US and Switzerland Enter Quantum Partnership
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The State Department confirmed U.S. participation in another bilateral partnership focused on technological innovation.
The State Department announced a new international partnership last week focusing on developing new technologies in the quantum information sciences arena, with help from researchers from both the U.S. and Switzerland.
Representatives from both countries signed a Joint Statement on Cooperation to foster innovation in quantum information science and technology. This latest statement is one of the most recent international partnerships the U.S. has entered with allies to advance the development of emerging technologies, preceded by a data privacy framework between the U.S. and EU and a similar quantum partnership between the U.S. and Australia.
“With this signing and declaration, the United States and Switzerland are recommitting ourselves to the promise of quantum information science, where international collaboration is key for progress,” said Monica Medina, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. Medina joined Swiss colleagues to sign the agreement on behalf of the U.S.
“We intend to strengthen bonds between our two nations to advance quantum information science and benefit from its immense potential,” she said.
Quantum information technology, particularly quantum computing, stands to disrupt conventional computers and data networks. A viable quantum computer that can host corresponding quantum algorithms has the potential to break through standard encryption and access sensitive data on unprepared networks.
The new U.S.-Swiss partnership will research QIST applications in quantum computing as well as similar areas like quantum networking and quantum sensing.
“Today’s quantum cooperation statement recognizes the importance of U.S.-Swiss collaborations in accelerating QIST research and development, and it constitutes an important step in developing a trusted global network for this critical emerging technology that advances computing, networking and sensing for the benefit of society,” Charles Tahan, the assistant director for quantum information science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and director of the National Quantum Coordination Office commented last week.