Brett Makens, Senior Manager for Strategic Partnerships at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, provided an Industry & Workforce Perspectives for the Novo Nordic Foundation as part of the "The Chips Acts and Beyond" special program during Quantum World Congress 2024.

Brett formally joined NNF in August 2024 and will support ongoing and new NNF engagements in the United States across all program areas. Prior to joining NNF, Brett was a U.S. diplomat serving in Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, and Switzerland where he focused much of his career on science and technology policy. He holds a JD/MA from the University of Denver and a BA in International Affairs from Michigan State University.

This special high-level working session at QWC24 highlighted national visions and initiatives that aim to scale manufacturing, strengthen global supply chains, and accelerate the critical sectors that include quantum and quantum-adjacent industries. The session with feature talks by global leaders from USA, UK, EU and Japan, perspectives from key industry cooperations including IBM, NVIDIA, and DIRAQ, followed by breakouts with the attendees.

The conversation is tailored for industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers seeking to understand the latest thinking across the world and exchange ideas for scalable and secure commercialization as we seek to work at the convergence of quantum with adjacent fields and other cutting-edge technologies. Prepare to engage in deep discussions, build strategic partnerships, and learn how to navigate advancements in the global marketplace.

The session covered: the transformative opportunities and regulatory implications of national investments such as the US CHIPS and Science Act and the EU Chips Act; optimizing and securing supply chains in quantum and adjacent technologies; and strengthening cross-border partnerships.

To learn more about Quantum World Congress, please visit quantumworldcongress.com