A week of quantum milestones in Gia Lai, Vietnam

OQI, Quandela, and Quang Trung University signed a memorandum of understanding in Gia Lai, Vietnam, on 28 July 2026.

For one week in July, Gia Lai province in Vietnam became a meeting point for quantum research, national policy, and international partnership. The Open Quantum Institute (OQI) joined Gia Lai Quantum Year 2026 as a partner organisation, taking part in Quantum Computing for Social Good (QC4SG) 2026 – the second SEA Quantathon, and the first edition held in Vietnam. Alongside a series of side events on quantum diplomacy and industry collaboration, two milestones stood out: a hackathon reaching its demo day, where teams presented their projects, and a set of new partnerships formalised.

QC4SG 2026 closed with its demo day in Gia Lai, where teams from across Southeast Asia presented quantum computing prototypes built over the preceding months. The 26 teams brought their creativity to topics as diverse as optimising coffee and agricultural supply chains, applying Quantum Causal AI to support aquaculture in the Mekong Delta, enhancing groundwater extraction efficiency, and forecasting dengue fever.

Over the same week, OQI took part in discussions on national quantum strategy alongside VNQuantum, the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee, Vietnam’s National Innovation Center, International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), and Quang Trung University. OQI also led a South East Asian workshop on aligning national quantum strategies, including conversations on policy, workforce development, and shared infrastructure.

Tim Smith, OQI Coordinator, speaking at the Gia Lai Quantum Year 2026 opening ceremony, broadcast live on VTV8.

The week was marked with an important moment at the Innovation Economy Forum on 28 July, where OQI signed two memoranda of understanding: one with ICISE, and a second, three-way agreement with Quandela and Quang Trung University. Agreements like these reflect a wider pattern in OQI’s work: quantum capacity takes hold when governments, universities, and industry commit to building it together, and the Gia Lai week was no exception.

“The greatest value of Gia Lai Quantum Year 2026 is that it opens a space for all parties to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and seek opportunities for cooperation – laying the foundation for a sustainable quantum ecosystem. It is also the spirit that the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) pursues,” said Tim Smith, Coordinator of OQI. “We believe that quantum technology is not just a story of science or technology, but more importantly, it creates value for society.”

The hackathon is part of OQI’s ongoing capacity-building effort to bridge the quantum divide and democratise access to quantum computing education. During this pilot phase, OQI has supported four events across Southeast Asia, each attracting greater engagement and delivering more impact than the last. To learn about OQI’s activities, visit our latest progress report. 

Thank you to VNQuantum and all partners for a memorable week of quantum diplomacy, partnership,
and community in Gia Lai, Vietnam.