QN4QA

The Importance of Quantum Networking Testbeds

Quantum networking represents a fundamental extension of quantum information science, enabling quantum states and entanglement to be distributed between physically separated devices. These capabilities provide the foundation for applications ranging from quantum-secure communication and distributed quantum computing to networked quantum sensing. However, realizing these applications requires more than the development of individual quantum devices or communication protocols. It requires the integration of heterogeneous hardware, photonic interfaces, communication infrastructure, synchronization systems, and distributed control architectures into coordinated networks.

A central challenge in this effort is bridging the gap between individual laboratory demonstrations and scalable network implementations. Quantum networking protocols often impose demanding requirements on photon indistinguishability, entanglement fidelity, quantum memory efficiency, timing synchronization, and optical channel stability. When these systems are distributed across multiple locations, additional challenges emerge involving device compatibility, resource coordination, network management, and the reliable execution of experiments across geographically separated nodes.

Quantum networking testbeds provide the experimental and systems-level environment needed to address these challenges. By integrating quantum devices with deployed communication infrastructure and programmable network-control systems, testbeds allow researchers to evaluate protocols under realistic operating conditions, investigate the limitations of existing technologies, and develop architectures that can accommodate increasingly complex experiments.

The workshop will explore this transition from foundational quantum networking research toward integrated, multi-node systems. Particular emphasis will be placed on the relationship between quantum protocols, physical infrastructure, experimental demonstrations, and network-level applications. By bringing together researchers across these disciplines, we aim to identify the technical milestones, shared infrastructure, and collaborative approaches needed to advance quantum networks from experimental demonstrations toward useful quantum services.

We invite original research contributions addressing the fundamental science, enabling technologies, experimental demonstrations, and emerging applications of quantum networks.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Quantum communication protocols and entanglement distribution.

• Quantum memories and quantum repeater architectures.

• Photonic technologies and quantum interfaces.

• Quantum network infrastructure and synchronization.

• Network control, orchestration, and interoperability.

• Reconfigurable quantum networking testbeds.

• Experimental multi-node quantum networking.

• Memory-assisted networking and entanglement swapping.

• Distributed quantum computing and networked sensing.

• Quantum networking benchmarks and demonstrations of quantum advantage.

Contributions from both academic and industrial researchers are encouraged, particularly work that bridges theoretical developments with experimental implementation and network-scale integration.

Submission link through EasyChair: easychair.org

Submission Instructions: Make an EasyChair account (if you don't have one), under "make a new submission" choose the "International Workshop on Quantum Networks for Quantum Advantage" track

Submission Templates: https://www.ieee.org/conferences/publishing/templates

Submission DEADLINE: DECEMBER 20, 2026, 11:59 PM EST (UTC-5:00)