Where quantum leaves the lab - and enters geopolitics, industry, security, education and careers
Quantum technologies are moving from a specialised scientific field into one of the most strategic arenas of the coming decade. Governments are investing in quantum infrastructure, companies are building hardware and software stacks, cybersecurity experts are preparing for the post-quantum era, educators are addressing the skills gap, and international institutions are already asking how quantum power should be governed. In July 2025, the European Commission adopted the Quantum Europe Strategy, aiming to position Europe as a global leader in quantum by 2030, with priorities including research, infrastructure, ecosystem development, space and dual-use technologies, and quantum skills.
This is the context for Quantum Path at Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit 2026: not a niche science add-on, but a complete route through the future of computing, security, education, defence, diplomacy, industry and talent. Across two days, the Summit brings together researchers, founders, strategists, educators, science communicators and industry leaders from organisations including IBM Research, CERN, NVIDIA, Quantinuum, Oxford Quantum Circuits, Creotech Quantum, Qlithic, MBDA UK, C2QA / Brookhaven National Laboratory, ITU, Qblox, DiviQ, EnLuz, Girls in Quantum, Africa Quantum Consortium, Quantum Security Defence Limited, IE University, GESDA and the Open Quantum Institute hosted at CERN.
✸Science Queens - A.Kamińska, CEO, Creotech Instruments S.A.
✸New Physics Enables the Future of Quantum Computing - H.Riel, IBM Research
✸Shaping the Quantum Future: Geopolitics, Education, and Transformation -
N.A.Aragón, C.Lunde, D.Ruffner, K.K.Raina
✸Girls in Quantum - D.Nair, .Girls in Quantum
✸Building a Global Quantum Future - K.K.Raina, (NucleQi)
✸Quantum Pioneers Inaugural Meeting - Special Event
✸The Quantum Edge: Innovation, Defence, and a Career at the Frontier - L.Maidwell (MBDA UK)
✸Quantum Fractals: Landscapes of the Unseen. Where Quantum States Become Form
✸Is Your Data Ready for the Quantum Era? - A.B.Kalisz Hedegaard, Quantum Security Defence Limited
✸Special Guest: Andrzej Dragan on Quantum Cryptography (Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw)
✸Quantum Diplomacy Game - Special Event developed by GESDA
✸Quantum Hack VR: Building Quantum Literacy One Qubit at a Time - I.A.Ferrero (IE University)
✸Beyond the Lab: The Hidden Workforce Powering Quantum Innovation - K.D. McGuire ✸Quantum Reality Check: the First 3 Sectors Transformed by Quantum Technologies - A.Kamińska, C.Lunde, B.Siwińska, A.Topol
Quantum Path is a rare chance to understand quantum from every angle: the physics behind it, the companies building it, the security risks it creates, the global power shifts it may accelerate, and the people who will decide how it is used. This is where students, researchers, founders, engineers, strategists and future leaders can see the field as it really is: complex, fast-moving, deeply consequential and still open to those ready to enter it early.
The path is designed as a progression: from science and role models, through the physical foundations of quantum computing, to geopolitics, education, inclusion, defence, cybersecurity, immersive learning and workforce development. It culminates in a Main Stage reality check on the first sectors most likely to be transformed by quantum technologies.
Day 1: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
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11:55–12:20 | Sci/Eng Stage
Science Queens
Speaker: Anna Kamińska, CEO, Creotech Instruments S.A. / Creotech Quantum context
The Quantum Path opens with Science Queens, a session connected with the Quantum AI Foundation, a Polish non-profit organisation supporting education, research, development and collaboration in science and new technologies, especially artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
This session places quantum in a wider deep-tech ecosystem: mathematics supporting oncology, quantum technologies developed for industry and space, and AI transforming transportation and mobility. A key figure here is Dr Anna Kamińska, physicist and CEO connected with Creotech’s quantum development. Her career links particle physics, CERN, DESY, Oxford, Mainz and business development in quantum technologies.
