PQI – Portuguese Quantum Institute is proud to announce its role as a founding member of the Quantum Software Alliance (QSA), a new international network of leading research institutes dedicated to advancing quantum software and algorithms. The Alliance was officially launched today during the closing ceremony of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) in Accra, Ghana.
The QSA brings together experts from four continents with a shared mission: to champion and coordinate the development of quantum software and algorithms as quantum computing transitions from laboratory research to real-world applications. Its Strategic Vision outlines practical recommendations to accelerate the discovery of new software and algorithms, develop open and interoperable solutions, and create a Global Research Agenda to guide the research community towards long-term success.
Yasser Omar, PQI President and Professor at IST, University of Lisbon, has been appointed to the QSA Steering Committee. Speaking at the closing ceremony, he highlighted the significance of the initiative: “The QSA brings together stakeholders from different continents to develop a Global Research Agenda in Quantum Software. This is a first in Quantum Science and Technology, leveraging the expertise available around the world to create a common vision and way forward, in this case to find the most impactful ways to exploit the potential of quantum computation.”
He further emphasized the symbolic importance of the launch: “The launch of the QSA today shows how the closing of the International Year of Quantum is also the beginning of a global quantum initiative, setting the ground for others to follow, and for the establishment of an international Quantum Decade.”
PQI joins a distinguished group of 21 founding members spanning institutions across Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania, including QuSoft (Netherlands), the Centre for Quantum Technologies (Singapore), the Institute for Quantum Computing (Canada), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA), the Quantum Centre at ETH Zürich (Switzerland), and the Technology Innovation Institute (UAE), among others.
PQI’s participation as a founding member and Yasser Omar’s role on the Steering Committee reinforce the Institute’s commitment to positioning Portugal at the forefront of the global quantum ecosystem. For more information about the Quantum Software Alliance, visit quantumsoftwarealliance.org.
