Quantum Technologies and Quantum Computing in Switzerland

Switzerland punches above its weight in quantum science and technology, leveraging a long tradition of excellence in physics, strong government support, and vibrant academia-industry collaboration. Despite its modest size, Switzerland boasts some of the world’s highest-impact quantum research and early commercial successes in quantum cryptography. This report provides a technical overview of Switzerland’s quantum ecosystem – from historical milestones and national initiatives to academic leadership, startups, quantum cryptography advances, and the nation’s position in the global quantum race.

Brief Historical Overview

Switzerland has been at the forefront of quantum research for decades, laying groundwork for today’s “second quantum revolution.” Key milestones include:

2001: Launch of the first National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) focused on nanoscience, marking a strategic commitment to quantum-related fields. In total, four quantum-focused NCCRs (in nanoscience, quantum photonics, quantum science & technology, and spin qubits) have been established since 2001, each with roughly CHF 50 million in funding. These centers helped attract over 30 top quantum scientists as professors to ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Basel, University of Geneva and other Swiss institutions.

2007: Geneva’s ID Quantique (a University of Geneva spin-off) deployed the world’s first commercial quantum cryptography system to secure a government election network. This pioneering quantum key distribution (QKD) installation protected vote transmissions in the Geneva state elections, a landmark real-world use of quantum security.

2011: The NCCR Quantum Science and Technology (QSIT) was established, uniting groups across ETH Zurich, EPFL, Geneva, Basel and others under a 12-year research program. During its tenure, Swiss researchers achieved breakthroughs such as a world-record 550 km fiber transmission of quantum-encrypted data (University of Geneva) and the coupling of two different quantum systems via optical fiber (University of Basel). Such advances in quantum communication and hybrid systems exemplified Switzerland’s leading role in the second quantum revolution.

2018: Swiss labs became key players in the EU’s Quantum Flagship, participating in 6 of the first 20 projects and securing €25 million in funding – a disproportionately large share relative to country size. (For comparison, Germany obtained €40 million while most countries received less.) This underscores Switzerland’s research competitiveness, though political issues later temporarily limited Swiss access to EU programs (addressed below).

2020: The Swiss Science Council published a white paper on quantum technologies, outlining a national strategy to exploit Switzerland’s strengths in quantum computing, communication, sensing, and cryptography. This strategic roadmap called for greater coordination and investment, laying the foundation for upcoming government initiatives.

2022: The Swiss Federal Council announced a comprehensive Swiss Quantum Initiative with an initial CHF 80 million investment. This national initiative (launched in early 2023) aims to coordinate research across institutions, fund quantum R&D programs, develop specialized infrastructure and curricula, and strengthen international partnerships. It represents Switzerland’s first centrally-organized quantum technology program, ensuring continued leadership amid intensifying global competition.

These milestones highlight Switzerland’s early adoption of quantum research and its evolution from foundational science to applied quantum engineering. The country’s sustained commitment through bottom-up programs and strategic planning has built a formidable ecosystem as outlined in the following sections.

Quantum Computing in Switzerland

Government-Backed Quantum Initiatives and Strategy

National Strategy and Funding: The Swiss government supports quantum technologies via targeted funding programs and strategic coordination. As noted, the Federal Council’s Swiss Quantum Initiative (SQI) launched in 2022 is a centerpiece, providing a framework and funding (CHF 80M initially) to bolster quantum computing, communication, sensing and cryptography research nationwide. The SQI emphasizes coordination of research calls, shared infrastructure, quantum education (e.g. new master’s programs), and international cooperation. To guide these efforts, a Swiss Quantum Commission was established under the Swiss Academy of Sciences in 2023. This commission of experts helps shape R&D directions, propose large projects, and align Swiss efforts with global developments.

In addition to the new SQI, Switzerland has long relied on National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs) to sustain quantum research. Four major NCCRs related to quantum have been funded since 2001 (each ~10+ years, ~CHF 50M) focusing on: Nanoscale Science (Basel, launched 2001), Quantum Photonics (Geneva/EPFL, launched 2005), Quantum Science and Technology – QSIT (Zurich/Basel/Geneva, 2011–2022), and NCCR SPIN (Basel/ETH/IBM/EPFL, launched 2020) on scalable spin qubit quantum computing. These long-term programs, backed by the Swiss National Science Foundation, created a network of top labs and trained a generation of quantum scientists, effectively seeding today’s thriving ecosystem.

