Munich, 29 April 2026 — QBN is pleased to announce the appointment of the co-chairs of its newly established Working Group International Policy & Business (WG IPB). The WG IPB co-chairs will steer the Working Group’s direction, shape its priorities, and represent the WG IPB in its engagement with industry, policy and the quantum ecosystem.
The three co-chairs Milja Kalliosaari, Government Relations Manager, IQM Quantum Computers, Tim Leonhardt, Vice President Business Development & Partner Management, eleQtron and Ulrich Mans bring together deep expertise in quantum technologies, strategic partnerships, and international policy ensuring the WG IPB’s value creation and impact.
“The most competitive technology ecosystems are rarely accidental. They are the product of deliberate policy, close government-industry collaboration, and a shared willingness to take risk. Getting that relationship right is increasingly a condition for staying relevant.” stated Milja Kalliosaari.
“Europe’s current deep tech agenda is flawed. It currently overstates future capability and underestimates the need to be strategic about global interdependencies. This working group is about fixing this for quantum. We want to define what smart collaboration looks like in practice – where European strengths are amplified through trusted international partnerships.” says Ulrich Mans.
About WG IPB Co-Chairs
Milja Kalliosaari, Government Relations Manager, IQM Quantum Computers, leads government relations at IQM Quantum Computers, driving policy engagement across Europe and monitoring global technological developments. She has contributed to the Finnish National Quantum Strategy, serves as Finland’s National Delegate to the NATO Transatlantic Quantum Community, and participates in committees shaping EU and Finnish digitalization policy. She is recognised as an expert in bridging public agencies and the private sector to translate policy into actionable outcomes for the innovation ecosystem.
Tim Leonhardt, Vice President Business Development & Partner Management, eleQtron, hHolds a Master’s degree from RWTH Aachen University in solid-state physics, with a focus on quantum computation and information and the physics of nanostructures, as well as a PhD in physics on semiconductor qubits in nanofabrication and Sci. Setup/System. Prior to his current role, he worked as a Technology Innovation Manager at Accenture, bringing experience at the intersection of quantum technologies and industrial application.
Ulrich Mans brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of international relations, high-tech ecosystems, and innovation policy. He played a central role in leading partnership development and the international strategy for Quantum Delta NL, Dutch national quantum technology programme – including the establishment of the world’s first commercial House of Quantum. He is widely recognised for advancing the European quantum community and pushing for a proactive approach in view of technological sovereignty, economic security and resilient supply chains. He combines a strong background in innovation policy with hands-on experience in building multi-stakeholder collaborations across government, industry, and research networks.
About Working Group International Policy & Business (WG IPB)
QBN WG IPB starts from a provocative premise: Europe must stop playing defence and start building the industrial champions, joint infrastructures, and trusted value chains that make us a partner of choice. As the trusted, member-driven, the WG IPB strives for positioning Europe as a leading force in the emerging quantum economy by shaping a globally aligned policy framework. We aim to support strategic autonomy and sovereign infrastructure while catalysing the international collaborations that secure market access and competitiveness for our members.
More on: https://qbn.world/home/working-groups/wg-international-policy-business/
Contact us to get involved: https://qbn.world/home/contact/
