Agenda
Sponsors of the Q-Expo 2026
Q-Expo preliminary programme & speakers
for our upcoming event on May 18 & 19, 2026
👉 Looking for more details about our speakers? Check out the Speaker Page to learn more about their expertise and sessions.
Monday 18th May
09:00 - 18:00
Exhibition
Showfloor is open
- Exhibition Hall II
The Exhibition runs across both days 18 - 19 May, creating continuous opportunities to explore cutting-edge quantum solutions, meet leading technology providers, and engage directly with innovators shaping the quantum ecosystem.Marking the UNESCO International Year of Quantum Technology, their addresses will set the stage for collaboration, innovation, and new opportunities in quantum—guiding policymakers, solution providers, and industry leaders into the next era of technological transformation.
10:30 - 11:30
Signature Moment
ICQIA Charter Signature
Open Door – No Extra Registration needed
- Room 0B
Ceremonial signature with ICQIA partners, including short talks from new members and perspectives on its importance for the global quantum industry.
Moderator
Margaux Miller
MC
Speaker
Thierry Botter
Executive Director, QuIC European Quantum Industry Consortium
Hiro Mori
Chair, Global Consortium Alliances Working Group, Q-STAR
Celia Merzbacher
Executive Director, QED-C
Dr. Brad Dongho Kim
CQO of Megazone Cloud, Vice Chairperson of KQIA
Christian Schmitz
Managing Director, evolutionQ
Jonathan Legh-Smith
Executive Director, UK Quantum
11:45 - 13:00
Side Event
Quantum Computing Readiness: From Awareness to Business Value
- Room 5A
Organised by the OECD, this session builds on the recent report Building business readiness for quantum computing, which examines how firms can move from awareness to action.
Moderator
Andres Barreneche
Economist / Policy Analyst, OECD
Speaker
Hiro Mori
Chair, Global Consortium Alliances Working Group, Q-STAR
Olivier Tonneau
Partner Quantonation
Carlos Kuchkovsky
CEO & Co-Founder, QCentroid
Araceli Venegas-Gomez
Araceli Venegas-Gomez, Founder and CEO of QURECA
11:30 - 12:00
Exhibition
VIP Guided Tour
- Exhibition Hall II
Guided tours of the exhibition floor, offering curated insights into key innovations, exhibitors, and emerging trends in the quantum ecosystem.
12:45 - 14:00
Lunch
Enjoy a lunch inspired by the Spanish flair of the Basque Country, while taking the time to network and connect with fellow participants.
14:00 - 14:05
Opening Plenary
Welcome from the Hosts
- Room 0B
Plenary session begins with a welcome from the hosts, Thierry Botter, Executive Director QuIC and Nerea Martiartu CEO Lantik, who open the event with introductory remarks.
Thierry Botter
Executive Director, QuIC European Quantum Industry Consortium
Nerea Martiartu
CEO, Lantik
Javier Aizpurua
Scientific Director of Basque Quantum
14:05 - 14:25
Opening Ceremony
A Global Welcome to the Quantum Era
- Room 0B
Speaker
Ainara Basurko
Minister of Economic Promotion of the Government of Bizkaia
Henna Virkkunen
(Virtual Adress)
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy at the European Commission
14:25 - 14:45
Interview
A Conversation with Constantijn van Oranje
- Room 0B
A fireside chat with Constantijn van Oranje, member of the European Commission High-Level Advisory Board on Quantum Technologies, reflecting on developments in the quantum landscape and building on his contribution at Q-Expo 2025.
Margaux Miller
MC
Constantijn van Oranje
Special Envoy, Techleap
14:45 - 15:05
Plenary
Keynote
- Room 0B
Kilian Gross
Director in DG Connect for the Directorate C Enabling and Emerging Technologies
15:05 - 15:25
Plenary
Keynote
- Room 0B
Dr. Darío Gil
Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy
15:25 - 15:45
Plenary
Keynote
- Room 0B
James Appathurai
Deputy Assistant Secretary General Strategy and Policy for Cyber and Digital Transformation
15:45 - 16:05
Plenary
Keynote: Spain’s Quantum Moment — And Why It Matters for All of Europe
- Room 0B
Alberto Gago
Head of Agencia Española de Supervisión de Inteligencia Artificial
16:05 - 16:40
Coffee & Connection Break
Enjoy a refreshing coffee break with light refreshments, offering a relaxed moment to recharge and connect with fellow participants.
