G7 Industry, Technology and Digital Ministers adopted a ministerial declaration on March 15, 2024, following their meeting in Verona and Trento, Italy. The declaration contained the first dedicated section on quantum technologies in a G7 ministerial document, spanning multiple paragraphs on R&D cooperation, standards development, and workforce considerations.
Ministers acknowledged that “quantum technologies can increasingly become part of the economic landscape” and recognized the potential of quantum computing to drive breakthroughs in chemistry, materials, and physics. The declaration called for the development and adoption of international technical standards, including pre-standardization activities such as benchmarking, terminology, and metrics, to support interoperability among quantum devices.
On workforce, ministers recognized “the benefits of sharing information among G7 countries to promote the development of human resources and the sharing of technical knowledge” toward the industrial adoption of quantum technologies. They welcomed efforts by G7 Science and Technology Ministers to explore skills needed for the quantum workforce and collaboration between academia and industry. The meeting was co-chaired by Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and Undersecretary for Technological Innovation, Alessio Butti.