Switzerland has announced it will broaden its export controls to encompass a range of dual-use emerging technologies, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and additive manufacturing. The move is intended to align Swiss export policies with international standards and reflects growing global concern over the potential military and national security applications of quantum and other advanced technologies. The government plans to issue a detailed list specifying the controlled items in the near future.
The decision follows similar regulatory steps taken by the United States and the European Union. In September 2024, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) implemented new export controls targeting quantum computers, related components, materials, software, and development tools. These controls were introduced through a rule published in the Federal Register and included a delayed enforcement period for some quantum-related items. The regulation also established a license exception for countries with equivalent safeguards. France followed in early 2024, updating its national control list under EU Regulation 2021/821 to cover systems with functional qubits and associated infrastructure such as cryogenic and control systems.
Swiss authorities emphasize that the revised controls aim to prevent the misuse of sensitive technologies while preserving Switzerland’s ability to innovate. The country’s research institutions and high-tech industries are expected to maintain access to critical technologies through a compliance framework that balances security and scientific openness. This dual objective—technological competitiveness and national defense—is a recurring theme in emerging international policy.
Switzerland’s inclusion of quantum computing in its export regime is part of a larger global pattern. Dual-use items such as quantum processors, cryogenic cooling systems, specialized control electronics, and certain quantum software now fall under scrutiny in many jurisdictions. Export control frameworks are evolving in parallel with advances in quantum technology, with regulators attempting to anticipate future risk without impeding beneficial development.
As more countries adopt quantum-specific export rules, an internationally coordinated structure is beginning to take shape. Switzerland’s move reinforces this momentum, demonstrating a preference for alignment with multilateral standards over the development of autonomous control policies. The result may be a more predictable compliance environment for researchers and companies navigating the quantum supply chain.
Read more about Switzerland’s announcement and the global trend in quantum export controls here.
April 4, 2025
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