October 1, 2024 | Washington, DC

The Swiss quantum ecosystem was well represented in Washington, DC, last month as several representatives converged to highlight the strengths of Swiss quantum research and innovation, as well as opportunities for international collaboration.

The Head of the Swiss Quantum Initiative, Andreas Masuhr, was joined in the US capital by Scientific Advisors Martin Kern and Loïc Fave from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. From Swissnex in Boston and New York, Brendan Karch attended as head of Project Quantum, Swissnex’s initiative to connect Switzerland and the world in quantum technologies.

The week was built around the third edition of Quantum World Congress (QWC), which brought together hundreds of quantum insiders from industry, research, and government. The conference is known for its international and policy tracks, and Switzerland was officially represented at two events:

• On September 9, Andreas Masuhr and Loïc Fave, who serves as a Swiss Quantum Commission Delegate, joined the QWC’s International Forum, a moderated cross-sector workshop, devoted to advancing global collaboration for quantum and quantum-adjacent technologies.
• On September 11, Brendan Karch presented the Swiss quantum ecosystem as part of a session on National Quantum Updates, which featured representatives from 13 countries.

The conference also attracted notable Swiss quantum players such as Zurich Instruments, producer of quantum computing control systems; QAI Ventures, a VC fund and accelerator focused on quantum and AI; and the Open Quantum Institute launched by GESDA.

The day after the conference, Switzerland was represented by Andreas Masuhr, Loïc Fave, and Martin Kern at the ongoing Multilateral Dialogue on Quantum (MDQ), which was launched in 2022 by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s National Quantum Coordination Office. Featuring delegates from 13 like-minded countries, this round was co-hosted by the US and the Australian Embassy in Washington. The members have previously created a set of seven guiding principles for the development of a global quantum ecosystem, including fairness, equity, transparency, and democratic ideals.

Swiss representatives were also able to take part in other events that week, such as the “Global Quantum Strategies Overview 2024” hosted by the Johns Hopkins University Science Diplomacy Hub on September 8, where Masuhr presented on the Swiss Quantum Initiative.

“These events in Washington presented a unique arena for global quantum actors from government, industry, and research to come together,” said Brendan Karch. “It was great to see Switzerland at the table with such a strong presence.”