Quantum Computing Hubs: Switzerland also invests in specific infrastructure for quantum computing. A notable example is the ETH Zurich–PSI Quantum Computing Hub founded in 2021, a joint center between ETH and the Paul Scherrer Institute. Backed by CHF 32 million from ETHZ, this hub brings ~30 researchers together at PSI’s campus to develop quantum hardware based on superconducting circuits and trapped ions in parallel. Housing both leading platforms in one lab is expected to yield synergies in scaling to 100+ qubit systems and in tackling engineering challenges (cryogenics, control electronics, etc.) Such initiatives illustrate the government-endorsed “hub” model: leveraging national labs (PSI) and technical universities (ETH) to accelerate quantum machine building.

Public-Private Innovation Parks: Switzerland’s innovation park network also plays a role in quantum. For instance, the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area hosts the Basel Quantum Center (at University of Basel) and the headquarters of NCCR SPIN. This campus facilitates collaboration between academia and industry, and it has given rise to QuantumBasel, a private quantum technology initiative (discussed more in the startup section). Similarly, the Innovation Park Innovaare at Villigen (next to PSI) provides facilities for quantum materials and detector research, and the Innovation Park Network West (EPFL Lausanne) connects startups with the EPFL Quantum Center and CERN’s Quantum Technology Initiative. These government-supported parks provide incubator space, cleanrooms, test infrastructure and networking for quantum enterprises, strengthening the bridge from lab to market.

International Partnerships: Mindful of its size, Switzerland actively partners with global peers on quantum R&D. It was an early participant in the EU Quantum Flagship (2018–2020), and although political constraints temporarily limited Swiss involvement in EU collaborative projects after 2021, Switzerland moved to fund domestic alternatives and seek bilateral agreements. In October 2022, the United States and Switzerland signed a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Quantum Information Science and Technology, pledging to deepen collaboration between the two countries’ researchers and institutions. This agreement, signed by Switzerland’s State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, reinforces bilateral ties with the U.S. in quantum computing, communication and sensing R&D. Likewise, Switzerland engages in multi-national forums on quantum policy (it co-hosted the 2022 Swiss-US Quantum Days and participates in European quantum network discussions). Such partnerships help Switzerland remain connected to larger initiatives and ensure Swiss contributions (and interests, e.g. in standards for quantum cryptography) are represented internationally.

In summary, Switzerland’s government approach to quantum is a mix of bottom-up excellence and top-down coordination. Rather than a single centralized “moonshot” program, it relies on sustained investment in centers of competence, leveraging world-class universities, and augmenting them with new national coordination (the SQI) and strategic alliances. This approach has cultivated a robust pipeline from fundamental research to applied innovation, as evidenced by the strength of Swiss quantum academia and industry.

Academic Strength and Contributions

Switzerland’s academic institutions form the core of its quantum ecosystem, consistently producing high-impact research across quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and fundamental quantum physics. The country’s universities collectively cover virtually all subfields of quantum science, from theory to experiment. A 2016–2020 analysis showed Swiss quantum research publications had the highest relative citation impact of any country – a testament to the quality and influence of its scientists.

ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich): ETH Zurich is a powerhouse in quantum computing and quantum devices. It hosts the ETH Quantum Center, an interdisciplinary hub uniting 30+ research groups across physics, computer science, and engineering to collaborate on quantum research and education. ETH teams have made prominent advances in superconducting quantum circuits and ion trap quantum computing. For example, Prof. Andreas Wallraff’s lab pioneered techniques in circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) and multi-qubit control, helping improve quantum error correction protocols. Prof. Jonathan Home’s group is known for leading trapped-ion experiments. ETH researchers also delve into quantum algorithms and simulations, often in collaboration with its strong theoretical physics department. Notably, ETH Zurich (in partnership with PSI) is developing both superconducting and ion-trap hardware at the Quantum Computing Hub, aiming for prototypes in the >100 qubit range. Beyond hardware, ETH’s Applied Cryptography and Security groups contribute to post-quantum cryptography and quantum-safe encryption (more in a later section). ETH Zurich’s excellence is reflected in global rankings – it was rated the world’s 7th best university in 2024 – and in the dozens of prestigious grants (ERC, etc.) its quantum faculty have earned.

EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne): EPFL is another pillar of Swiss quantum R&D, especially in quantum communication, photonics, and quantum theory. It established the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE Center) to foster cross-disciplinary programs and a new Quantum Science and Engineering Master’s curriculum. EPFL’s quantum research spans solid-state qubits, quantum optics, and quantum materials. For instance, EPFL groups work on quantum photonics (integrated optical chips for quantum communication and computing) and quantum simulation using ultracold atoms. The university’s history in photonics (Lausanne was home to one of the first NCCR Quantum Photonics) provides a strong base for quantum networking experiments. EPFL physicists also contribute to theoretical breakthroughs – e.g. studies in quantum error correction codes and quantum complexity. With CERN nearby in Geneva, EPFL collaborates on projects like quantum machine learning for high-energy physics data. Overall, EPFL has become a “quantum hub” in Western Switzerland, combining expertise from quantum physics, materials science, and engineering. Its talent pipeline is augmented by international students and dedicated training programs, ensuring a steady flow of young quantum scientists.

University of Geneva: The University of Geneva (UNIGE) is world-renowned for quantum communication and cryptography. Under the leadership of Prof. Nicolas Gisin and colleagues, Geneva’s Group of Applied Physics achieved numerous quantum cryptography milestones. In the early 2000s, the Geneva team demonstrated some of the first QKD prototypes and quantum teleportation experiments. They teleported quantum states across several kilometers of optical fiber already by 2003, and later shattered distance records by teleporting a photon’s state to a crystal memory over 25 km of fiber. Geneva’s researchers set a world record by transmitting quantum-encrypted data over 550 km of optical fiber (using ultra-low-loss fiber spools), showing the feasibility of long-distance QKD with trusted nodes. The Geneva Quantum Centre (GQC) now consolidates UNIGE’s expertise in quantum information, spanning theory to real-world implementations. Geneva’s academic work directly seeded industry: ID Quantique emerged from this group and remains closely linked, and the city has been a testbed for quantum network pilots. The university continues to innovate in quantum repeaters, satellite QKD (in partnership with the European Space Agency), and quantum randomness generation. This sustained focus has positioned Switzerland as a global leader in secure quantum communication.

University of Basel: The University of Basel is a center of excellence for quantum condensed matter and spin qubits. Basel hosted the first NCCR in nanoscale science and later leads the NCCR SPIN, which is developing silicon-based spin qubit quantum processors. Basel’s physicists (like Prof. Daniel Loss and teams) have pioneered proposals for electron spin qubits in quantum dots and are working on scaling spin-qubit devices in industrial-grade semiconductor fabs. In a recent achievement, Basel researchers interfaced two different quantum systems (a solid-state spin and a superconducting circuit) via optical fiber, a step toward hybrid quantum networks. The Basel Quantum Center serves as a hub for these activities, covering quantum computing, spin physics, and quantum sensing research. Importantly, Basel collaborates with IBM Research–Zurich, leveraging IBM’s nanofabrication capabilities for making spin qubit chips (IBM Zurich is a partner in NCCR SPIN). Basel’s ecosystem also fostered startups (like Qnami AG, see below) translating quantum sensing research into products.

Other Key Institutions: Many other Swiss institutes contribute to quantum science. The University of Zurich hosts groups in quantum optics and theory. The University of Innsbruck… (Oops, skip non-Swiss). The University of Innsbruck is Austria, irrelevant here. Instead: The University of Neuchâtel and ID Quantique collaborate on quantum random number generation. The national laboratories EMPA (Materials science) and CSEM (Microengineering) support device fabrication for quantum photonics and cryogenic electronics. Internationally, CERN in Geneva has launched a Quantum Technology Initiative (QTI) to apply quantum computing/sensing to particle physics and to coordinate globally (though CERN is an international org, its presence in Geneva benefits local collaboration). The thriving academic scene is also evidenced by a high rate of international collaboration – 89% of Swiss quantum publications in 2016–2020 had international co-authors, one of the highest globally. This openness attracts top talent and keeps Swiss research on the cutting edge.

