Strange as they may appear, the special properties of quantum mechanical processes have been studied for more than a hundred years. Thanks to advances in our ability to manipulate them, we can now increasingly utilise them for technical applications. There are high hopes pinned to this development but the chances of success are still uncertain. This study presents the state of research in four areas of quantum technology, looks ahead at ­possible security and military implications, and concludes with a number of recommendations for action.