May 21, 2025
Quantum technologies are quickly becoming part of the UAE’s strategy to lead in innovation and future industries.
As part of the national Make it in the Emirates 2025 event in Abu Dhabi, on May 21, XPANSE hosted a powerhouse quantum panel, "Quantum: Why? Where? When?", exploring the UAE’s strategic investments in quantum technologies, and what it will take to lead this next frontier.
Dr. Zina Cinker, Chief Creator and Director General at MATTER, moderated a high-stakes conversation with leaders from energy, finance, and deep tech on why they’re investing in quantum now - and how it’s accelerating the UAE’s national strategy.
Highlights from the panel:
Sophie Hildebrand (CTO, ADNOC) outlined ADNOC’s investment in quantum sensing to enhance subsurface imaging and carbon storage. With operations planned decades ahead, ADNOC is working with local partners like the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to build in-country capabilities.
“This isn’t about following trends, it’s about shaping the future of energy with the tools that will matter most.”
Janne Hirvimies (CTO, QuantumGate) emphasized the urgency of post-quantum cryptography to protect banking, digital identity, and communications infrastructure before current encryption methods become obsolete.
Prof. Nathalie Martial-Braz (Chancellor, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi) spotlighted SUAD’s unique position as the only university in the UAE offering a bachelor’s specialization in quantum physics, preparing future leaders in a talent-scarce field.
The takeaway?
Quantum is not just a research domain, it’s a cross-sector strategy. From energy resilience and cybersecurity to education and infrastructure, the UAE is positioning itself to lead from the front.
Dr. Zina Cinker, Chief Creator of XPANSE, moderated a high-stakes conversation with leaders from energy, finance, and deep tech on why they’re investing in quantum now - and how it’s accelerating the UAE’s national strategy.
MATTER - parent company of XPANSE - had the honor of partnering with H.E. Arthur Mattli, Swiss Ambassador to the UAE, for the reception of Switzerland’s high-level scientific delegation to Abu Dhabi and contributing from its network to a guest list of select scientists and institutional leaders from the UAE’s academic and innovation ecosystem.
During Dr. Cinker’s fireside chat with Dr. Merritt Moore, they explored the dynamic intersection of creativity, science, and the arts, bridging these disciplines to open new opportunities for strategic connections, innovation, and cultural expression
A dedicated bioengineer trying to develop innovative translational medical devices for better healthcare in the future.
In collaboration with Art Proxima by MATTER, Jan Loop, Professor of Early Modern History and Religious Cultures at University of Copenhagen and Dr. Reto Sorg, Lecturer in Modern German Literature, University of Lausanne, the 2nd edition of the “XPANSE in the Desert” workshop took place on April 16.
I am a quantum enthusiast with a passion for politics, and a hopeless idealist dedicated wholeheartedly to the Quantum Social Lab - where science meets society, and curiosity meets creativity.
As a bioacoustician, I have dedicated my work to exploring how sounds from Nature can help us better understand and protect wildlife and restore biodiversity.
Dr. Graham Lau is an astrobiologist, meditation guide, science communicator, and writer with a vision for exploring the cosmos and building the future of our civilization here on Earth.
I am, at heart, an explorer driven by an insatiable curiosity to venture where no one has gone before, whether that’s unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos or tackling profound questions about the origin of life and the nature of consciousness.
In partnership with NYU Abu Dhabi, MATTER brought together new media artists from our initiative, ART Proxima, and desert scholars from NYU Abu Dhabi for the “XPANSE in the Desert” Workshop, in preparation tp the next theme of XPANSE 2nd Edition - The Desert.
In partnership with Layers of Reality at IDEAL Barcelona, 3rd MATTER Annual Meet-Up was held, bringing together MATTERSPHERE, XPANSE, and PUZZLE X partners & friends.
XPANSE advisory council members and key partners gathered for an evening of deep discussion on the next theme of XPANSE 2nd Edition and the desert’s profound significance.
I am curious guy working and learning in science, technology and commercial development.
In my whole career as a biophysicist, brain scientist and now as biotechnologist, I have always been most productive at the interface between science - exploring and understanding – and Technology - designing and building.
I am a dedicated materials scientist passionate about pioneering advancements in smart and sustainable materials that will redefine industries and improve everyday life.
I’m a mathematician who got lost and ended up finding interesting questions in physics and philosophy and spends a lot of time thinking about the universe.
Professor Yahya Zweiri, Department of Aerospace Engineering, and Director of the Advanced Research & Innovation Center (ARIC) at Khalifa University, UAE.
I’m a computational scientist on a mission to push the boundaries of knowledge using the unmatched power of supercomputers and simulation
I am a scientist. With over 15 years of experience in quantum photonics labs, and a passion for the Space sector, I focus on merging the best of both worlds to enhance our everyday life.
I am a scientist. With over 15 years of experience in quantum photonics labs, and a passion for the Space sector, I focus on merging the best of both worlds to enhance our everyday life.
I am the founder and CEO of Cortical Labs. I was previously the CTO and founder of a medtech company making Internet-connected medical devices called CliniCloud. Before CliniCloud, I was a medical doctor doing my residency in Emergency Medicine. I am also a software developer and have worked on apps and machine learning research.
I am a Space scientist. Whatever flies in outer Space, I am in!
My name is Arben Merkoçi and I am ICREA Professor and Group Leader at Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, ICN2, in Barcelona.
I am a Materials Scientist and currently serve as the Group Leader of the Nanofabrication and Devices Group at the Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory.
Since I was five years old I have been fascinated by using computers to extend human capabilities. My company makes a platform that supports this goal and then we use this platform to implement solutions for companies around the world. (You could say I support human augmentation / cyborgification).
I am a neurobiologist working to understand how the human brain is built in health and disease.
I am a materials science researcher who is fascinated by challenges in Space that are cross-cutting and are useful on earth as well.