In sum, Switzerland’s academic strength in quantum is broad and deep. From building novel quantum hardware (superconducting qubits, ion traps, spin qubits, photonic chips) to advancing quantum theory and algorithms, Swiss universities cover it all. Crucially, these institutions emphasize both fundamental science and practical engineering. Many have established dedicated quantum centers to encourage cross-pollination between subfields. This academic prowess not only yields scientific breakthroughs but also feeds the country’s innovation pipeline, giving rise to startups and partnerships, as we explore next.

Private-Sector Quantum Developments in Switzerland

Switzerland’s strong research base has spawned a vibrant quantum tech industry. A number of homegrown startups and companies are translating quantum research into commercial products – from encryption devices to computing software – often building on years of academic work. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s innovation-friendly climate and skilled talent pool have attracted international quantum companies to establish a presence in the country. Below we highlight some key players and developments driving quantum commercialization:

Pioneering Startups and Industry Suppliers: Several Swiss startups were early pioneers in quantum technology and have become essential parts of the global quantum value chain. ID Quantique (IDQ), founded in Geneva in 2001, was the world’s first company dedicated to quantum cryptography. It introduced the first commercial QKD systems and quantum random number generators, and famously secured the Geneva elections with QKD in 2007 as noted. Today ID Quantique is a global leader in quantum-safe security, supplying QKD networks and encryption appliances to governments, financial institutions, and data centers worldwide. It also partners in European quantum communication pilots and contributes to international standards for QKD. Another Swiss-born company, Zurich Instruments, has become a critical supplier of advanced instrumentation for quantum computing research. Spun out of ETH Zurich, Zurich Instruments makes quantum control electronics (such as microwave generators, arbitrary waveform generators, and quantum analyzers) used in labs globally for controlling qubits. Its equipment is enabling experiments in superconducting and ion-trap quantum computers from the US to Japan. These early successes underscore how Swiss startups have grown by leveraging local research breakthroughs – IDQ from University of Geneva, Zurich Instruments from ETH – and then scaling up to serve international markets.

Quantum Computing and Software Startups: In recent years, a new wave of Swiss startups has emerged, often focusing on quantum computing software, algorithms, and cloud platforms. Terra Quantum AG is a notable example. Co-headquartered in St. Gallen (Switzerland) and Munich, Terra Quantum develops hybrid quantum-classical algorithms and offers “Quantum-as-a-Service” solutions to enterprise clients. Rather than building its own hardware, Terra Quantum optimizes algorithms that can run on today’s quantum simulators or nascent quantum processors, targeting use cases in finance, logistics, chemistry, and beyond. It has attracted major customers including HSBC, Volkswagen and Thales, demonstrating the practical value of quantum-inspired algorithms even before large-scale quantum computers arrive. Terra Quantum also invests in quantum cryptography research and recently made headlines claiming findings in novel quantum materials research (e.g. high-temperature superconductors). Another startup, QM Ware (with operations in Switzerland, related to Terra Quantum), is building a cloud platform that integrates classical supercomputers with quantum processors for high-performance computing tasks. On the hardware front, Alpine Quantum Technologies (AQT) – although based in Austria – collaborates with Swiss partners and has a footprint in Switzerland to provide ion-trap quantum systems. These companies underscore Switzerland’s strength in quantum software and applications, leveraging the country’s algorithmic research and strong computing infrastructure.

Quantum Sensing and Photonics Startups: Thanks to expertise in precision measurement, Swiss innovators are also active in quantum sensing. Qnami, a startup from University of Basel, is a leader in nanoscale quantum sensing using NV-center diamonds. Qnami’s scanning quantum microscope uses quantum spins in diamond as ultra-sensitive probes to map magnetic fields at the nanometer scale, useful for materials science and semiconductor inspection. The company has raised venture funding and sells its quantum microscope product (the “Qnami ProteusQ”), showcasing how lab experiments in solid-state spin physics can become a high-tech instrument business. In photonics, firms like LiGenTec (Lausanne) provide silicon nitride photonic chips that can be used for integrated quantum circuits (for example, generating entangled photons on-chip). SwissQuantum (Miraex) is working on quantum photonic sensors and IoT devices. Additionally, the established Swiss security company Kudelski Security (Kudelski Group) has a division exploring quantum-safe communications, indicating even traditional industries are engaging with quantum tech. The breadth of startups – from computing to sensing – is supported by Swiss engineering know-how in microelectronics, optics, and nanofabrication.

