Making the most of quantum computers, inclusively and openly, to accelerate the SDGs and beyond
Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation
Session 205
Abstract
Quantum technologies have the potential to create profound changes to society, changing entire industries. The last decade has seen major breakthroughs, leading to an increase in investment from the private sector. The quantum pursuit is considerably fractured. Scattered technology and policy approaches tend to lead to a focus on a few technologies, in a few countries, in the hands of a few incumbents, all this among geopolitical tensions.
Despite technical progress and encouraging promises, real-world use cases for quantum computers are mostly aspirational, and will remain so if nothing is done to foster their development and use in a timely and open manner. Today, the experimented use cases are naturally those for which there is an immediate economic or geopolitical advantage, not those that will benefit the largest amount of people. There is little understanding of quantum computing impact on the UN’s SDGs and consequent economic opportunities.
Now is the time to anticipate. We must use the upcoming 10 years (i.e. the timeframe by which quantum computers will mature for real-life applications) to prepare humanity for equal and inclusive use of this powerful technological capability, and with a view to prevent the enlargement of the digital divide. This is also where multilateral actors enter into play and can considerably contribute.
To evaluate the contours of a global governance initiative to address that issue, the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation (GESDA) proposes an Open Quantum Institute (OQI), developed by leaders in science, diplomacy, business and civil society. Acting as an “honest broker” between the R&D, the quantum technology providers and the UN2030 Agenda, this initiative anticipates the readiness of all stakeholders to embrace the power of quantum computing once at full maturity.
This session will discuss why quantum computing was selected from the GESDA Breakthrough Radar® (https://radar.gesda.global) as a critical emerging technology, and what could be done to ensure humanity benefits from it.
Alexandre Fasel has been the Special Representative for Science Diplomacy of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs since June 2021 and, concurrently, Chairman of the Diplomatic Forum of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) since November 2022. As Ambassador of Switzerland in the United Kingdom from autumn 2017, he contributed to the implementation of the Swiss Government’s ‘Mind the Gap’ strategy on Brexit. During the course of his career he has engaged with the topics of European integration, the interface between foreign and domestic policy, foreign policy analysis and policy formulation as well as multilateral diplomacy, the latter as Head of the UN Division at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and as Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Office of the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva.
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C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C3. Access to information and knowledge
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C6. Enabling environment
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-science
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C11. International and regional cooperation
The session will underline the connection between science and diplomacy, and the need to anticipate future technological and scientific breakthroughs and its impact on humanity and relevant WSIS action lines.
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Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
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Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
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Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
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Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
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Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
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Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
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Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
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Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
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Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
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Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
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Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
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Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
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Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
The Open Quantum Institute (OQI) initiative by GESDA aims to support the development of "uses cases for the SDGs" by providing open access to quantum computing.
@GESDAglobal
https://radar.gesda.global