Yesterday saw the operational launch event of the Open Quantum Institute, the pioneering Open Innovation initiative that combines the future of science with the power of diplomacy to solve some of the greatest challenges of our time.
The Open Quantum Institute (OQI), developed by the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) and officially integrated within the Quantum Technology Initiative of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), is now entering its operational phase.
To celebrate this important milestone, an inaugural event was held yesterday at CERN’s Science Gateway in Geneva, hosting important scientific and diplomatic players, business and philanthropic leaders from all over the world, as well as entities that have contributed to the development of the OQI in recent years.
The day provided a unique opportunity for international discussion on the applications of Open Quantum Technology and an occasion for another important announcement to be made regarding the new composition of the Open Quantum Institute Advisory Committee , which now also includes Alberto Anfossi, Secretary General of Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo.
Developed by the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) with the support of many public and private entities, including Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, the Open Quantum Institute is intended to provide inclusive access to quantum computing for the development of concrete solutions to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
For the next three years, the work of the OQI is intended to shed increasing light on the real power of quantum computing to achieve the common good, promoting and facilitating access to quantum computing resources and expertise.
And it is precisely with a view to helping accelerate the development of quantum computing algorithms to meet the greatest societal challenges of our time that the XPRIZE Quantum Applications, supported by GESDA and Google Quantum AI was launched yesterday. Over the next three years this competition will involve teams from all over the world in proposing and analysing the feasibility of quantum computer applications that address complex societal problems.
To better understand the aims of the prize, the preparatory phase of which was supported by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, consider, for example, that thanks to the data processing capabilities of quantum computers, it is possible to map pharmaceutical molecules more accurately, thus working more effectively on the research and development of new drugs..
At stake for the winning team is a financial contribution of USD 5 million, and support for the development of ideas in the following years, up to their launch on the global market.
To learn more about the objectives of the XPRIZE Quantum Applications, please visit this link.