16:40 - 17:00
Showcase Presentation
Round Table Discussion led by Lantik
- Room 0B
Nerea Martiartu is leading a roundtable discussion with Escolastico Sanchez Martinez, Head of Quantum BBVA, Ricardo Enriquez Miranda, Head of Quantum Repsol Group and Luis Malumbres Martinez, Iberdrola.
Nerea Martiartu
CEO, Lantik
Escolastico Sanchez Martinez
Head of Quantum, BBVA
Ricardo Enriquez Miranda
Head of Quantum, Repsol Group
Luis Malumbres Martinez
Director Innovation, Iberdrola
17:00 - 17:30
Panel
Quantum-Safe Communication: Preparing the World for a Secure Future
- Room 0B
The rapid development of quantum computers risks making today’s data security means obsolete. The session will explore the global transition to quantum-safe data storage and communication, focusing on the pace of solution adoption and whether current efforts are sufficient. The discuss will address key barriers such as standards and interoperability, the need for international alignment, and the evolving role of PQC and QKD, including Europe’s initiatives to safeguard critical infrastructure.
Moderator
Tanya Suarez
Tanya Suarez, CEO BluSpecs
Speaker
Fanny Bouton
Quantum, AI & Open Innovation Lead, OVHcloud
Stephanie Wehner
Director, European Quantum Internet Alliance
Jaime Gomez Garcia
Global Head of Santander, Quantum Threat Program
17:30 - 17:40
Showcase Presentation
Presentation of the Spanish Quantum Alliance
- Room 0B
This presentation will represent the kick-off of the Spanish Quantum Alliance (SQuA), the Spanish national association dedicated to representing and connecting Spain’s quantum technology ecosystem. Bringing together industry, academia, research centers, and other stakeholders, SQuA aims to accelerate innovation, foster collaboration, and strengthen Spain’s leadership in quantum technologies, serving as a unified voice for the Spanish ecosystem.
Speaker
Vanesa Diaz
Spanish Quantum Alliance Representative, CEO Luxquanta
17:40 - 18:20
Panel
International Council of Quantum Industry Associations: Strengthening Global Collaboration in Quantum Technologies
- Room 0B
The panel brings together representatives of quantum industry trade associations from around the world, all part of the International Council of Quantum Industry Associations (ICQIA). The discussion will focus on strengthening the global quantum supply chain, aligning on common policy priorities, engaging with governments, and accelerating industrial uptake of quantum solutions in a fragmented world.
Moderator
Mayra van Houts
Head of Strategy, Quantum Delta NL
Speaker
Thierry Botter
Executive Director, QuIC European Quantum Industry Consortium
Hiro Mori
Chair, Global Consortium Alliances Working Group, Q-STAR
Celia Merzbacher
Executive Director, QED-C
Dr. Brad Dongho Kim
CQO of Megazone Cloud, Vice Chairperson of KQIA
Karra-Lee Gerrits
Consul & Trade Commissioner, Consulate of Canada in Barcelona
Jonathan Legh-Smith
Executive Director, UK Quantum
18:20 - 18:27
Showcase Presentation
Accelerating Quantum Innovation - From Faster Experiments to Scalable Quantum Cooling Infrastructure
- Room 0B
Showcase presentation features kiutra and Tomek Schulz.
Tomek Schulz
COO & Co-Founder, kiutra
18:27 - 18:30
Closing Plenary
Closing remarks for the Day 1 plenary
- Room 0B
Closing remarks for the Day 1 plenary by Thierry Botter Executive Director QuIC and Nerea Martiartu CEO Lantik, summarizing key takeaways and concluding the first day of the programme.
Thierry Botter
Executive Director, QuIC European Quantum Industry Consortium
Nerea Martiartu
CEO, Lantik
18:15 - 19:30
Exhibitor Get Together
(Exhibitors only)
- Room 5H Terrace
An exclusive networking session for exhibitors to connect, exchange insights, and foster collaboration within the exhibition community.
Tuesday 19th May
09:00 - 18:00
Exhibition
Showfloor is open
- Exhibition Hall II
The Exhibition runs across both days 18 – 19 May, creating continuous opportunities to explore cutting-edge quantum solutions, meet leading technology providers, and engage directly with innovators shaping the quantum ecosystem.
09:00 - 13:00
Side Event
QOMPASS Kick Off Meeting
- Room 3B
The remaining details will follow
09:30 - 09:35
Opening Plenary
Welcome from the Hosts
- Room 0B
Opening of the second day with welcome remarks from Thierry Botter and Nerea Martiartu, setting the stage for the day’s plenary programme.
