At the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin beginning of November, MQV's dynamic roundtable discussion titled "A Quantum Future: Joining Forces of Academia and Industry" brought together experts in quantum innovation and technology. Heike Riel of IBM moderated the discussion, which featured Sebastian Blatt, the co-founder and CTO of planqc as well as Aimee K. Gunther of the National Research Council of Canada, Ian Walmsley of Imperial College London, and Stefan Filipp of MQV.
The discussion emphasized the growing momentum in global quantum ecosystems and highlighted the unique challenges and shared opportunities across regions. A central theme was the critical need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to accelerate progress. Although significant progress has been made in recent years, participants agreed that clear and decisive political support, strategic policy commitments, sustained investment, and a long-term vision are now essential to maintaining momentum and translating research breakthroughs into real-world applications.
The panel's inspiring and urgent discussion reinforced the idea that achieving excellence in quantum technologies, particularly in areas such as quantum computing, requires scientific brilliance as well as coordinated efforts, international cooperation, and bold leadership. As the global race for quantum supremacy intensifies, the message is clear: the future of quantum innovation depends on joining forces across borders, sectors, and disciplines.