Global Quantum Strategies Overview 2026
Pre-Event Quantum World Congress 2026
The Embassy of Austria in Washington, D.C., and the Science Diplomacy Grid are delighted to host the 4th Global Quantum Strategies Overview event, taking place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:30 PM at the Embassy of Austria.
As pre-event to the Quantum World Congress 2026, the 4th Global Quantum Strategies Overview will convene leading voices from academia, government, and industry to discuss the latest developments in Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) and to foster new international collaborations.
The Quantum World Congress (QWC), which will take place from September 23 to 25, has established itself as the leading international platform for quantum technology in the greater Washington, D.C. area since its inception in 2022. Since 2023, an official pre-event (Global Quantum Strategies Overview) has been held in advance of the congress, connecting experts from diplomacy, academia, and industry to discuss developments in the quantum sector. In 2023 and 2024, the pre-event was held at the Johns Hopkins University, and in 2025 at the Embassy of Finland. This year’s pre-event will once again feature high-ranking representatives of the Quantum World Congress, as well as distinguished participants and speakers from academia, government/diplomacy, and industry.
PROGRAM
4:30 PM | Doors Open and Registration
5:00 PM | Welcome Remarks by H.E. Petra Schneebauer, Ambassador of Austria to the United States
5:05 PM | Keynotes and Presentation of Austria’s Quantum Strategy
5:25 PM | Introductory Remarks ahead of Quantum World Congress
George Thomas, President & CEO, Connected DMV / Quantum World Congress
5:35 PM | Remarks by Co-Organizers & Introduction of Speakers
Science Diplomacy Grid & Austrian Embassy Washington
5:45 PM | Flash Talks by Leaders from the Private Sector, Academia, and Government about
Advancements and challenges in quantum technologies (computing, sensing, networking, simulation, measurement, imaging, and beyond)
New developments in national or regional quantum strategies
Emerging trends in international collaboration and transnational partnerships in QIST
7:00 PM | Networking Reception
8:30 PM | End of Event
SPEAKERS
Markus Aspelmeyer | Keynote Speaker
Professor, University of Vienna | Scientific & Executive Director, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI Vienna) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW) | Board of Directors, Cluster of Excellence Quantum Science Austria (quantA)
Francesca Ferlaino | Keynote Speaker (TBC)
Professor, University of Innsbruck | Research Director, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI Innsbruck) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW) | Board of Directors, Cluster of Excellence Quantum Science Austria (quantA)
Celia Merzbacher
Excecutive Director, QED-C
Ona Ambrozaite
Director, Wisconsin Quantum Institute (WQI) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison | Co-Executive Director, Science Diplomacy Grid
Johannes Bahrke
Digital Counselor – Digital Economy, Research and Innovation, Delegation of the European Union to the United States
Fikriye Selen-Okatan
Senior Advisor – Digital Technologies, Quantum, Defense and AI, Consulate General of Finland – New York
Felix Tiefenbacher
Founder & CEO, Zerothird
Stefan Schmid
Co-Head of Technology Partnerships, ParityQC
Kate Weber
Director of Governance and External Affairs, Google Quantum AI
Jeffrey Brown
Global Quantum Policy Lead, IBM
Emily Violi Benjamin
Senior Program Manager – Quantum Legal and Policy, Microsoft