Thierry Botter
Executive Director, QuIC European Quantum Industry Consortium
Nerea Martiartu
CEO, Lantik
09:35 - 09:50
Plenary
Keynote
- Room 0B
A keynote address by Andrea Folgueiras, sharing strategic perspectives on technology innovation and the role of quantum and advanced digital infrastructures in shaping the future of global communications.
Andrea Folgueiras
Global CTIO, Telefonica
09:50 - 10:30
Panel
Sovereignty & International Collaboration: The Superposition of Quantum Tech
- Room 0B
Quantum technologies are seen as critical for economic sovereignty and national security. Yet quantum research and tech development is already global, with trade and expertise traversing borders. The session will examine how entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers can navigate this careful balance between international collaboration and sovereignty considerations to make quantum a valuable resources for societies.
Moderator
Andre König
CEO, Quantum Global Intelligence
Speaker
Mira Wolf-Bauwens
Head of Initiatives Development, GESDA
Kilian Gross
Director in DG Connect for the Directorate C Enabling and Emerging Technologies
Julian Rabbie
Sr. Strategy Advisor Quantum Technology, TNO
Olivier Tonneau
Partner Quantonation
Amanda Diez Fernandez
Knowledge Transfer Officer, CERN
10:30 - 11:30
Side Event
Closing the Loop: Circularity of Quantum Supply Chains
- Room 5b
The quantum industry is scaling fast, but are we building it to last? kiutra and Circular Republic will present the findings of their joint study on Circularity in the Quantum Industry, followed by a panel discussion bringing together voices from across the quantum landscape to explore what circularity looks like in practice and how the community can begin embedding these principles today.
10:30 - 10:37
Showcase Presentation
Designed to Scale: Building Quantum Hardware for Real-World Use
- Room 0B
Speaker
Sella Brosh
CEO, Nvision
10:37 - 10:45
Showcase Presentation
Applied Quantum Computing for Industrial 3D Bin Packing: A Würth Case Study
- Room 0B
Eneko Osaba
Principal Researcher, Tecnalia
Carlos Kuchkovsky
CEO & Co-Founder, QCentroid
Alma Maria Ortuno Gomez
Innovation Expert at Telefonica
10:45 - 11:25
COFFEE & CONNECTION BREAK (Sponsored by Zurich Instruments)
Enjoy a refreshing coffee break with light refreshments, generously sponsored by Zurich, offering a relaxed moment to recharge, connect with fellow participants and meet dedicated Zurich colleagues for informal exchange.
11:25 - 12:05
Panel
The Global Quantum Computing Race: Are Today’s Leaders Tomorrow’s Winners?
- Room 0B
The global race in quantum computing is heating up. This panel will investigate the value proposition of quantum computing and why end-users need to engage today, the impact of fault-tolerant quantum systems, and the integration of quantum computers with HPC and AI as the frontier of business opportunities.
Moderator
Robin Verbruggen
COO, Resonance (The Quantum Insider)
Panelists
Henderson Hsieh
Quanta TW
Daniel Opalka
Head of Unit Research & Innovation, Euro HPC JU
Roman Orus
CoFounder & CSO, Multiverse Computing
Eva Martin Fierro
Head of Innovation, Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech
Estela Vilches
Head of R&D & Digital Innovation, Moeve
Arig Kamalmaz Zahir
AI Engineer, Hospital del Mar Barcelona
12:05 - 12:35
Panel
Quantum Sensing: The First Multi-Billion-Dollar Quantum Industry
- Room 0B
Quantum sensors are already here and working. This session will explore early adoption of quantum sensors in various sectors — including aerospace, biotechnology, automotive and more — and touch on current initiatives to develop next-generation capabilities for critical missions and use cases.
Moderator
Irene Lopez de Vallejo
Head of Business Development, TECNALIA
Speaker
Thomas Strohm
Chief Expert for Quantum Technologies, Bosch Research, President, European Quantum Industry Consortium e.V. (QuIC)
Kyriaki Minoglou
Head of the Optics, Robotics and Life Sciences Division, TEC-MM
Thierry Debuisschert
Senior Expert, Thales Research & Technology
12:30 - 14:00
Side Event
QIA Technology Forum Networking Lunch and Relaunch
- Room 5H Terrace
How do metropolitan quantum networks on the ground connect with future space-based links to form a true quantum internet? What does it take to integrate quantum networking technologies into existing telecom infrastructure? And where does your organisation fit in this system? Join QIA Quantum Internet Alliance on this journey to quantum internet to find some answers.
