2025, the Year of Quantum! Celebrating Swiss Quantum at the Ambassador’s Residence

Quantum Technology: Vision and Strategic Investment  

Hosted by the Swiss Ambassador to Japan, Roger Dubach, the event opened with remarks that set the tone for an evening filled with insights and innovation. Ambassador Dubach underlined the strategic importance of quantum science in ensuring future prosperity and sustainability. The Ambassador also announced that “quantum” will be a key theme for the Swiss Embassy alongside the Swiss Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. Highlighting the strong partnership between Switzerland and Japan, the Ambassador spoke of their shared values and joint commitment to advancing quantum research. His reflections also highlighted the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, an apt moment to spotlight Switzerland’s engagements in the field. 

WIRED Japan’s special issue on quantum computing 　

WIRED Japan’s Head of Editorial Content, Michiaki Matsushima, followed with a captivating speech on the creative journey behind their March issue, “Quantumpedia: The Future of Quantum Computing”. He discussed the challenges of distilling complex quantum concepts into compelling narratives by exploring the transformative potential of quantum computing, from value-chain analyses of the quantum industry and insights from physicist Michio Kaku to a new science-fiction story by Akutagawa Prize-winning author Toh EnJoe. Matsushima expressed his gratitude to the Swiss Embassy and Presence Switzerland for enabling the access to world-class Swiss institutions during their trip to Switzerland, noting how these experiences profoundly shaped the magazine’s content. 

Hikaru Utada’s CERN visit – behind the scenes 

Akihico Mori, Science Journalist and Contributing Editor, and Erina Anscomb, Associate Managing Editor of WIRED Japan, then took the stage to report more extensively on the media trip to Switzerland. Their experiences, captured in the magazine’s feature articles, included the visit of Japanese superstar singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada to CERN, and a spotlight on Switzerland’s Open Quantum Institute (OQI), an initiative from the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation (GESDA). They recalled Utada’s CERN visit as the emotional and thematic anchor of the issue. Her enthusiasm and fascination with science set the stage in the cover story for readers to grasp quantum computing’s profound possibilities. The resulting article, entitled “Hikaru Utada Would Rather Play CERN Than Coachella”, attracted international attention with its feature in the WIRED US digital edition.  

Additionally, their conversation covered a visit to the “Open Quantum Institute” (OQI), an initiative of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation (GESDA), and their coverage of previous WIRED Japan media trips to Switzerland. The conversation emphasized Switzerland’s leadership in advancing the practical application and societal implementation of quantum technology.  

Exploring Switzerland’s quantum ecosystems: regional quantum hubs and strategic leadership  

The event continued with a presentation by Kyoko Marumo Suzuki, Head of the Science and Technology Office Tokyo, who offered an overview of Switzerland’s quantum ecosystem. The following three key features were highlighted: 

1. Switzerland’s leadership in quantum research is underpinned by a strategic blend of national initiatives, academic excellence, and dynamic industry-academia collaborations. Central to the presentation was the Swiss Quantum Initiative (SQI), a government-backed program launched in 2023 to reinforce Switzerland’s leading position across the entire value chain. The initiative is coordinated and led by the Swiss Quantum Commission (SQC) and has a special structure supported by the government but led by leading experts in the field. 

2. Switzerland’s regional strengths were featured throughout the presentation.  

   ->Geneva and Lausanne, anchored by CERN, EPFL, and GESDA’s Open Quantum Institute, emerged as hubs of international collaboration.  

   ->Basel was described as an emerging quantum hub thanks to Uptown Basel, home to Quantum Basel and QAI Ventures.  

   ->In the Zurich area, the ETHZ-PSI Quantum Computing Hub, jointly operated by ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute, has as its main objective to take up the technical and scientific challenges on the road to the realization of large-scale quantum computers. 

3. Switzerland’s high rate of international collaboration was also underscored, affirming its leadership in global quantum research, with statistics on quantum publications and examples of Swissnex activities such as the Project Quantum, and the success of bilateral events like the Swiss-Japanese Quantum Symposium 2024 co-organized with RIKEN at the University of Tokyo.  

The presentation combining the macro-scale influence of national programs with the micro-scale contributions of individual regions left the audience with a comprehensive understanding of Switzerland’s interconnected quantum landscape. She closed her presentation by inviting attendees to connect with the Swiss Pavilion’s activities during the upcoming Expo 2025, where quantum technologies are foreseen to take center stage, and the Swissnex Quantum Summit to be held in Geneva in October 2025. 

Travelling, but sustainablyーthe Swisstainable campaign 

Finally, Masayo Oshio, Media & Social Media Manager at Switzerland Tourism Japan, introduced the “Swisstainable” campaign, aiming to raise awareness and action across the entire tourism industry. She described how sustainability is woven into the fabric of Swiss innovation and tourism. Whether promoting local production and consumption, environmentally friendly travel practices or showcasing Switzerland’s breathtaking scenery through its extensive rail network, the campaign reflects a commitment to preserving natural beauty while encouraging immersive experiences. 

Increasing anticipation for collaborative initiatives 

The event continued with a lively networking reception, bringing together an eclectic mix of attendees, companies, government agencies, researchers, and creators from both Japan and Switzerland, stimulating dynamic exchanges of ideas and perspectives. The launch of Quantumpedia was more than a celebration; it was a call to envision the possibilities ahead in the ever-evolving field of quantum science. We look forward to the continued collaboration between Switzerland and Japan in the field of quantum technology! 

PHOTO CREDIT: AZUSA YAMAGUCHI