Think Quantum. Think Austria.
You’re invited to our OPEN AUSTRIA Quantum Panel to discuss Commercialization of Quantum Technologies:
Austria has emerged as a leading European hub for quantum research and technologies. World‑class institutions such as the University of Innsbruck or the Austrian Academy of Sciences are driving innovation from fundamental science to spinning out commercial applications. With one of the world’s highest densities of quantum researchers, cutting‑edge supercomputing capabilities, and initiatives like the Cluster of Excellence “Quantum Science Austria,” Austria actively bridges academia and industry. This vibrant ecosystem positions Austria as a prime destination for global talent and a key player in the international quantum race.
To further foster the exchange between research, industry, and the broader community, we are excited to welcome three panelists working in the field of Quantum Computing to discuss Commercialization of Quantum Technologies:
The panel discussion is moderated by Marissa Ramirez de Chanlatte, PhD from Playground Global.
More information about our panelists:
Dr. Pete Shadbolt is Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of PsiQuantum. After earning his PhD in experimental photonic quantum computing from the University of Bristol in 2014, Pete was a postdoc at Imperial College researching the theory of photonic QC. During his time at Bristol, he demonstrated the first-ever Variational Quantum Eigensolver and the first-ever public API to a quantum processor. He has been awarded: the 2014 EPSRC “Rising Star” by the British Research Council; the EPSRC Recognizing Inspirational Scientists and Engineers Award; and the European Physics Society Thesis Prize.
Univ. Prof. Hannes Pichler, PhD has been a professor of theoretical quantum optics at the University of Innsbruck since 2020 and leads a research group at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on quantum many-body physics and quantum information processing, particularly using neutral Rydberg atoms and photonic systems. He is a member of the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, a recipient of an ERC Starting Grant, and the recipient of the prestigious "New Horizons in Physics"-Prize from the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.
Dr. Florian Neukart, PhD is a leading expert in quantum computing and artificial intelligence, serving as Chief Technology Officer and board member at TerraQuantum, a full-stack provider with end-to-end capabilities in quantum algorithms, computing, and security. In this role, he drives the company’s strategic vision and product development, shaping one of the world’s foremost quantum technology platforms, while also holding a professorship at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science. With over 20 years of experience, he has held senior leadership roles at Volkswagen Group, where he led initiatives in AI, quantum computing, and IT strategy, and advised global organizations such as the World Economic Forum. He combines academic research with industry leadership, contributing to national quantum strategies, authoring influential books, and focusing on bridging cutting-edge science with real-world applications.
Matt Oguz is the founder of Venture Science, a Silicon Valley investment firm that pioneered the application of quantitative decision science to venture capital. Over more than a decade, the firm has backed 85+ companies and produced 15 unicorns across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, longevity science, and space technology. Quantum computing has been a core pillar of Venture Science's deep-tech thesis since 2022. The firm's portfolio includes PsiQuantum, the photonic fault-tolerant quantum computing leader, and Lightmatter, which builds photonic computing platforms for AI workloads. Co-investors across these positions include Fidelity, Temasek, T. Rowe Price, BlackRock, and GV. Matt currently leads Strata Fund, Venture Science's flagship evergreen vehicle, which combines venture capital with public equity and IPO allocations across five AI- and QC-enabled sectors: healthcare and longevity, climate and energy, space technology, advanced manufacturing, and food, water, and waste systems. His investment framework — grounded in Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Bayesian inference, and game-theoretic modeling — is implemented across the firm's proprietary Helix platform.
Marissa Ramirez de Chanlatte, PhD is a deep tech investor and researcher focused on transformative frontier technologies. At Playground Global, she invests across quantum computing, next-generation compute architectures, AI, and robotics. She leads Playground’s Genesis Fund, where she directs the firm’s quantum and advanced compute investment strategy and partnerships in New Mexico. She began her career in high performance computing and computational neutronics, modeling nuclear reactors on the Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She then joined the Applied Numerical Algorithms Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, bridging traditional HPC and numerical methods with state-of-the-art AI.
Join us for a lively discussion on Quantum!
Think Quantum. Think Austria.