12:35 - 12:42
Presentation
Update on EG Quantum Communication
Araceli Venegas-Gomez
Araceli Venegas-Gomez, Founder and CEO of QURECA
12:42 - 13:00
Closing Remarks
Reflections of the Day
- Room 0B
Adolfo Morais
Vice Minister for Science, Universities and Innovation, Basque Government
13:00 - 13:05
Closing Plenary
CLOSING REMARKS & TRANSITION TO THE QUANTUM INTERNET ALLIANCE PROGRAMME
- Room 0B
Reflecting on the key takeaways until now, this session will also mark the transition into the afternoon programme, beginning with the lunch break and continuing with the Quantum Internet Alliance stage programme featuring an outstanding line-up of speakers.
Thierry Botter
Executive Director, QuIC European Quantum Industry Consortium
Nerea Martiartu
CEO, Lantik
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch Break
Enjoy a lunch inspired by the Spanish flair of the Basque Country, while taking the time to network and connect with fellow participants.
14:00 - 16:30
PLenary
Quantum Internet Alliance Programme
14:00 - 14:20
Keynote
Why Quantum Networking Matters Now
Speaker
Stephanie Wehner
Director, European Quantum Internet Alliance
14:20 - 15:00
PANEL DISCUSSION
Global Reality Check: The State of Quantum Networking—Progress, Challenges and What’s Next
Moderator
Yasser Omar
PQI President
Panel Members
Stephanie Wehner
Director, European Quantum Internet Alliance
Jing Yan HAW
Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore
Xiao-Hui Bao
University of Science and Technology of China, China
Saikat Guha
Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center for Quantum Networks, United States
15:00 - 15:20
Coffee break
15:20 - 15:40
KEYNOTE
Why Telecoms are Betting on Quantum Networks Now—Not in 10 Years
Speaker
Antonio Manzalini
TIM
15:20 - 16:00
PANEL DISCUSSION
Turning Quantum Networking into Business Reality
Moderator
Stefania Pavel
QIA Innovation Manager
Panel Members
Tom Darras
CEO, Welinq
Mael Flament
CTO, Qunnect
Conor Bradley
CTO, Delft Networks
Samuele Grandi
CEO, ARQ
Remon Berrevoets
Co-Founder and Director of Research Development at Q*Bird
16:00 - 16:10
CLOSING REMARKS
Quantum Networking: Key Takeaways and What Must Happen Next
Moderator
Fokko de Vries
Head of Quantum at Qblox, Quantum Internet Alliance
14:00 - 16:00
Side Event
Challenges & Opportunities for the Spanish Quantum Ecosystem.
Presentación de la Spanish Quantum Alliance
- Room 3A
During this event, we will dive deeper into the objectives and present the main areas of activity and working groups of the newly formed Spanish Quantum Alliance. Organizational aspects will be addressed, including the identification of leadership for the future working groups, as well as a call to action for the coming months.
In addition, we will establish an open dialogue on a highly relevant topic for the DeepTech sector—particularly for quantum technologies in Spain: the challenges and opportunities of innovation within major public procurement initiatives for critical infrastructure, commonly referred to as Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI).
- 14:00 – 14:15 Welcome and Institutional Opening
- 14:15 – 14:45 Panel: Innovation in Public Procurement of Innovation
- 14:45 – 15:30 Spanish Quantum Alliance: Presentation of Objectives, Working Groups, and Q&A
- 15:30 – 16:00 Closing & Networking
16:00 - 17:30
Side Event
Meet Quantum Japan - Industry Pitch Hour
Open Door – No Extra Registration needed
- Room 3B
As part of the activities surrounding Q-Expo, join us for an exclusive side event showcasing leading innovators from Japan’s rapidly advancing quantum ecosystem. “Meet Quantum Japan – Industry Pitch Hour” brings together a distinguished delegation of companies working at the forefront of quantum technology, from hardware and software to applications and enabling platforms. In this fast-paced one-hour session, each company will deliver a concise 6-minute pitch, offering a unique opportunity to discover cutting-edge developments, explore potential collaborations, and gain insight into Japan’s quantum industry landscape.
17:00 - 18:00
Side Event
Pintxo Moment
A relaxed closing to Q-Expo, where guests can taste a selection of pintxos, fostering informal conversations before heading together to the networking dinner at the Guggenheim.
Event Gallery
Impressions of the last Q-Expo
Q-Expo 2025 took place on June 11th and 12th, 2025. It was a Summer festival of quantum in Amsterdam at KIT.
Location
GET DIRECTION TO THE EVENT HALL
Event Venue:
Bilbao, Spain
Address:
Palacio Euskalduna, Abandoibarra Etorb., 4, Bilbao, Spain
