Piloting the Quantum Economy Blueprint Lessons from Saudi Arabia 2026

Appendix: Diagnostic questions for Quantum Economy Blueprint implementation The following diagnostic questions translate the operational lessons presented in this paper, enabling systematic self-assessment during blueprint implementation. Designed for national quantum programme teams, policy-makers and technical advisers, these questions guide capability assessment and priority setting. Table 5 addresses operational diagnostic questions for quantum readiness implementation, while Table 6 examines strategic diagnostic questions for national quantum ecosystem development. Operational diagnostic questions for quantum readiness implementation TABLE 5 Operational lesson Diagnostic questions Localization through alignment with national priorities builds the foundation for meaningful progress –Which national priorities would quantum technologies most directly advance, and how has this alignment been validated? –Where do current capability assessments rely on proxy indicators rather than direct measurements of institutional readiness? Phased approach converts uncertainty into manageable progression –What would constitute readiness to progress from planning to implementation in each phase? –Which assumptions embedded in the current roadmap are most vulnerable to near-term technological shifts? Early multistakeholder engagement creates alignment that late- stage coordination cannot achieve –What shared objectives across government, academia and industry remain unarticulated in current coordination structures? –Where do different stakeholder groups hold incompatible assumptions about roles, timelines or resource requirements? Expectation management is as critical as technical planning –What divergent understandings of quantum readiness exist among key stakeholders, and what drives these differences? –How are uncertainties about quantum maturity timelines currently being communicated across institutional boundaries? Strategic diagnostic questions for national quantum ecosystem development TABLE 6 Strategic lesson Diagnostic questions Building a quantum- ready workforce –What specific workforce capabilities are required to execute planned quantum initiatives, and where do current education pathways fail to address these needs? –Which constraint most significantly limits talent pipeline development? Expanding access to quantum hardware and infrastructure –What dependencies in hardware access could delay or constrain planned initiatives, and how have these been stress-tested? –Where do current access strategies rely on single pathways that lack viable alternatives? Bridging the research-to- market gap –What prevents promising quantum research from reaching commercial application, and which barriers require coordinated intervention? –Where do research agendas lack clear connections to strategic applications or market demand? Building shared understanding among decision-makers –What specific strategic objectives drive senior leadership support for quantum initiatives, and how consistently are these articulated? –Which decision-makers essential to quantum strategy success have not yet been meaningfully engaged in shaping priorities? Embedding governance and security from the outset –How do current governance structures ensure that ethical principles translate into operational practice rather than aspirational statements? –What coordination challenges exist in PQC migration, and how do current plans address potential implementation delays? Piloting the Quantum Economy Blueprint 22