Sigrun Aasland was appointed Minister of Research and Higher Education on the 4th of February 2025. She has previously been State Secretary at the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

The Minister of Research and Higher Education is responsible for research policy, Higher education, tertiary vocational education, educational loans and grants and adult education and skills.

Aasland has been CEO of ZERO, deputy CEO of the think tank Agenda, and has experience from Econ, Norfund, the analysis company Damvad, and the World Bank.

During the period 1999-2000, she was the leader of the Norwegian Student Union (NSU). Aasland has a Master’s degree in Economics and International relations.

Shaukat Ali is the Head of the Department, Chief Research Scientist, and Research Professor at Simula Research Laboratory in Oslo, Norway. His research focuses on developing innovative techniques for verifying and validating classical and quantum software systems. Recently, he has been focusing on the emerging field of quantum software engineering, which includes quantum software development, testing, debugging, and repair. Moreover, his recent work has been key in establishing the foundations of quantum artificial intelligence and its real-world applications.

Ellegaard Andersen is Professor and Director of both the Centre for Quantum Mathematics and the SDU Quantum Hub at University of Southern Denmark. Further he holds the Chair of Quantum Mathematics at the Danish Institute for Advanced Study. He also simultaneously holds a Simon Collaborator grant and an ERC-Synergy grant, the two most prestigious grants in America and Europe respectively. He is further the founder and CEO of the spin-off company Qpurpose, which produces quantum software to a brought range of the largest Danish and international companies.

Morten Bache is an engineer by training and with a PhD (’02) and a Doctoral degree (’18) his research background is in laser physics, applied mathematics modelling and simulation, and quantum optics. He is since 2018 a Director in the Novo Nordisk Foundation, where he works as a scientific expert, shaping the Foundation’s strategy within the natural and technical sciences areas. He currently runs the Data Science & Quantum team, and has been involved in developing large strategic centres and investment within data science, AI and quantum, such as the NNF Quantum Computing Programme, Quantum Foundry Copenhagen P/S, the NNF Data Science Initiative, the Gefion AI supercomputer at the Danish Center for AI Innovation A/S, and the Magne quantum computer at QuNorth A/S.

Sindre Bornstein is the CEO of Nordic Innovation, an institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers, owned and funded by the Nordic governments. Nordic Innovation worksto strengthen sustainable growth, collaboration, and competitiveness across the Nordic region. Sindre brings international experience spanning diplomacy, industrial development, and impact-driven technology ventures. He firmly supports the development of a strong and forward-thinking Nordic quantum ecosystem. In 2025, Nordic Innovation published the report “The Nordic-Baltic Quantum Ecosystem”. Based on the findings and recommendations, Nordic Innovation continues to support Nordic activities that promote regional cooperation.

André Brodtkorb is the Head of Department of Computer Science and Professor of Scientific Computing at Oslo Metropolitan University, and one of the co-founders of the OsloMet Quantum Hub. He has held positions as researcher at the Department of Applied Mathematics at SINTEF (Norways largest non-profit research organization) and scientist at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. His academic interests includes high-performance computing, applied mathematics, numerical simulation, accelerated scientific computing, machine learning, and real-time scientific visualization.

Are Magnus Bruaset is Director of Software and AI at Simula Research Laboratory in Norway, where he also leads the national research infrastructure for experimental HPC research, the Experimental Infrastructure for Exploration of Exascale Computing (eX3). He is also a member of EuroHPC’s Research and Innovation Advisory Group (RIAG), including RIAG’s working group on quantum compiuting. During his service at Simula, he has been instrumental to the establishment and operation of several strategic initiatives in research and education, such as a transatlantic PhD program between Norway and the US and large-scale, long-term research collaborations with high-profiled industry. His scientific expertise is in applied mathematics with emphasis on numerical solution of physics-based models, and in particular the realization of such modeling tools in terms of flexible and efficient software. Bruaset’s work has to a considerable extent taken place the interface between research and industry, and he has held leading positions in two research-based, commercial companies as CTO and CEO, respectively.