QuantumBasel and Corporate Initiatives: A major recent development is QuantumBasel, Switzerland’s first dedicated commercial quantum hub. Backed by the private uptownBasel initiative (in Basel Area) with an investment of around $500 million, QuantumBasel has forged partnerships with leading hardware providers including IBM, D-Wave, and IonQ. In December 2024, QuantumBasel deployed a fully operational IonQ Forte Enterprise quantum computer on-site – the first such quantum computing system installed in Switzerland for commercial use. This provides Swiss companies and researchers access to a state-of-the-art 35-qubit ion-trap machine for experimentation and pilot projects in optimization, machine learning, and other applications. The initiative also encompasses a quantum startup incubator (QAI Ventures with CHF 50M fund) to nurture new ventures. By combining a physical quantum data center, venture funding, and industry collaboration, QuantumBasel seeks to make Basel a European quantum innovation hotspot. It’s notable that IBM has long operated an IBM Research lab in Zurich, which, while not a startup, has contributed greatly to quantum tech (from foundational theory to IBM’s superconducting qubit development). IBM Zurich continues to collaborate with Swiss academia (e.g. in NCCR SPIN) and hosts a node of the IBM Quantum Network for cloud access to IBM quantum processors. Other multinationals are also present: Microsoft and Google have hired graduates from Swiss labs and engage via research collaborations (Microsoft, for instance, opened a short-term quantum lab at ETH during a joint project on topological qubits). The recent establishment of an IonQ office in Basel further cements Switzerland as an attractive base for quantum firms expanding in Europe.

Overall, Switzerland’s private quantum sector, though smaller in scale than those in the US or China, is dynamic and growing. It benefits from close ties to academia (many startups are university spin-offs or led by alumni) and from Switzerland’s general startup infrastructure. The country has been ranked #1 in the world for innovation by WIPO for 13 consecutive years, reflecting strong support for R&D-intensive young companies. Regular events like the Quantum Industry Day in Switzerland facilitate networking between researchers, startups, and established companies. Importantly, the talent pool cultivated by top universities provides a steady stream of quantum-trained engineers and PhDs for local companies. This has even drawn foreign organizations: for example, at my company, Applied Quantum, we established a Swiss office staffed with researchers to leverage Switzerland’s expertise and collaborate with local universities. The presence of such R&D offices underscores that international players recognize the value of Swiss quantum talent and want to tap into it. With indigenous startups maturing (some acquired by larger firms, e.g. Zurich Instruments was acquired by Rohde & Schwarz in 2021) and new ones constantly emerging, Switzerland’s quantum industry ecosystem is poised to translate scientific advances into economic value.

Quantum Cryptography and Secure Communication Leadership

One of Switzerland’s most prominent quantum domains is quantum cryptography – in particular, quantum key distribution – and the broader field of quantum-safe communications. The nation is widely regarded as a leader in developing and deploying technologies that safeguard information against quantum-era threats.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Switzerland was the birthplace of commercial QKD. In 2007, as mentioned, Geneva’s election authority and ID Quantique made history by implementing QKD to protect vote data links – the first real-world use of quantum encryption. Since then, ID Quantique has continued to innovate QKD systems (e.g. the Cerberis and Clavis QKD platforms) which are used in various secure network projects. Swiss researchers have consistently pushed the boundaries of QKD distance and performance: the University of Geneva set world records by distributing quantum keys across hundreds of kilometers of optical fiber by using specialized detectors and fibers. By 2018, a Swiss-led team demonstrated QKD over 421 km in a lab fiber spool (using quantum repeaters based on fiber Brillouin scattering), edging closer to the goal of intercity quantum networks without trusted nodes. Switzerland also hosted SwissQuantum, a testbed quantum network in Geneva/Lausanne, which in 2009–2011 continuously ran QKD over a metropolitan fiber network to study long-term stability of quantum links (this was a collaboration involving IDQ and CERN). Such early experience gives Switzerland a unique practical know-how in building and operating quantum-secure links.

