secures the semiconductor foundation that AI is built on and gives Europe a genuine competitive advantage in the global AI race.

‘Caffé Aktywni’, located in Gdańsk, Poland, is a social enterprise run by Fundacja ‘Świat Wrażliwy’ (The Sensitive World Foundation) employing young people with intellectual disabilities and seniors who serve as their mentors. It creates a space for socialisation and vocational training, while at the same time integrating those who are often excluded from the labour market. Thanks to support from NextGenerationEU , the café was able to modernise its kitchen and to purchase adapted tools for catering services.

The island of Bornholm, in the Baltic Sea, has enormous wind energy potential. The Bornholm Energy Island project is the first deliverable under the Energy Highways. It will develop offshore wind farms and link 3 GW of electricity to the Danish and German national grids. This will transform wind energy from a national resource into a shared European resource and it has the potential to turn the Baltic Sea into an offshore hub that serves as a blueprint for projects across the EU, as we strive for energy independence. The project is backed by €645 million under the Connecting Europe Facility .

Jackie Fox tragically lost her 21-year-old daughter Nicole ‘Coco’ to suicide in 2018 after she suffered repeated abuse both online and offline. Following Nicole’s death, Jackie campaigned to close existing legal loopholes in Ireland that failed to hold cyberbullies accountable. Her tireless advocacy led to the historic passing of Coco’s Law in 2020, making cyberbullying a criminal offence. The Commission remains committed to fight online bullying. An Action Plan against Cyberbullying has been launched and, additionally, a Special Panel on Child Safety Online whose recommendations will inform the Commission’s actions to strengthen their protection.

Residents in the Polish-Lithuanian border region often face long waiting times and limited access to specialised care and preventive diagnostics. Through EU cohesion funding, the Pro-Medica hospital in Ełk, Poland, modernised its operating theatres and introduced state-of-the-art equipment for minimally invasive surgery, while developing joint services with a partner hospital in Lithuania. Patients can now receive earlier diagnosis, safer surgical treatment and high-quality specialised care in their home region. The project also expanded preventive screenings, enabling earlier diagnosis and timely treatment. It is a clear example of how cohesion policy and the new priorities included during its mid-term review, are improving quality of life in eastern border regions.

Miroslav, a 59-year Czech citizen, spent more than a decade on the street before social workers found him an apartment and offered support, easing worries and helping him restore his stability. The Housing First initiative , supported by the European Social Fund Plus , pairs affordable housing with guidance on health, employment and rebuilding family ties. Miroslav feels he has something to give back and is now focused on helping others still waiting for social housing.

Géza Buzás-Habel is a Hungarian activist of Roma origin the Managing Director of the Diverse Youth Network. His work focuses on protecting human rights and defending equality and the freedom of peaceful assembly. He has long helped organise the Pécs Pride march , the only Pride event held outside Budapest. Despite the previous Hungarian government banning the Pécs Pride in 2025, Géza led the march. Criminal proceedings were brought against him five months later for allegedly having organised a banned assembly. The charges have been dropped since. He continues to work through the Diverse Youth Network to increase the visibility of Roma, LGBTQ+ and other marginalised communities, and to build solidarity among these communities.

After word spread that fishing nets were extremely useful to stop drones from reaching infrastructures and causing damage, fishing communities from Finland, France and Italy sent out nets thousands of kilometres away to protect houses, schools, hospitals, roads and lives . Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism , 110 tonnes of fishing nets were donated by fishermen who gave away the means with which they make a living in order to save lives in Ukraine.

Discover more stories in the State of the Union 2026 brochure (PDF)

This page was last updated on 11 September 2026

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