Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Open Quantum Institute has been launched in Geneva to unleash the powers of quantum computing for all. The institute will provide inclusive access to this revolutionary technology to help achieve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
The Open Quantum Institute in Geneva resulted from a joint effort led by the non-profit organization GESDA (©GESDA/von Loebell).
CERN as partner
The Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation (GESDA), an independent non-profit think-tank, designed and incubated the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) with 130 partners from all over the world. Its Swiss partners are the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva. The institute will be embedded as of March 1, 2024, at CERN as part of its program of activities and supported by Switzerland’s largest bank UBS.
The OQI aims to make high-performance quantum computers available to all the people interested in finding solutions to accelerate the implementation of the UN’s sustainable development goals in the fields of health, energy, climate protection, and any relevant domain of application. This will be achieved by connecting quantum technology experts from industry, research institutions, and universities with representatives of governments and relevant international organizations.
To the benefit of all
From the technology side, the institute aims to enable inclusive and equitable access to a pool of public and private computers and simulators available in the cloud. Also, it plans to develop educational tools, targeting users from underserved regions.
Specific deliverables include the development of best practices on how to involve players from underserved regions in the use of quantum computing and the compilation of an initial inventory of training instruments. This strategy is supposed to anticipate an open, inclusive, fair, and equitable future governance of this new technology.
Science-based forum
An Advisory Board, co-chaired by CERN and GESDA, including all project partners, will oversee the development of the OQI during a three-year pilot phase. Ultimately, the new institute will be an inclusive, science-based forum to support the development of future multilateral governance of quantum computing conducive to achieving the SDGs.
“With the Open Quantum Institute, we have the first concrete proposal on how international governance can prepare for the challenges of the 21st century. I’m convinced that Switzerland must dare to take this path”, said Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at the project launch in Geneva. “The OQI also shows that science diplomacy, which aims to revitalize multilateralism by turning it towards action, can be highly effective and lead to success even in troubled geopolitical times,” said Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of GESDA.
Text: SCCIJ with material of GESDA
