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Swiss Embassy and Swissnex launch the International Year of Quantum and OQI’s Quantum Diplomacy Game in Washington D.C.

6th February 2025

On 5th February, The Embassy of Switzerland in Washington D.C., in partnership with Swissnex, celebrated the launch of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST) 2025. A group of around 30 participants—including diplomats, U.S. government officials, scientists and industry representatives— had the opportunity to engage in the newest version of the Open Quantum Institute’s Quantum Diplomacy Game for the very first time. 

 

The Quantum Diplomacy Game is an interactive role play game that simulates the challenges and opportunities of quantum computing for the common good in a fictional future scenario. Designed to promote science diplomacy, the game aims to raise awareness and anticipation of the geopolitical implications of quantum computing as an emerging technology. “The game deepens players’ understanding of the risk of not anticipating scientific breakthroughs”, highlighted Dr. Marianne Schoerling, Capacity Building Lead at OQI and Senior Program Manager at GESDA.

 

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 explore decision making principles around the application of quantum computing and underscores the importance of anticipating the impact of future technologies development before they are realised. 

 

Following the welcome remarks of H.E Dr. Ralf Heckner, Ambassador of Switzerland to the USA, Dr. Catherine Lefebvre (Applications Lead at OQI and Senior Advisor at GESDA), moderated the game’s debriefing alongside Dr. Kate Weber (Head of Governance and External Affairs, Google Quantum AI), outlining the key learnings and reflections amongst participants. The importance of taking an anticipatory approach to science diplomacy was central to the discussions, outlining how to translate the challenges of quantum into tangible actions. The conversation underscored the value of fostering open scientific cooperation to maximise the benefits of promoting inclusive multilateral governance—addressing numerous challenges such as supply chains, intellectual property and capacity building. Discussions developed into exploring  how the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST) presents a unique opportunity to continue to drive global collaboration.

 

 

“The Quantum Diplomacy Game builds awareness on the geopolitical implications of the technology and the risk of not acting now. The IYQST is an invitation to accelerate the dialogue within the global community and build trust to ensure that quantum technology is developed in a responsible and equitable manner,” concluded Dr. Lefebvre.

 

The Quantum Diplomacy Game will be played globally across all continents throughout the International Year of Quantum in 2025. Find out more about the game and how you can get involved!  

2025 | Open Quantum Institute

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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

 

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