Exploring multilateral governance of quantum computing at the FDFA

The Quantum Diplomacy Game was recently played at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in Bern, as part of science diplomacy training for a new cohort of Swiss diplomats.

From the start of the game, participants are fully immersed – each given a character to take on the role of scientists, policymakers and industry leaders. Set in the future, players enter a fictitious world where large-scale quantum computing has been achieved, but the technology is inaccessible to most. Placing multilateral governance at the forefront, the game aims to raise awareness and anticipation of the geopolitical implications of quantum computing as an emerging technology.

A highlight of the session was the game’s debrief discussion, where participants reflected on the importance of multilateral governance of quantum computing and its real-world implications.

The Quantum Diplomacy Game is being played around the world across multiple continents throughout the International Year of Quantum in 2025. Find out more about the game and how you can get involved: https://open-quantum-institute.cern/quantum-diplomacy-game/

Title *

Name: *

Surname *

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Organization

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Engagement Type *

How would you contribute to OQI? *

I abide to OQIs values and openness principles.

By applying, I acknowledge that I have read, understood and agree to theCERN privacy policy.

OQI Partners are institutions that benefit from peer recognition for their scientific contributions or impact expertise.

Requirements:

Either have served as OQI’s spearheading partners during its incubation phase or have consistently engaged resources to OQI’s work as OQI members for at least a year
Commit to co-shape the OQI’s unique value propositions for the three years of the pilot throughout the 4A’s
Are vetted by the OQI Advisory Committee
Abide to OQI’s values and openness principles

OQI Members are institutions that benefit from peer recognition for their scientific contributions or their impact expertise.

Requirements:

Have disclosed their governance structure
Commit to actively contribute on at least one of the 4A’s assiduously for at least one year
Have appointed at least one expert from their institution as focal point of contact for OQI and contributor to its working groups
Abide to OQI’s values
Have submitted a complete membership form with supporting documentation and are vetted by the OQI Management Team
Qualify for partner level after having demonstrated their commitment for at least one year

OQI Friends are individuals (such as experts from the private or public sector, countries, citizens) who are committed to open science, inclusivity and all values as set out in OQI’s charter and associate themselves with the OQI.

Friends socialise the OQI to their communities.

Downloadable PDF version of Charter

Description:

The Open Quantum Institute (OQI) is a multilateral governance initiative that promotes global and inclusive access to quantum computing and the development of applications for the benefit of humanity. As a novel science diplomacy instrument, it brings together research, diplomacy, private sector and philanthropy stakeholders. OQI is hosted by CERN during its pilot phase (2024-2026).

Mission:

• Accelerating applications for humanity: Realising the full potential of quantum computing to have the widest possible societal impact by accelerating the development of use cases geared towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and succeeding framework , thanks to the combined forces of researchers, developers and entrepreneurs from academia and private sector as well as the United Nations, and large NGOs
• Access for all: Providing global, inclusive and equitable access to a pool of public and private quantum computers and simulators available via the cloud
• Advancing capacity building: Developing educational tools to enable everyone around the world to contribute to the development of quantum computing and make the most of the technology
• Activating multilateral governance for the SDGs: Providing a neutral forum to help shape multilateral governance of quantum computing for the SDGs

Values:

• Inclusivity, global scope
• Enable people from all countries, regardless of whether they have any quantum computing capability of their own, to benefit from and to participate in the development of (i) quantum computing applications that address global challenges, in particular those that are closely related to their own specific challenges, and (ii) the multilateral governance of quantum computing for the SDGs
• Openness
• Share experiences, knowledge, and methods for the benefit of all, following Open Science best practice
• Make openly available the results – outcomes of joint activities related to the OQI mission conducted by the OQI community – to society via open repositories and/or through the use of open licences
• Focus on impact
• Ensure that applications are developed for their quantum computing potential to tackle real-world problems that will benefit humanity
• Consider and balance their ethical, legal, and societal implications
• Independence
• Enable everyone to participate free from individual, national, corporate or any other agendas
• Develop applications with a technology neutral approach.
• Collaboration
• Foster a community of diverse expertise, backgrounds and geographies, enabled by international cooperation and diplomacy