Quantum Beach 2023: Building Meaningful Relationships in the Quantum Industry

Quantum Beach 2023

With the Miami sun shining bright and the beaches calling out for sunscreen and fun, the second edition of Quantum Beach returned to South Beach Miami last week over two days (March 2nd & 3rd 2023) at the W Hotel.

Bringing together over a hundred senior leaders in the industry, the event was organized as an exclusive conference and networking opportunity. Attendees had the perfect chance to connect, learn, and build meaningful relationships in one convenient location.

Panel discussion at Quantum Beach 2023

Unlike other events in the industry, Quantum Beach prioritizes interactive networking over sponsored booths and lengthy keynote speeches. The event kicked off with a cocktail reception where attendees mingled and connected over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a welcome dinner at The Grove restaurant where attendees engaged in lively conversation with old colleagues and newfound peers.

On the second day, attendees gathered for breakfast before the main event. Throughout the day, there were several engaging discussions and debates on a range of topics, including the current state of quantum technology and its potential for the future, as well as candid conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

Here is a full list of panel topics:

• Public Good: Collaborating With Government Agencies and Entities for the Future of Quantum
• The Current State of Quantum Technology and The Global Market
• Investing in Quantum Computing: Economics and Attractive Sectors
• Getting Quantum in the Enterprise: End User Applications and Focus Verticals
• How quickly do we need to move on quantum security and should we rely on PQC QKD?
• How much progress have we really made in Quantum Computing Roadmaps?

Some of the key “hot takes” from Quantum Beach 2023:

• There is a clear and increasing curiosity from government in quantum technology as a means to solve some of their challenges.
• Despite the myriad engineering challenges that QPU companies need to overcome, there was a sense that organizations all over the world are attacking these from multiple angles — it may be incremental progress but we’re not stuck.
• The market appears to be bifurcated between companies who are expecting useful commercial applications for clients in the next 24 months and those who are focused on just solving long-term engineering challenges to build “perfect QCs”.
• One panellist proposed that these views align tightly with roadmaps — those with the longer-term roadmaps are the ones who are saying that QCs aren’t helpful yet!
• Quantum cybersecurity is a key area of concern for national governments. These are being taken seriously but standards are still emerging.
• Investors are excited about quantum and see material opportunities. Nonetheless, there is still a level of education that needs to be happening for the investment community.
• One panellist argued the industry doesn’t help ourselves by arguing over the commercial roadmaps as it may confuse potential investors.

As the final day of Quantum Beach wrapped up, Alex Challans, CEO of The Quantum Insider, shared his insights on the quantum industry with attendees. He spoke of the groundbreaking advancements and the tireless efforts of those in attendance to push the boundaries of what’s possible. But he also acknowledged the difficulty of zooming out and seeing the bigger picture, the industry as a whole, and how it’s shaping up.

Panel discussion at Quantum Beach 2023

“We’re addressing the challenges of quantum technology from multiple directions and making important incremental steps at an increasingly rapid rate,” said Challans, while adding that he had heard at the event that the world is beginning to really take notice.

For more market insights, check out our latest quantum computing news here.