In 2026, Switzerland assumes the chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the third time. With 57 participating states spanning Europe, North America, and Central Asia, the OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization. Among Switzerland’s priorities for this year is “Anticipating technologies – for a safe and humane future,” promoting governance centered on human needs and linking science and diplomacy. Anticipation has become a political necessity to avoid strategic gaps between innovation and regulation. Switzerland’s goal is strengthening anticipation and dialogue, reducing misunderstandings and building common approaches. In that context, the OSCE is an indispensable platform for dialogue, trust, and security.
Against this backdrop, the Embassy of Switzerland in the United States, in partnership with the Open Quantum Institute at GESDA, hosted a Quantum Diplomacy Game on September 9, 2026. The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of State, to explore how policymakers might navigate the diplomatic challenges posed by quantum technologies.
The Quantum Diplomacy Game is a real-world diplomatic scenario set in a future where large-scale quantum computing has become a reality but remains accessible only to a small number of actors. Participants were placed in the roles of decision-makers navigating the technology’s implications for international security, diplomacy, and strategic competition.
The event opened with welcome remarks by Minister Adrian Hauri, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Swiss Embassy, followed by a briefing by Dr. Catherine Lefebvre, Senior Advisor for the Open Quantum Institute at GESDA.
Following the simulation, Dr. Lefebvre led a debrief in which participants reflected on the experience and explored a question that policymakers face across emerging technologies: How can we govern a technology that does not fully exist yet? One takeaway was that the challenges raised by quantum technology have parallels with those in the current landscape of AI developments. Participants also highlighted the importance of grounding the conversation in the potential positive outcomes of quantum technology and considering how it could serve as a global good. The discussion further underscored the importance of involving the private sector and educational institutions in the anticipation process. Participants also noted that governments can act as catalysts for scientific development and international cooperation.
Overall, participants embraced their assigned roles, leading to lively negotiations and substantive exchanges. The Quantum Diplomacy Game demonstrated the value of creating a space where policymakers can explore possible future scenarios and collectively think through challenges before they become realities.
Aditi Gupta of the U.S. House of Representatives noted that the game was “very timely and a unique combination of issues.”
Bryan Straub from the U.S. Department of State reflected on the broader value of the event: “Working together to address a theoretical future challenge posed by the Quantum Diplomacy Game raised important and relevant considerations for policymakers right now.”
The event concluded with a reception at the Ambassador’s Residence, providing an opportunity to continue discussions and exchange ideas.