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12:30–12:45 | Sci/Eng Stage
Quantum Stage Opening
Speaker: Dr Bianka Siwińska, President, Perspektywy Education Foundation
The official opening frames quantum as an interdisciplinary field connecting space, architecture, computing, research, communication, art and technology. Led by Dr Bianka Siwińska, President of the Perspektywy Education Foundation and creator of Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit, it positions quantum as a field that needs not only physicists, but also communicators, strategists, educators, policy thinkers, founders and leaders.
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13:10–13:25 | Sci/Eng Stage
New Physics Enables the Future of Quantum Computing
Speaker: Heike Riel, IBM Research / IBM
One of the most technically important talks in the path. Instead of staying with application hype, this session goes to the physical foundations of scalable quantum technologies: materials, devices, new physics and engineering challenges.
Dr Heike Riel is IBM Fellow, Head of Science of Quantum and Information Technology, and Lead of IBM Research Quantum Europe. Her work connects quantum computing, nanoscience, nanotechnology, physics of AI, diagnostics and smart system integration.
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13:55–14:35 | Sci/Eng Stage
Shaping the Quantum Future: Geopolitics, Education, and Transformation
Speakers: Nydia Assaf Aragón, Cierra Lunde, Denise Ruffner
Moderator: Kiran Kaur Raina
Format: Discussion Panel
This panel turns quantum from a laboratory subject into a geopolitical and educational question. It asks whether the quantum race resembles earlier technological rivalries, what it means for countries and startups, how the skills gap can be addressed, and what fault-tolerant quantum systems could change over the next decade.
The speakers bring perspectives from quantum security, AI, science communication, business development, ecosystem building, quantum machine learning and cryptography.
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14:45–15:00 | Sci/Eng Stage
Girls in Quantum
Speaker: Diya Nair, Head of Outreach, Girls in Quantum
Format: Science & Engineering
This session is especially important for students and early-career participants who are curious about quantum, but unsure where to begin. It makes a crucial point: access to quantum does not have to start with an elite technical background. It can start with community, mentorship, outreach, communication and global collaboration.
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15:05–15:20 | Sci/Eng Stage
Building a Global Quantum Future
Speaker: Kiran Kaur Raina, Founder & CEO, NucleQi
Format: Science & Engineering
Kiran Kaur Raina’s solo talk continues the inclusion thread, adding a geographic and infrastructural dimension. It asks what the quantum future would look like if it were built globally from the start, rather than concentrated in a small number of countries and institutions.
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16:10–17:20 | Room B1
Quantum Pioneers Inaugural Meeting [by invitation]
Format: Special Event
One of the strategic core elements of the Quantum Path. The Quantum Pioneers Legacy Initiative 2026 is a mentoring and leadership programme for high-potential girls and young women aged 16–30 interested in quantum technologies, including people from physics, computer science, engineering, policy, entrepreneurship, ethics and tech leadership.
The programme offers 1:1 mentoring, 15 live online technical masterclasses, leadership training, industry exposure and access to an international community. It includes three participant levels: Explorer, Builder and Leader.
The mentor list is itself a map of the quantum ecosystem, including experts from CERN, IBM Research, NVIDIA, Quantinuum, Creotech Quantum, Qblox, Oxford Quantum Circuits, ITU, Africa Quantum Consortium, DiviQ, EnLuz, Quantum Security Defence Limited and other organisations.
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16:30–16:45 | Sci/Eng Stage
The Quantum Edge: Innovation, Defence, and a Career at the Frontier
Speaker: Lucy Maidwell, Quantum Computing Lead, MBDA UK
Format: Science & Engineering
This session brings quantum into defence and strategic technology. Lucy Maidwell works at the forefront of quantum computing for military capability and wider applications, building collaboration between industry and academia to accelerate development and adoption of next-generation computing technologies.
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16:50–17:05 | Sci/Eng Stage
Quantum Fractals: Landscapes of the Unseen. Where Quantum States Become Form
Format: Science & Engineering
A short Science & Engineering session exploring how invisible quantum structures can be translated into form, image or spatial imagination — offering audiences a different way of approaching a field often described through equations, hardware and abstract models.
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17:10–17:20 | Sci/Eng Stage
Is Your Data Ready for the Quantum Era?