Policy-wise, Switzerland is active in shaping QKD and quantum communications standards. It contributed to the ETSI QKD standardization group and is a member of the EuroQCI (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure) program to extend quantum-secure networks across Europe. Swiss telecom providers (like Swisscom) have experimented with QKD on their fiber backbone, and Swiss banks are evaluating quantum-safe network encryption for financial data. The Swiss Armed Forces and government agencies have likewise shown interest in QKD for securing critical communications (though details are often confidential). All these efforts are underpinned by the robust academic research in Geneva and elsewhere on quantum communication protocols and hardware (single-photon sources, quantum random number generators, etc.).

Quantum-Safe Cryptography (Post-Quantum Cryptography – PQC): In parallel to physics-based QKD, Switzerland recognizes the importance of post-quantum cryptography – new mathematical encryption algorithms that are resistant to quantum computer attacks. Swiss universities host leading cryptographers: for example, ETH Zurich’s Applied Crypto group and EPFL’s Laboratory for Cryptologic Algorithms have been deeply involved in PQC research. Swiss researchers contributed to several candidate algorithms in the NIST PQC standardization process. Notably, the lattice-based encryption and signature schemes CRYSTALS-Kyber and CRYSTALS-Dilithium – which NIST selected in 2022 as global post-quantum standards – were co-developed by cryptographers at IBM Research–Zurich (Vadim Lyubashevsky and Gregor Seiler) in collaboration with academic partners. This is a significant contribution: those algorithms will likely secure internet communications worldwide in the future. In 2022, as NIST announced the first PQC standards, IBM Zurich’s team was highlighted for their foundational role in developing the math underpinning Kyber/Dilithium. Meanwhile, Swiss encryption firms are already offering quantum-safe solutions. For instance, ID Quantique, beyond QKD, also provides classical PQC-based encryption appliances and has demonstrated hybrid schemes combining QKD with post-quantum digital signatures. The Swiss company Securosys (a maker of Hardware Security Modules) has partnered with IDQ to integrate quantum random number generation and is testing PQC implementations in its products to ensure future-proof security for banking transactions. The Swiss Federal Office of Information Security (within GovCERT) has also issued guidelines preparing Swiss institutions for a transition to PQC, echoing global “crypto agility” recommendations.

Quantum Random Number Generation: A smaller but noteworthy niche: quantum random number generators (QRNGs) – devices that produce true random numbers using quantum processes – were commercialized early by ID Quantique (their QRNG has even been used in Swiss lotteries and by the gaming industry). IDQ’s QRNG chip was adopted in Samsung smartphones (Galaxy A Quantum) in 2020, meaning millions have Swiss quantum tech in their pocket. Another Swiss startup, Quantum Integrity SA, applies quantum techniques for secure image authentication (to detect deepfakes), reflecting the diverse ways quantum randomness and security intertwine.

Switzerland’s dual focus on both quantum cryptography hardware (QKD/QRNG) and post-quantum algorithms puts it in a strong position in the security landscape. While QKD offers unconditional security for certain links, its reach is currently limited; PQC offers broader but mathematically based protection. Swiss experts advocate a hybrid approach: use QKD where feasible for highest security, and deploy vetted PQC for end-to-end encryption as quantum computers mature. The country’s banking and financial sector (a critical industry in Switzerland) is especially concerned with crypto-agility. Swiss banks and insurers are funding quantum risk assessments and trialing quantum-safe communication solutions early, to avoid being caught off-guard by the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat. Given the concentration of cryptographic talent and companies in Switzerland, the nation is likely to remain a front-runner in secure communication research and one of the first to roll out quantum-proof infrastructure in real-world settings.

