With quantum computing rapidly approaching the point at which it moves from experimental science towards practical use, a new report from GESDA and the Open Quantum Institute (OQI), sets out how the international community can develop and implement governance approaches which steer the benefits of this innovative technology to all.
The Intelligence Report on Quantum Diplomacy in Action 2026-2027 identifies next steps in four areas: intellectual property and the human right to science, the quantum divide, energy and the environment, and security and dual use.
“Properly managed, quantum computing has the potential to benefit a broad swathe of humanity by generating significant progress in healthcare, food security, climate change mitigation, pharmaceutical development and materials science,” says GESDA’s Head of Initiatives Development, Dr Mira Wolf-Bauwens. “But with states increasingly treating quantum capability as a national economic and security asset, the obstacles to international coordination on quantum IP are formidable. Rather than new treaties, we need trusted settings where governments, experts and industry can test solutions at a manageable scale, and make what works available to others.”
The report draws on discussions held at the Quantum Diplomacy in Action conference in May 2026, which brought together members of the broader OQI community. Born at GESDA, hosted at CERN and supported by UBS, OQI serves as a sandbox to champion global, inclusive and equitable access to quantum computing. During its pilot phase, OQI has explored 20 quantum computing use case projects addressing six UN Sustainable Development Goals, and gathered more than 1,000 hackathon participants from 108 countries. It has also built an Educational Consortium of 94 organisations across 39 countries, and engaged 54 international organisations in discussions on quantum governance.
The next phase of the OQI project will seek to amplify the use of the sandbox with strategic partners, scaling up what proves effective. At the recent 2026 GESDA Anticipation Summit, the OQI community discussed their approaches and findings through a workshop. You can discover perspectives from attendees in the short video below.
