Switzerland Expands Export Controls to Include Quantum Technologies, Aligning with U.S. and EU Measures

Insider Brief:

• Switzerland will expand its export controls to include dual-use emerging technologies such as quantum computing, AI, semiconductors, and additive manufacturing.

• The move reflects a global trend toward regulating quantum technologies, following similar actions by the U.S. and France that target quantum processors, cryogenic systems, and other sensitive components.

• Swiss policy prioritizes both security and access, balancing the prevention of misuse with the need to maintain technological competitiveness in research and industry.

According to a recent post from Reuters, Switzerland has announced plans to broaden its export control framework to cover a range of dual-use emerging technologies, including quantum computing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing. According to a government statement also reported by Reuters, the change is intended to ensure that Swiss export practices remain aligned with international standards while maintaining access to essential technologies for domestic industry and research institutions.

Dual-use goods—technologies that can be applied in both civilian and military contexts—have been subject to increased scrutiny over the past year as their strategic importance grows. In quantum computing, such controls typically focus on quantum processors, control electronics, cryogenic systems, and software or algorithms with potential cryptographic applications. While specific items subject to regulation in Switzerland have not yet been detailed, the government plans to publish an official list.

Global Trend Toward Quantum Export Controls

The new measures reflect a broader international trend toward tightening oversight of advanced technologies. As noted in a previous update from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, similar controls were introduced in the United States in late 2023 through an interim final rule. That rule placed restrictions on quantum computers, components, and development tools with potential military or national security implications, while creating a license exception for countries implementing equivalent controls.

The BIS framework emphasizes international coordination. “Aligning our controls on quantum and other advanced technologies makes it significantly more difficult for our adversaries to develop and deploy these technologies in ways that threaten our collective security,” said Alan Estevez, Under Secretary for BIS, in a previous statement.

Switzerland’s update also mirrors France’s move in February 2024, when it enacted a national control list based on EU Regulation 2021/821. The French framework regulates systems with controlled, functional qubits and associated components, an example of the increasing granularity of export governance over quantum technologies.

Balancing Security with Innovation

While some international frameworks, such as the AUKUS alliance between Australia, the U.S., and the U.K., have relaxed export restrictions among trusted partners to accelerate defense-oriented R&D, Switzerland’s decision represents a more traditional approach in prioritizing alignment, access control, and compliance infrastructure.

The Swiss government emphasized that its revised policy seeks not only to prevent misuse of sensitive technologies but also to safeguard Swiss research and industry’s ability to access and develop critical innovations. This dual objective—security and competitiveness—is becoming a central theme across many national approaches to regulating quantum and emerging technologies.

As additional countries adopt or refine export control regimes, a more unified global approach to managing the movement of dual-use innovation is beginning to form.