Geopolitical and Competitive Landscape

In the global quantum race – often framed around the U.S., China, and Europe – Switzerland occupies an interesting position as a highly capable but midsized player. It cannot match the sheer scale of investments by the great powers, but it leverages agility, specialization, and international collaboration to stay competitive. Here we assess Switzerland’s efforts relative to other key regions:

Versus United States: The U.S. leads in quantum computing hardware with tech giants (IBM, Google, IonQ, etc.) and massive federal programs like the National Quantum Initiative (>$1.2 billion) and Department of Energy quantum centers. Switzerland of course lacks such industrial giants, but it has managed to stay relevant by partnering (e.g. Swiss researchers frequently collaborate with IBM – indeed IBM’s European quantum research is largely in Zurich). The US-Swiss joint statement in 2022 is a formal recognition that both countries are “top positions in QIST” and can benefit from deeper cooperation. One advantage for Switzerland is its concentration of expertise – research excellence across many quantum subfields in a small area can sometimes outpace the more dispersed US academic landscape. Klaus Ensslin of ETH noted that big U.S. companies have recruited some Swiss researchers (even an ETH professor) due to the high caliber of talent. While this poses a brain drain risk, it also speaks to Switzerland’s training quality. In areas like quantum cryptography and sensing, Swiss firms (IDQ, Qnami) and labs arguably set the pace, whereas in the U.S. those areas are more dominated by defense projects or smaller firms. Still, the U.S. has far greater resources; Switzerland maintains its edge by focusing on niche leadership (e.g. quantum communications) and by remaining flexible. Swiss startups often partner with US companies (for example, Terra Quantum works with VMware on hybrid cloud solutions, IDQ partners with US telecoms for QKD trials). In summary, Switzerland positions itself as a valued partner to U.S. efforts, contributing unique expertise (and receiving access to hardware or markets in return) rather than going head-to-head on funding.

Versus China: China has invested heavily and achieved notable quantum feats (e.g. a 76-photon Gaussian boson sampler, the Micius satellite QKD experiments, a 100+ qubit superconducting processor). Chinese state funding in quantum is estimated in the tens of billions, dwarfing Swiss expenditure. However, Switzerland holds a lead in innovation efficiency – it converts modest funding into high-impact research (as evidenced by its publication impact rank ). In quantum cryptography, China demonstrated satellite QKD and a national fiber QKD backbone, but Switzerland’s IDQ remains a top supplier of QKD equipment globally, including to Chinese networks. One could say China often validates ideas first tested in Switzerland (for instance, Geneva’s QKD network experiments predated China’s larger scale networks by several years). Geopolitically, Switzerland also plays a neutral role; whereas the U.S. and China largely do not collaborate in quantum (due to strategic rivalries), Swiss scientists cooperate with both sides. Swiss groups have co-authored papers with Chinese researchers in quantum communication, and Switzerland participates in European-led forums that include Chinese involvement (like ETSI QKD). By maintaining openness, Switzerland ensures it can learn from and contribute to advances everywhere. That said, if the quantum technology race becomes tightly coupled with national security (as quantum computing and encryption often are), Switzerland’s non-aligned stance could face challenges or could become an asset as a mediator. The Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA), hosted in Geneva, explicitly looks at how to foster international dialogue on emerging tech including quantum, aiming to avoid a techno-nationalist “arms race.” In 2023, GESDA announced the creation of an Open Quantum Institute at CERN to bring stakeholders from around the world (scientists, diplomats, industry) together to ensure quantum tech is developed responsibly and collaboratively. This kind of initiative underlines Switzerland’s unique geopolitical role: using its convening power in Geneva to shape the global conversation on quantum ethics, standards, and cooperation.

Versus the EU and Other Europe: Switzerland, while not an EU member, is deeply integrated in Europe’s scientific community. During the EU Quantum Flagship’s first phase (2018–2020), Swiss teams were extremely successful, participating in 30% of the projects and securing the second-largest share of funding after Germany. Political disagreements over broader Swiss-EU treaties led to Switzerland being treated as a third country in Horizon Europe programs, blocking direct funding in the Flagship’s second phase. This was a blow to some Swiss labs, but the Swiss government stepped in with bridging funds to keep key projects going. Many Swiss groups continue to collaborate in EU projects as external partners. Moreover, Switzerland launched its national initiative (SQI) partly to mitigate this issue, ensuring continuity of research. In comparison to EU nations, Switzerland’s quantum strategy is more bottom-up. Countries like Germany and France have announced billion-euro quantum programs with clear government roadmaps, while Switzerland’s approach has been to empower its scientific institutions to set priorities. This nimble approach has strengths: for example, when a promising direction appears (say, a new type of qubit or sensor), Swiss funding mechanisms (SNSF grants, Innosuisse innovation grants) can often allocate support faster and more flexibly than larger bureaucratic programs. On the other hand, lack of access to huge EU funding pools is a limitation – a concern voiced by researchers like Ensslin, who called the exclusion “painful” and warned it could impact Swiss young researchers if not resolved. As of 2025, negotiations continue on Switzerland’s association to Horizon Europe, and the quantum community is hopeful for a resolution that lets them rejoin Europe’s flagship initiatives. In the meantime, regional alliances like with Quantum Austria or within EUREKA/QuantERA calls are being leveraged. Switzerland also collaborates with the UK, Israel, Canada, and others through programs coordinated by networks like the Quantum Innovation Hub.