Carlos is Director of Simula UiB, a research institute in cryptography and information theory in Bergen, and of the recently launched Centre for Quantum Communication Networks and Applications (QCNA), one of the four national quantum technologies research centres in Norway. He is also Professor (Adjunct) at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Japan, where he leads the Applied Cryptography Unit. A pure mathematician by formation, Carlos is an experienced researcher and educator in cyber security, with main research interests and expertise in cryptography and secure quantum communication. Over the past 25 years, he has held positions in academia and industry in Brazil, Germany, Ireland, UK, Japan and Norway. His work spans diverse areas, combining theoretical and practical expertise developed in both academia and industry. He is the chair of Standard Norge’s committee SN/K 617 Quantum technologies, and a Norwegian representative in the European (CEN/CLC) and international (IEC/ISO) quantum technologies standardisation fora.
For more information, see https://www.carloscid.eu

Miroslav is an accomplished quantum technology leader with a PhD in quantum algorithms and 15 years of experience in managing and executing complex R&D projects. At RISE, his current focus is the integration of early quantum technologies into AI and high-performance computing workflows, providing essential support and guidance to the Swedish industry. His background includes significant contributions to the Swedish WACQT center and the establishment of a quantum technology testbed.

David Dolhomut is Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager at The Washington Institute for STEM, Entrepreneurship and Research (WISER), where he builds and scales corporate partnerships that advance STEM innovation through applied collaboration. He develops partnership strategies, supports organizations, corporations, and startups through co-funded initiatives, and helps translate industry priorities into structured collaborations and competitive proposals. David brings cross-sector experience covering public, private, and non-profit organizations across North America and Europe, with a track record of building multi-stakeholder partnerships in emerging technologies. Originally from Montreal, Canada, he has been based in Europe since 2015 and is currently in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Olivier Ezratty is a freelance quantum engineer, mostly known for “Understanding Quantum Technologies”, his comprehensive open-source book on quantum technologies (September 2025, 8th edition). He is a teacher and lecturer on quantum and classical technologies at EPITA, CentraleSupelec, Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, and other Universities. He works for a diverse set of government institutions and industry organizations, as a referent expert for Bpifrance, Agence Nationale de Recherche (France) and the European Commission. He is also one of the cofounders of the Quantum Energy Initiative. He holds an Msc in Computer Science from CentraleSupelec.

Fahlvik has broad R&D and innovation system experience through the research she has conducted in Norway and Sweden, her researcher and management roles in the pharmaceutical industry in Norway and the USA, as well as experience from an investor-financed start-up company in the field of medtech. She has been with the Research Council since 2006, has a PhD in pharmacology from the University of Oslo and is an active lecturer, evaluator, mentor and jury member in Norwegian and foreign innovation and business arenas.

Kristine Helen Falgren is the Managing Director of the Danish Quantum Community, DQC. Kristine is also an Impact Expert in the Grand Solutions Commitee for Quantum Technology at Innovation Fund Denmark, member of the OECD GFTech focus group on quantum technologies and a Policy Fellow in Digitalisation at The Queen Mary Centre at The University of Copenhagen

Kristine has worked closely with stakeholders in the Danish quantum ecosystem for many years e.g. in The Danish Foreign Ministry, where she was responsible for managing FdI in relation to quantum technology. Shehas supported and facilitated several R&D collaborations between industry and academia focusing on the application on quantum technology in finance in her former role as Head of R&D at Copenhagen Fintech, The Danish Cluster for Finance and Fintech.

James is Head of Solutions Architecture for ORCA Computing, based in London, where he works with customers and partners to break new ground on integrating photonic quantum processors with high performance compute, especially for AI/ML workloads in science and industrial research. James has 25 years of experience in the tech industry, particularly in networking and virtualization, and prior to ORCA he was at Microsoft where his roles included Azure Quantum Ambassador.

Anton Frisk Kockum is a theoretical physicist working on quantum optics and quantum information, including circuit quantum electrodynamics, “giant atoms”, quantum tomography, compilation of quantum algorithms, and ultrastrong light-matter coupling. He received his Ph.D. degree in physics from Chalmers University of Technology in 2014. After a three-year stint in Japan as a postdoctoral researcher at RIKEN, he moved back to Sweden in 2018, taking up a permanent position as a researcher at the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT), at Chalmers University of Technology, where he now is an associate professor. Within WACQT, Anton leads the team that provides theory support for the core project of building a superconducting quantum computer. This work involves designing qubits and their interactions, simulating multi-qubit systems, and developing optimal-control methods for their operation. Anton also explores the physics of ”giant atoms” — qubits coupled to their surroundings at multiple coupling points. In 2025, Anton received the Wallmarkska Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for his discoveries in these fields.

