Insider Brief:
- The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) and Quantum Delta NL have partnered to explore quantum technologies for the UN system, launching the collaboration at the “Quantum for Good” event, co-sponsored by several international entities.
- The partnership focuses on identifying concrete use cases of quantum technology to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), organizing joint awareness events, and implementing prioritized quantum projects for UNICC partners.
- The collaboration will continue with expert events, including a follow-up conference in November 2024, aiming to establish a work plan for the UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in 2025.
PRESS RELEASE — The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) and Quantum Delta NL are pleased to announce their partnership to jointly explore the transformative potential of quantum technologies for the United Nations system. The partnership was launched at the side event “Quantum for Good,” held during the Summit of the Future Action Days and co-sponsored by the Republic of Namibia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Economic Forum, and hosted at Accenture.
On that occasion, UNICC and Quantum Delta NL signed a MoU to officially start the partnership, in the presence of Jonine de Waal, Director Digitalisation and The Public Sector of the Netherlands Ministry of Interior Affairs, and Marijn Fraanje, Director of Urban Development and Economic Affairs, City of The Hague.
The event underscored the importance of identifying concrete use cases across the UN family and leveraging quantum technologies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In that sense, UNICC and Quantum Delta NL signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in (1) exploring the use of quantum technologies for the benefit of UNICC partners, (2) organizing joint events for raising awareness on this frontier technology across the UN system, and (3) working jointly to identify and implement prioritized projects.
“Quantum technologies represent a new frontier in innovation, holding immense potential to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Our collaboration with Quantum Delta NL is a significant step towards fostering critical discussions on its potential, governance, and real-world applications. Working together with diverse stakeholders is essential to harnessing quantum technologies for a more sustainable and equitable future.” – Sameer Chauhan, Director of UNICC
As part of this collaboration, further expert events and activities will be held in the lead-up to the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. UNICC and Quantum Delta NL will co-host a follow-up conference on 20 and 21 November 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands, in close collaboration with global partners. The conference aims to solidify a work plan for the UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025 and establish a framework for reporting tangible results by the end of the year.
“Now that interest in quantum is growing, it is a crucial time for our tech community to invest in outreach and capacity-building – beyond the obvious stakeholders and countries. With the UNICC, we have a fantastic partner to build a network of pioneers across the globe so that we can explore how this technology can help achieve the SDGs.” – Pieter de Witte, Board Member and Director Research Programmes & IP at QDNL
