Latvia’s Cabinet of Ministers approved funding of up to €250,000 ($280,000) from the Ministry of Defence budget to support the Quantum Information Processing (QIP) 2026 conference and related defence-sector quantum activities. The University of Latvia, in cooperation with the Latvian Quantum Initiative, was selected to host QIP 2026 in Riga from January 24 to January 30, 2026. QIP is the world’s largest annual conference in the field of quantum information processing, expected to convene more than 800 scientists and industry representatives.
According to Labs of Latvia, the Ministry of Defence co-funding was designated for two purposes: organizing a preliminary event dedicated to the application of quantum technologies in the defence sector, and developing a quantum technology development strategy tailored to the ministry’s needs.
Minister of Defence Andris Spruds stated that quantum technologies are among the scientific and research fields prioritized for development in Latvia’s defence sector. Professor Andris Ambainis, head of the Latvian Quantum Initiative, said the conference selection reflected high international recognition of Latvia’s work in quantum algorithms over the preceding 15 years.