QLab Director Norbert Linke explores the transition of quantum technology at Quantum.Tech World 2026
On Thursday, June 25, National Quantum Laboratory (QLab) Director Norbert Linke joined the Nexus X stage at Quantum.Tech World 2026 to discuss the practical realities of deploying advanced quantum capabilities.
The panel discussion, titled "From lab to enterprise, how is emerging tech actually being used?," brought together leaders from government, research, and global enterprise. Moderated by Dr. Fern Watson of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, the session featured Prof. Linke alongside John Licata (Innovation Officer, ServiceNow), Dino Cataldo Dell'Accio (Deputy CEO, UN Joint Staff Pension Fund), Wendy Shaw (Associate Lab Director, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), and Susan Gregurick (Associate Director for Data Science, National Institute of Health).
Navigating the Quantum Landscape
During the discussion, Prof. Linke shared QLab’s perspective on several pivotal issues surrounding quantum commercialization and research translation:
- The Real Utility of NISQ: Addressing the current state of quantum hardware, Prof. Linke evaluated whether noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices are practically useful today, and outlined the distinct benefits organizations gain from early adoption and hands-on experimentation.
- Managing the Hype Cycle: He provided candid insights into where quantum computing currently sits within the technology hype cycle, assessing whether this intense attention ultimately helps or hinders technological development and enterprise adoption.
- Redefining ROI: In an exchange regarding the gap between research and industry, Prof. Linke suggested shifting the traditional "return on investment" metric toward a "return on intelligence". This shift in mindset offers a new way to measure value and address the challenges of translating early-stage scientific research into industrial applications.
- Building the Quantum Ecosystem: Prof. Linke emphasized why cultivating a collaborative community around quantum computing is essential to the field's success, highlighting QLab’s specific strategies and approaches to community building.
A Broader Look at Enterprise Readiness
The panel's focus on practical adoption perfectly mirrored the broader themes of Quantum.Tech World 2026. In addition to questions about current quantum hardware and community ecosystems, the panel addressed the urgent enterprise shift toward post-quantum cryptography, the threat of "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, and the integration of quantum architectures with high-performance computing and AI stacks.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of international collaboration versus competition, the mobilization of the AI community to program quantum computers, and reflections on the recent UNESCO International Year of Quantum Technologies.
QLab’s active participation in these global dialogues reinforces our commitment to not only advancing fundamental quantum science but also shaping the collaborative frameworks necessary to bring it out of the lab and into the real world.