Franz G. Fuchs is an applied mathematician working at the intersection of numerical analysis, quantum computing, and industrial innovation. At SINTEF, he is the director of the upcoming Centre for Quantum Computing and Applications (QSTAR), contributing to Norway’s national effort to strengthen competitiveness, security, and collaboration across academia, industry, and the public sector, as part of the country’s push to enter the international quantum race. His activities span fundamental research, industrial partnerships, strategic project development, scientific outreach, and advancing quantum technologies on the political and societal agenda while helping build a strong Nordic quantum ecosystem.

Katia Gallos’ research focuses on developing new, integrated optical circuits and tailor-made, nanostructured materials. In these materials, photons can simultaneously be led in while their properties are changed and manipulated with reduced use of energy, increased speed, and improved measurement sensitivity, compared to the materials we currently have. This is done to suit various purposes within a number of fields where the light is used. Examples include ultra-fast telecommunication, quantum computers, and spectroscopy. Katia Gallos’ research group also researches the structuring of ferroelectric crystals. This is done in order to determine their optical, mechanical, and electrical properties, as well as their interaction with biological systems.

Mathias Hamberg is Special Adviser at NordForsk, where he works across research infrastructures, the Nordic Tier-1 collaboration for CERN, and strategic initiatives in AI and quantum technologies. He has been active at NordForsk since August 2025, where he plays a key role in developing coordinated Nordic approaches to emerging technologies and long-term infrastructure investments.

With more than 20 years of experience in various research infrastructure roles such as governance, accelerator physics instrumentation, and international scientific cooperation, Hamberg has served as Sweden’s representative in several major European organisations, including CERN, Euratom/Fusion, and the SKAO. He has extensive expertise in cross-border collaboration, funding strategies, and science policy at the Nordic and European levels.

At NordForsk, his current work focuses on shaping a coherent Nordic quantum initiative and strengthening the region’s research and innovation capacity in high-impact technologies.

Kristian Berg Harpviken (b. 1961) is the Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute and Secretary to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. He is a former Director at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), with which he remains affiliated as a Research Professor. Harpviken has devoted his career to the study of peace and conflict, with research interests including peace processes, peacebuilding, the dynamics of civil war, regional security, migration, and transnationalism. He has been a visiting researcher at the University of Chicago and Georgetown University, and is a frequent media commentator and lecturer to both academic and public audiences. In addition to scholarly articles and book chapters, he is the author of Social Networks and Migration in Afghanistan (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009), and co-author (with Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh) of A Rock Between Hard Places: Afghanistan as an Arena for Regional Insecurity (Hurst/Oxford University Press, 2016).

Hermanni programmed a quantum computer for the first time nearly a decade ago, and has been shaping the direction of quantum computer architectures at IQM since 2020. At IQM he has developed the IQM star processor concept and developed the algorithmic benchmarking protocols the company is using. In his current role as Head of Product he is leading the productisation of commercially available quantum computers, and making sure the company’s roadmap delivers value to the quantum computing community.

Teiko Heinosaari is a theoretical quantum physicist and a professor of quantum computing at the Faculty of Information Technology. His research focuses on quantum information and quantum computation, which he studies through the lens of theoretical physics using the tools of modern mathematics. The underlying motivation of his work is to understand the fundamental nature of information and computation and their interplay with physics. Previously, he has worked at the University of Turku, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, and the Research Center for Quantum Information of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

Ellen Karoline Henriksen is professor of physics education at the Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Norway. Her research falls mainly within two strands: student understanding, motivation and learning in physics, and physics/science teacher education and competence. She led the project ReleQuant, which developed and researched learning resources in quantum physics and general relativity for upper secondary physics students. She teaches physics education for pre- and in-service teachers.

Erik Hieta-aho is the Research Team Leader of the Advanced Cybersecurity and Cryptography team at VTT, the technical research center of Finland. He received his PhD in mathematics at Ohio University in 2018 with a focus on error correcting coding theory. Recently, he has taken part in projects studying the security and implementation of the post quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms. Currently he is part of the Finnish national project Beyond the Limits of PQC, where they are working with academia and industry players to begin the transition to PQC.

Ulrich Hoff is a Quantum Engagement Specialist with the Danish quantum software and algorithms company Kvantify specialising in chemistry applications of quantum computing. He holds a PhD in experimental quantum physics from the Technical University of Denmark. Ulrich has more than 10 years of research experience from academia and has for several years served as Senior Adviser in quantum technology, acquiring a profound understanding of the quantum technology field in general and the interplay between research, industry, and government. Ulrich is a central contributor to the formation of a Danish quantum ecosystem and board member of the Danish Quantum Community.

