Introduction to Quantum Study Tour - start in Geneva at NH Airport Hotel Please note that no discount has been granted for this hotel, in case you opt to arrive the day before. Hotel reference: https://www.nh-hotels.com/en/hotel/nh-geneva-airport

Introductory presentation and discussion from University of Geneva

Contextual presentation and exchange - CERN

Contextual presentation and exchange - iDQ

Hotel check-in

EPFL visit and Lingentec presentation At EPFL’s Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, the conversation shifts to the emerging development environment that turns scientific advances into working systems. EPFL is the first Swiss university to integrate a real quantum computer into its high-performance computing infrastructure, enabling advanced simulations and research workflows. The center’s interdisciplinary approach and recent theoretical work on quantum learning problems further push the boundaries of what is computationally possible. The European Patent Office will demonstrate how patent analytics can reveal the direction of the quantum field, supporting startups and companies in navigating the landscape of intellectual property. A visit to LiGENTEC, a leading photonics company will make the enabling layer tangible, showcasing photonic integrated circuits and their unique properties that future quantum systems may depend on, and the laboratory infrastructures that made this possible.

Visit Ligentec Lab Tour

Visit to Swiss Quantum Initiative The visit will include: - Startup pitches - World Economic Forum session - Speculative Technologies session In Bern, the Swiss Quantum Initiative frames the national context, comparing global quantum strategies and addressing the "Red Queen" race, where countries must continuously advance to maintain their position. Switzerland’s recently published quantum strategy stands out for its clarity and practicality, emphasizing the need for a real-world quantum communication testbed to avoid falling behind. The strategy is a product of the Swiss Quantum Commission, a body of leading experts, and aims to strengthen Switzerland’s position as a leader in quantum research and innovation. Startup pitches will test these strategies against market realities, exploring which capabilities attract capital, where talent and infrastructure constrain growth, and what separates credible paths from hype. A moderated exchange with the Speculative Technologies and the World Economic Forum will connect new research models, technology convergence, and the institutional choices shaping future capabilities.

Deep Tech Nation Switzerland (DTN) visit, Verve Ventures presentation and company pitches Zurich is where vision meets scale. Thursday begins at Deep Tech Nation Switzerland, where we will examine how frontier technologies attract capital, build talent, and achieve scale. The discussion will focus on convergence—how quantum, AI, and other deep-tech domains intersect—and the deep-tech talent and capability pipeline needed to sustain innovation. Verve Ventures will provide a European VC perspective, bringing startups and examining what works and what doesn’t in the quantum ecosystem. The discussion will address the gap between rising expectations and technological reality, as captured in their observation: "[In Quantum], Expectations go up faster than the technology can develop"—and how to navigate this challenge. Selected company pitches will test strategies against market realities, exploring which capabilities attract capital, where talent and infrastructure constrain growth, and what separates credible paths from hype.

IBM Rüschlikon visit At IBM Research Zurich in Rüschlikon, we will explore the development of quantum algorithms and training of systems, addressing risks in post-quantum computing, AI, photonics, hardware/software integration, and beyond. The lab, where several Nobel Prize discoveries have been made and which celebrates 75 years of IBM innovation, is a hub for both quantum and AI research. IBM has released the industry’s first quantum-centric supercomputing reference architecture, a blueprint for integrating quantum processors with classical high-performance computing to tackle complex scientific problems.

Visit to Technopark, visit to Zurich Instruments Labs (TBC) At Zurich Instruments, we will examine what companies need in the future in view of quantum, including IP systems, the concept of antifragile IP, industrial strategy, and technology leadership. The tour concludes with a strategic discussion on supply chain vulnerabilities, cybersecurity, and the intersection with space, viewed through the lens of resilience, and presented by ETH Zurich’s Center for Security Studies. The journey ends with a synthesis of conclusions and next steps, leaving participants with actionable insights and a forward-looking perspective.

Conclusion and next steps