QLab Director Norbert Linke discusses quantum technology at Quantum.Tech World 2026

On Thursday, June 25, National Quantum Laboratory (QLab) Director Norbert Linke took the stage at Quantum.Tech World 2026  to discuss the practicalities of deploying advanced quantum systems.

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 issues surrounding quantum commercialization and research translation:

• The Utility of NISQ: Addressing the current state of quantum hardware, Prof. Linke evaluated whether noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices are practically useful today, highlighting their use as essential to scaling future quantum processors and training the quantum workforce of the future.
• Managing the Hype Cycle: He provided candid insights into where quantum computing currently sits within the technology hype cycle, assessing whether the intense attention ultimately helps or hinders technological development and enterprise adoption.
• 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 approach to community building by providing access to quantum systems in a “Quantum for All” approach.

A Broader Look at Enterprise Readiness

The panel's focus on practical adoption 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.