Nicole Holzmann is the Defense Applications Development Lead at PsiQuantum, where she identifies and develops viable use cases for fault-tolerant quantum computing in defense and aerospace. Previously at Riverlane, Nicole led a team evaluating quantum algorithms and their practical feasibility across industries. She has also served as a quantum computing consultant and educator for BWI, the IT service provider of the German military. With over a decade of academic research in quantum and computational chemistry, covering catalysis, membrane proteins and drug design, Nicole bridges deep technical expertise with real-world application development, helping close the gap between quantum computing’s promise and its practical impact.

Troy serves as a Senior Research Analyst with expertise in high-growth technology stocks. He has over two decades of equity research experience following sectors such as 3D printing, unmanned aircraft, robotics, optical components, networking equipment, and RFID. Before joining Lake Street, Troy was a Senior Research Analyst at Piper Sandler for 15 years. He also worked at ThinkEquity Partners and RBC Capital Markets. Prior to his career in equity research, he worked as a Futures and Options Administrator at Cargill and spent six years in the Navy. Troy earned a BA degree from the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management. He is a CFA charterholder.

Hannu Kauppinen is the CEO of QMill, a Finnish quantum-computing company founded in 2024, dedicated to developing quantum algorithms that provide near-term practical benefits for industrial applications. He is an executive with extensive experience in the development and scaling of new technologies. He joined Nokia Corporation in 1997 and held key leadership positions in Nokia’s R&D for over 26 years. In 2019-2024 he was the Chief Technology Officer in Nokia Technologies, where he managed Nokia’s industry leading patent portfolio of over 20000 patent families. In 2011-2016 he was the global Head of Nokia Research Center and the Head of Labs in Nokia Technologies, leading Nokia’s research in mobile technologies. He is a co-founder of Quuppa Ltd., a leader in real-time locating systems for indoor spaces and a board member of State Security Networks Group Finland, Ltd.

Hannu Kauppinen has formed high-performing teams of scientists, engineers, and business leaders, and acquired external innovation through M&A and partnering, leading to new product introduction and accelerated go-to-market. He has worked in the Silicon Valley (USA), United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Finland. He has led global R&D and expert organizations of up to 500 people in Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. He holds a PhD degree in Physics (1997) and an Executive MBA (2007), both from the Aalto University in Helsinki.

Dr. Owen R. Lozman, PhD, FRSC leads 55 North, the world’s largest pure-play quantum VC fund backed by EIFO and Novo Holdings, investing stage-agnostically in quantum computing, sensing, and communication. Previously Managing Director at M Ventures (Merck KGaA, €1B+ AUM), he built a 25+ company deep-tech portfolio generating significant financial and strategic value and earning four Global Corporate Venturing Powerlist recognitions (2022-2025). With a PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry from Leeds and 7+ years venture experience, 55 North has deployed capital into IQM Quantum Computers (€275M Series B) and Kiutra (€13M Series A-2), positioning the fund to capture Europe’s quantum advantage

Himadri Majumdar is the Co-founder and CEO of SemiQon. SemiQon builds silicon-based quantum processors for the million-qubit era and delivers cryogenic CMOS chips for critical technologies. Prior to co-founding SemiQon he was the Program Manager for Quantum Technologies at VTT where he led both national and European strategic initiatives. His ambition is to see SemiQon, and quantum technology in general, becoming a Finnish and global success story through cooperation and strategic partnerships. Himadri is trained as an experimental physicist and has 20 years of experience in innovation and innovation management.

Founder Chairman CEO WISeKey NASDAQ WKEY, UN Expert on CyberSecurity and Trust Models for ILO, UN, UNCTAD, ITC/WTO, World Bank, UNDP, ESCAP (83-99). Author, Internet Pioneer; Founder OISTE Foundation . Founding Member of the “Comité de Pilotage Project E-Voting” of the Geneva Government, Member of the UN Global Compact, Member of the WEF Global Agenda Council. Founding Member WEF Global Growth Companies 2007. WEF New Champion 2007 to 2016, Vice-Chair WEF Agenda Council on Illicit Trade 12/15, Member of the Selection CommSEALSQ, CEOittee for the WEF Growth Companies. Founder of the Geneva Security Forum. Member of the WEF Global Agenda Council on the Future of IT Software & Services 14-16 . Member of the New York Forum. Selected as one of the WEF, Trailblazers, Shapers and Innovators LinkedIn , Member of Blockchain Advisory Board of the Government of Mexico. Nominated by La référence suisse de l’économie depuis plus de 30 ans | Bilan among the 300 most influential persons in Switzerland 2011 and 2013, top 100 of Who’s Who of the Net Economy, Most Exciting EU Company at Microsoft MERID 2005, Man of the Year AGEFI 2007, Selected by Bilanz among the 100 most important 2016 digital heads in Switzerland 2017. Award Holder CGI.

