Italian Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, with responsibility for technological innovation and digital transition, Alessio Butti kicked off his US mission in New York with quantum technology at the center of the agenda, opening a three-stop trip aimed at strengthening Italy-US cooperation on strategic technologies.
The mission will continue in North Carolina, with a focus on research, before moving to Washington for its political and institutional leg.
Butti described the itinerary as connecting three centers — New York for the economy, North Carolina for research and Washington for politics and institutions — around a common technology agenda.
Why it matters: Quantum cooperation is emerging as a potential pillar of the Italy-US technology relationship, linking scientific research, industrial capabilities and operational applications.
- For Italy, the challenge is not simply gaining access to US technology, but turning its own scientific expertise, universities and industrial base into a stronger technological capability.
Zoom in: NY. At the New York Stock Exchange, during IonQ’s Investor Day, Butti met IonQ chairman and CEO Niccolò de Masi and the company’s leadership.
- The talks focused, according to Butti, on Italy’s “quantum ambition” and on building an ecosystem connecting investment, talent, institutions, universities and businesses.
- IonQ is already part of the Q-Alliance, an initiative promoted by the Italian government to connect companies, universities, research centers and institutions around the development of quantum technologies.
The big picture: Rome wants Italy to become one of Europe’s leading hubs for quantum technologies. Its national strategy covers quantum computing, communications and security, sensing, research, skills and industrial development.
- Butti explains the clear complementarity between the two countries: the United States brings technological leadership and entrepreneurial strength, while Italy brings scientific excellence, engineering talent, universities and industrial capabilities. The aim is to turn those strengths into new opportunities for research, growth and innovation.
Between the lines: The challenge extends well beyond increasing qubit counts. Building quantum capabilities also means focusing on computation quality and error correction, quantum-HPC integration, testbeds, software, sensing and secure communications, as well as reliable supply chains for photonics, cryogenics and electronics.
- Security is another part of the equation. The migration toward post-quantum cryptography will need to move alongside the development of quantum capabilities, particularly for government systems and critical infrastructure.
The Q-Alliance test: The initiative could become a key vehicle if it develops into an execution mechanism: measurable objectives, access to computing capacity, joint university-industry programs, pre-commercial procurement and pathways to retain talent.
The transatlantic angle: Cooperation with the United States can strengthen Italian technological autonomy through reciprocity and co-development.
- In this framework, quantum sovereignty does not mean autarky. It means having the ability to choose partners, protect critical knowledge and participate in setting standards.
What they’re saying: For Butti, success will ultimately be measured by outcomes rather than technology alone.
- “The value of quantum will be measured by the problems it can solve, the productivity it can generate, the knowledge it can expand and the opportunities it can offer citizens.”
What we’re watching: After New York’s financial and industrial focus, the mission moves to North Carolina for its research leg and then to Washington for political and institutional talks.
- These are important days for the shared objective between Rome and Washington.
- The key test will be whether Italian science and US industrial scale can be turned into a shared and durable quantum capability.
(Photo: LinkedIn, Alessio Butti)