Speaker: Anna Beata Kalisz Hedegaard, Quantum Security Defence Limited
Format: Science & Engineering
This talk brings the path into quantum security and data readiness. It points toward one of the most urgent business and institutional questions around quantum: what happens to today’s encrypted data when quantum capabilities mature?
Anna Beata Kalisz Hedegaard is CEO of Quantum Security Defence Limited, with experience in deep tech, telecommunications, defence communications networks, quantum security, AI and emerging technology advisory.
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Day 2: Thursday, 11 June 2026
10:50–11:05 | Main Stage
Special Guest: Andrzej Dragan on Quantum Cryptography
Speaker: Prof. Andrzej Dragan, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw
Day 2 opens with one of the most recognisable Polish science voices: Prof. Andrzej Dragan, theoretical physicist, artist and science populariser. His research connects quantum theory, relativity, relativistic quantum information and quantum field theory in curved spacetime.
The agenda also notes his 2020 work with Prof. Artur Ekert, The Quantum Principle of Relativity, presented in the Summit description as potentially significant for understanding quantum theory.
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15:40–17:40 | Room B1
Quantum Diplomacy Game
Format: Special Event
One of the most distinctive interactive elements of the Quantum Path. Participants enter a fictional geopolitical crisis triggered by a breakthrough in quantum computing, then return to the present to negotiate, collaborate and anticipate decisions that could prevent future conflicts.
The game was developed by GESDA — Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator — for the Open Quantum Institute, an initiative hosted by CERN, born at GESDA and supported by UBS.
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15:45–16:10 | Sci/Eng Stage
Quantum Hack VR: Building Quantum Literacy One Qubit at a Time
Speaker: Irene Alda Ferrero, Academic Director, IE School of Science and Technology, IE University
This session brings quantum education into virtual reality. Quantum Hack VR is an immersive, game-like experience introducing concepts such as superposition, entanglement and quantum gate operations. Participants solve puzzles while engaging with ethical and technical challenges connected to quantum technologies.
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16:15–16:30 | Sci/Eng Stage
Beyond the Lab: The Hidden Workforce Powering Quantum Innovation
Speaker: Kimberly D. McGuire, C2QA Chief Operating Officer, Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage
This talk reframes quantum careers. Quantum innovation is often framed as the domain of physicists, engineers and mathematicians, but the sector also needs policy, programme management, communications, workforce development, industry partnerships, funding, governance and adoption.
Kimberly D. McGuire is Chief Operating Officer and Workforce Development Lead for C2QA, a U.S. Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Center based at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
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16:45–17:35 | Main Stage
Quantum Reality Check: the First 3 Sectors Transformed by Quantum Technologies
Speakers: Anna Kamińska, Cierra Lunde, Dr Bianka Siwińska, Anna Topol
Format: Discussion Panel
The closing Main Stage quantum panel brings the track to its most concrete question: where will quantum technologies pay off first? The agenda links this discussion to the European Commission’s Quantum Europe Strategy and names the near-term barriers: error correction, control stacks, hardware scaling, talent, funding and product proof.
It also identifies Europe’s possible advantage lanes: HPC-quantum integration, software, photonics, systems engineering and quantum-safe security adoption. The framing cuts through exaggerated expectations: none of us will have a quantum computer at home anytime soon, so the real question is where quantum will matter first.
Anna Topol, CEO of Qlithic, brings a major IBM Research and quantum-AI background. Together with Anna Kamińska’s industrialisation perspective, Cierra Lunde’s deep-tech and knowledge-systems perspective, and Bianka Siwińska’s talent-pipeline perspective, the panel becomes a reality check on what must happen for quantum to move from promise into use.
Quantum Path at Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit 2026 is a complete guide through the field at the moment when quantum stops being a distant promise and becomes a strategic question for Europe, industry, security, science and education. Across talks, panels, mentoring, immersive learning and role-play diplomacy, the path gives participants a rare chance to understand quantum from every angle: the physics behind it, the companies building it, the policies trying to govern it, the security risks it creates, the sectors it may transform first, and the new generation of women who should have a visible place in this field from the very beginning.