Adjunct Professor of the Graduate School of Engineering RMIT Australia (95/99). Head of the Trade Efficiency Lab at the Graduate School of Engineering at RMIT.

M&A Award 2017 Best EU acquisition. 2018 Blockchain Davos Award of Excellence by the Global Blockchain Business Council. Member of The Blockchain Research Institute. Founder Blockchain Center of Excellence 2019. Founding Member TrustValley

Entrepreneur and investor in Deeptech, AI, Blockchain, IoT and Cybersecurity . M&A expert, Fundraising, IPOs , SIX and NASDAQ listing.

Keynote speaker at the UN, WEF, CGI, ITU, Bloomberg, Munich Security Conference, World Policy Conference, Zermatt Summit, Microsoft, IMD, INSEAD, MIT Sloan, HEC , UBS , CEO Summit, etc

Coauthor transhumancode bestseller book.,

Married, six children, fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese.
About Carlos – WISeKey

Mikko Möttönen is a Professor of Quantum Technology and an Adademy Professor at Aalto University and VTT, renowned for his pioneering work in superconducting quantum‐electric circuits and ultrasensitive bolometers. With more than 160 scientific articles and over 10,000 citations—including four notable publications in Nature and Science. His research bridges both experimental innovation and deep theoretical insight. A recipient of five ERC grants, Mikko earned his doctorate in 2005 from the Helsinki University of Technology at the Department of Applied Physics. He currently acts as the Head of the Aalto BSc Programme in Science and Technology and of the Quantum Technology major, shaping the next generation of innovators. His groundbreaking work has not only advanced quantum physics but has also enabled the commercialization of quantum-computing devices, exemplified by the spinout of IQM Quantum Computers, a quantum unicorn, from his research group. As one of the four co-founders of both IQM Quantum Computers and QMill Oy, his entrepreneurial spirit is matched by a series of prestigious recognitions—including the Nokia Recognition Award, Väisälä Science Prize, Innovation Professor Award, and an Honorary Doctorate from Lappeenranta University of Technology—and a membership in the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters as well as the Finnish Academy of Technology.

Sara Nikula received her M.S. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Oulu, Finland, in 2021. Since 2020, she has been a Research Scientist in the Applied Cryptography team at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Her research interests include quantum key distribution and post-quantum cryptography.

Terje Nilsen has worked in the technology industry for 40 years, primarily in informatics and software engineering, with experience in several hardware projects as well. He has been a founder and started three companies.

Over the past six years, he has focused on quantum technology in general, and more recently, he has shifted his attention toward quantum sensing—covering both hardware and the readout/computing aspects.

Currently, he is responsible for the quantum technology roadmap at Kongsberg at the KOG level. In addition, he is involved in other future-oriented technologies such as on-premise AI, reinforcement learning, and automation.

Yasser Omar studied Physics at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon, and did his PhD on Quantum Information at the University of Oxford. Currently, he is professor at IST, University of Lisbon, where he leads the Physics of Information and Quantum Technologies Group. His research interests are focused on quantum computation, quantum networks, and quantum thermodynamics. Over the last decade, he won a dozen European projects and one American project in these domains. In 2019, he founded the Quantum Technologies Laboratory, where free-space QKD was implemented for the first time in Portugal. In 2020, he founded the consulting startup Why Quantum Technologies, Ltd. In 2022, he launched, together with colleagues in more than 70 countries, the World Quantum Day – 14 April. He has been involved in the creation and the coordination of the Flagship in Quantum Technologies, is the Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of CERN’s Quantum Technology Initiative, and is the president of PQI – Portuguese Quantum Institute.

Diploma (1992) and PhD (1994) in Physics from the University of Göttingen. Following a Feodor Lynen Fellowship at Imperial College London (1995–1997) with Professor Sir Peter Knight FRS, he became Lecturer (1998) and later Full Professor of Quantum Physics (2003). In 2009, he joined Ulm University as an Alexander von Humboldt Professor.