Competitive Edge: In the face of these larger players, Switzerland’s competitive edge lies in its talent and innovation ecosystem. It consistently ranks at the top of innovation indices, indicating that it can convert research into viable technology efficiently. Swiss universities produce graduates with both strong theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience (thanks to access to labs like quantum computing prototypes or quantum network testbeds on campus). Many of these highly skilled individuals choose to remain in Switzerland or return after gaining experience abroad, fueling the local ecosystem. The presence of international research centers (IBM, CERN) and the high quality of life also attract foreign quantum experts to Swiss labs. This talent concentration yields a high “quantum IQ” per capita, so to speak. As Martina Hirayama (State Secretary for Research) noted during the US-Swiss quantum agreement, “both Switzerland and the USA occupy top positions in QIST R&D” – a diplomatic way to say Switzerland regards itself in the top tier. The bottom-up, collaborative culture of Swiss science is another asset: it encourages cross-disciplinary work (physics with engineering with computer science) and multi-institution teams. This is crucial in quantum tech, which spans many skills. The Swiss ecosystem’s coherence – universities, companies, government labs all in close contact – can outpace more fragmented efforts elsewhere.

Of course, Switzerland must remain vigilant to maintain its position. It needs to continue investing (the SQI’s CHF 80M is a start, but competitors are spending far more), retain talent (counteract the lure of big salaries in Big Tech or abroad), and secure its place in international projects. Thus far, it has managed to “persist through hype cycles and remain a leading ecosystem” by relying on long-term commitment to research and engineering excellence. Moving forward, Switzerland is likely to focus on strategic niches where it can be world-leading – e.g. ultra-sensitive quantum sensors (leveraging its precision instrumentation heritage ), quantum secure communications, specialized quantum software – and partner on areas where scale is needed (like building large quantum computers or networks). This complementary strategy should enable Switzerland to remain a key node in the global quantum landscape, providing value disproportionate to its size.

Conclusion and Outlook

Switzerland’s quantum technology ecosystem exemplifies how a combination of academic excellence, proactive government support, and innovative entrepreneurship can make a country a major player in the second quantum revolution. In the span of two decades, Switzerland has built a world-class quantum R&D environment – featuring top universities (ETH, EPFL, Geneva, Basel) driving advances in computing and cryptography, national programs knitting these efforts together, and companies turning theory into practice. The country’s early bets on quantum science (e.g. funding NCCRs, supporting a QKD startup) are paying off in the form of global leadership in areas like quantum cryptography and instrumentation.

As the quantum field moves from research to real-world implementation, Switzerland is well-positioned to benefit. Its strong talent pool continues to grow, with new graduates skilled in quantum engineering and computing coming out of dedicated programs. This talent magnetism is evidenced by the presence of international firms establishing Swiss research offices – for example, Applied Quantum’s Swiss team working alongside local experts – and the fact that nearly 90% of Swiss quantum publications involve international co-authors. Such connectivity ensures Switzerland remains at the cutting edge of global knowledge.

There are challenges ahead: scaling up funding to stay competitive, integrating into Europe’s frameworks, and ensuring that home-grown innovations lead to home-grown industries (and jobs) in Switzerland. However, the nation’s track record in innovation and its culture of precision and quality give reason for optimism. Swiss leaders are actively addressing gaps through new initiatives (like the Quantum Initiative and QuantumBasel) and by forging alliances abroad.