Pioneering contributions to entanglement theory, quantum technologies with atoms, ions, photons, and color centers in
diamond, as well as quantum effects in biology. He is author of 440 papers with 74,000+ citations (h-index 126) and Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. His awards include the IOP Maxwell Medal (2004), Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2006), Clifford Paterson Lecture, Max-Born Medal (2012), and two successive ERC Synergy Grants.

He founded the Center for Quantum BioSciences, securing €23 million in funding, and co-founded NVision Imaging
Technologies (2015, ~130 employees) and QCDesign (2022, ~10 employees). Of his mentees, 43 now hold permanent
academic positions, including at Caltech, Oxford, UCL, and The Hebrew University.

Eugene Polzik is Professor of Physics at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen. He is Leader of the Quantum Optics Center QUANTOP and Director of the NovoNordisk Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing. His research interests are within quantum physics of matter and light, quantum communication, and quantum sensing. Among his notable results are the demonstration of the quantum teleportation between material objects, a quantum memory for light, generation of entanglement between distant material objects, and measurements of motion and fields not restricted by the Heisenberg uncertainty. He is a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the American Physical Society and Fellow of Optica (OSA). Eugene Polzik is the Knight of the Order of Dannebrog, a

recipient the Herbert Walther Award of Optica and German Physical Society, the Gordon Moore Distinguished Scholar award, the Scientific American Research Leadership award, and the Danish Association of Academics award.

Pekka Pursula is Vice President of Microelectronics and quantum technology at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. He focuses on leading the quantum activities  at VTT, with active influencing in the national and European levels, such as the European ECS SRIA on Electronic Components and Systems and Quantum Flagship SRIA. Dr. Pursula oversees the Finnish quantum computer development program at VTT. He was one of the writers of the national the Finnish national strategy in quantum technologies and he is the chair of the steering committee of the Finnish quantum institute, InstituteQ.

Pauliina Rajala is Development Manager at InstituteQ, Finnish National Quantum Institute acting as the head of operations and the main contact point at InstituteQ. She has vast background in in science and tech diplomacy, innovation policy, and programme management.

Dr Rajala previously served as the Science, Technology and Innovation specialist for the UK Foreign Office, where she influenced science and innovation policies and approaches of governments, industry and academia with focus on quantum technologies alongside other disruptive and critical technologies. She has also worked as a Senior Scientist and Project Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland for over a decade as well as abroad in Singapore, Japan and Australia.

Rajala holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Helsinki.

Prof. dr. ir. Simon Rommel, is an assistant professor for Quantum and Terahertz systems at TUe and leads QuCT NL. He obtained his BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in 2011 from University of Stuttgart (Stuttgart, Germany), in 2014 from Aston University (Birmingham, UK) and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Pisa, Italy), and in 2017 from Technical University of Denmark (Lyngby, Denmark), respectively. In the same year he was a guest researcher at the Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (Koganei, Tokyo, Japan). Since 2017 he is with TUe, where is work has focused on and quantum key distribution and quantum communications, and the convergence of photonics and radio communications. Since 2020 he leads QuCT NL and TUe’s efforts on quantum secure communications and quantum networking.

Mikael Rönnholm is a seasoned professional in emerging technologies and business development, currently serving as the Director of Emerging Technologies at Volvo Group since November 2023. Previously, Mikael held the position of Vice President of Emerging Technology Business Development at Koenigsegg Automotive AB from March 2022 to November 2023, contributing to the company’s innovative automotive technology initiatives. Prior experience includes leadership roles at CEVT, Brandboxer AB, Knowit, and Acando Consulting, with a strong emphasis on strategic innovation and digital transformation. Educational accomplishments include a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Gothenburg and a Civilekonom degree in Entrepreneurship & Business Development from Växjö University.

With a career spanning leadership roles in technology, consulting, and investment, I have driven market expansion across Europe and built strategic partnerships bridging capital deployment, innovation and sustainability. I have led global delivery from India to clients across all industries

As Managing Director for Northern Europe at IonQ, I help bring quantum computing from research to real-world impact — advancing technologies that could redefine industries from logistics to life sciences.

As a Board Member at Einride, I contribute to reshaping global logistics through electrification and autonomy connecting deep tech with tangible impact.

Professor Kenneth Ruud is Director General of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) since January 1 2022, and Professor in chemistry at the University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway (UiT).

FFI is the key institution for defence-related research and development in Norway. FFI serves as chief advisor on defence-related science and technology to the MoD and the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Prof. Ruud is the Norwegian representative in the board of the NATO Science and Technology Organization and the US-Norway Defense Science and Technology Working Group.

Ruud is currently chairman of the board of Kjeller Innovation, a local innovation company focused on technology transfer, incubator activities and a hydrogen cluster.

Ruud is an elected member of several national and international academies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, The Norwegian Academy for Technological Sciences and the Norwegian Academy for Science and Letters.

Ruud holds a PhD (Dr.Philos.) in theoretical and computational chemistry from the University of Oslo (1998). He spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Diego/San Diego Supercomputer Centre, before he in 2001 started his work at UiT, where he became a full professor of chemistry in 2002. He has published more than 320 papers in international journals with a referee system.

His main research focus has been on developing and applying electronic-structure methods to light-matter interactions in a wide frequency range, including nonlinear optical processes.

Giovanna is a Senior Researcher at Chalmers University of Technology, where she leads the experimental team working on the realisation of large-scale superconducting quantum processors. Giovanna is also a co-founder of ScalinQ, a company focussing on commercialisation of cryogenic hardware for quantum computing. Giovanna attained her PhD at Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL) on superconducting devices. After a postdoc at RHUL, she worked at University of Oxford as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Dr Peter Leek, focussing on scaling up of superconducting qubits. In 2018, Giovanna joined the Quantum Computing group at Chalmers as a permanent researcher within the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT). She is now leading the research group toward the realisation of a 100-qubit quantum processor and since June 2025 she serves as Co-Director of WACQT.

Jorden Senior is Research Team Leader for quantum computing hardware at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and technical lead for the European Superconducting Quantum Pilot Line (SUPREME). He also serves as principal investigator for applied quantum electronics at the Finnish Quantum Institute (InstituteQ). Dr. Senior holds a PhD in thermodynamics of superconducting quantum circuits from Aalto University, and his research focuses on scaling up superconducting quantum technology.

Jacob Sherson holds a joint professorship at the Departments of Management, Physics, and Cognitive Science at Aarhus University. He is the Founder and Director of the Center for Hybrid Intelligence and the game-based citizen science platform ScienceAtHome with more than 300,000 contributors.

In his interdisciplinary Center both human and algorithmic problem-solving is investigated through the lense of machine optimization, psychology, cognitive science and behavioral economics. Apart from natural and social science games, he is also investigating large-scale game-based assessment of both basic cognitive skills and 21stcentury skills like creativity.

Additionally, Jacob is a scientific advisor to several education technology and AI companies and organizations, advisor to both Danish government and EU parliament on AI and quantum technologies, and has been a TedX speaker (+245k views). Among other accolades, he was the winner of 2020 Falling Walls in Science and Innovation Management, 2019 Bold Award on Boldest AI + Boldest Scientific Project, 2018 Grundfos Prize and 2017 Ministerial Research Communication Prize.

Dr. Laura Smoliar serves as the CEO of Quantum Denmark, headquartered at the historic Niels Bohr Institute. Quantum Denmark is a central pillar of the Danish National Strategy for Quantum Technology and brings together entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry leaders to translate cutting-edge quantum research into real-world commercial solutions. It is supported by the Danish Business Authority, the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Dr. Smoliar has worked to bring new technologies from the laboratory to the commercial market for nearly three decades in Silicon Valley, as a technologist, startup founder, and venture capital investor. She previously founded the Berkeley Catalyst Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund.

She has a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, where she worked with Nobel Laureate Yuan T. Lee. She also worked at Academia Sinica, Taiwan, during her Ph.D. and postdoc years.

Ariadna Soro is the scientific coordinator of Nordic Quantum, a network of academics that strives to make the Nordic region the world’s most attractive hub in quantum science, technology and education. In particular, this network works towards coordinating the different quantum efforts in the Nordics, facilitating access to education across universities, attracting and retaining talent, and increasing ties between academia and industry.

Ariadna holds a PhD in theoretical quantum optics for quantum computing applications from Chalmers University (Gothenburg, Sweden), an MSc in quantum technology from KTH (Stockholm, Sweden), and a double BSc in physics and math from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain).

Hans Stærkind is the founder and CEO of Magnolia Quantum Sensing. He established the company in late 2025, based on a decade of pioneering research performed at the Niels Bohr Institute and the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance. With Magnolia QS, he aims at bringing a new level of speed, precision, and accessibility to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), through the novel EXAAQ sensor technology.

Johan Vallin has worked with AI, Data and software development throughout his career. Now he leads a product line for Quantum and Blockchain at Ericsson. He has founded 8 companies in different industries and also worked in large companies such as Telia, Electrolux, Saab, Svenska Spel, IBM and Ericsson with everything from air fighter simulators, AI optimized route planning, predictive maintenance in factories and data driven business models in robot vacuum cleaners.

Ton van ‘t Noordende is the General Partner of QDNL Participations (QDNLP), a $75 million specialized investment fund dedicated to investing in early-stage quantum technology companies worldwide. Its team brings a unique blend of top-tier scientific and technical expertise, with PhDs in Physics from institutions such as Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and UC Berkeley. The fund team includes quantum pioneer Chad Rigetti, founder of Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI). With a strong focus on quantum technology, QDNLP has extensive experience and a proven track record in investing in breakthrough technologies. Established in 2022, the investment team operates across the Netherlands, the UK, and the US.

Head of Department and Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Department of Physics, University of Oslo (UiO)

PhD in Theoretical Physics, UiO, 1997

Postdoctoral positions at NORDITA (Copenhagen), Jyväskylä University, and Chalmers (Gothenburg), 1998–2002

Associate Professor at UiO, 2002; full Professor from 2007

Head of Department since 2020

Field: Theoretical physics, quantum physics

Actively engaged in efforts to promote/develop the field of quantum technology in Norway

Maud Vinet is Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Quobly. After earning a PhD in Physics from Université Grenoble Alpes, she began her career at CEA-Leti in 2001, where she developed deep expertise in semiconductor integration and device engineering.

From 2009 to 2013, Maud was based in Albany, New York, where she led the development of fully-depleted SOI technologies within the IBM Alliance, working closely with STMicroelectronics. Her strategic vision was later instrumental in the launch of the 22FDX program with GlobalFoundries in Malta, NY, in 2015.

In 2019, Maud became Director of the Quantum Computing Program at CEA-Leti, steering the institute’s transition from advanced semiconductor research to quantum computing innovation. In 2022, she co-founded Quobly with Tristan Meunier and François Perruchot, uniting scientific excellence and industrial know-how to build scalable quantum processors.

Maud is the author or co-author of over 250 scientific communications and holds more than 70 patents in nanotechnology. In recognition of her contributions to science and innovation, she was named to the French Legion of Honor in 2019.

Göran Wendin is a professor of theoretical physics at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, currently working at RISE on strategies for implementing quantum technologies. Since 2000 he has coordinated five major EU projects on quantum computing with superconducting devices, as well as two EU projects on molecular electronics. Wendin was one of the founding fathers of WACQT in 2018, was WP-leader in the OpenSuperQ Flagship project (2018-2023), and a co-author of the roadmap governing the OpenSuperQPlus FPA/SGA during 2023-2027. Since 2022, he is a member of the EuroHPC JU infrastructure advisory group (INFRAG) contributing to building a European HPC+AI+QC federated ecosystem.

Jörg Wrachtrup, professor and director of the 3rd Institute of Physics (since 2000) and the Center for Applied Quantum Technology (since 2016), both of the University of Stuttgart, as well as Max Planck fellow at the MPI for Solid State Research Stuttgart, has pioneered the field of single-spin physics by initiating the very first single electron and subsequently the first single nuclear spins experiments. By combining optics and spin resonance, he discovered defects in insulators, most notably defects in diamond, as a valuable system for quantum information processing in a novel type of quantum sensor for electric and magnetic fields. He and his group pioneered application of these novel sensor techniques. His current research interest is geared towards application of quantum enhanced sensing in biomedical as well as material sciences.

Professor Wrachtrup has published more than 400 papers in refereed journals with numerous Nature and Science papers, plus reviews in both journals over the past years. In 2011 and 2017, he was awarded two Advanced Research Grants of the European Research Council, in 2012 he received the Leibniz Price of the German Science Foundation, the Bruker Prize in 2013 and the Max Planck Research Award in 2014. Jörg Wrachtrup has been awarded the Europhysics Prize Award of the European Physical Society and the Gold medal of the International Society for Electron Spin Resonance in 2020. He is a member of the Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Science and has continuously been listed as a “Highly Cited Researcher” since 2014.