CQIS 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the Cognitive Quantum Intelligence Summit 2026 at The Royal Institution, London, 22–23 October 2026.

The Cognitive Quantum Intelligence Summit 2026 (CQIS 2026) is a strictly capped, vetting-gated two-day summit convening 180 of the world's most consequential minds in cognitive AI, quantum computing, and GeoEconomic intelligence. It is held at The Royal Institution, London, on 22–23 October 2026, and is organised by the mayaNess Society.

CQIS 2026 is not a commercial conference. There are no vendor exhibits, no sponsor pitches, and no open registration. Every delegate is individually assessed before admission. The Summit is designed for depth of engagement, not breadth of attendance.

CQIS 2026 is organised by the mayaNess Society — the world's first Society for Cognitive Command, Synchronicity, and Sovereignty. The Society was founded by Maya Suresh Kannan, CIO, Fund Manager, and inventor of the mayaNomics™ and mayaNess™ frameworks.

• Day 1: Thursday, 22 October 2026 — 08:30 to 18:15 BST
• VIP Gala Dinner: Thursday, 22 October 2026 — 18:30 BST (Founding Sovereign and Executive Delegate pass holders)
• Day 2: Friday, 23 October 2026 — 09:30 to 12:30 BST

The Summit covers three thematic pillars:

1. Post-LLM Architecture and Agentic AI — causal reasoning AI, world models, neurosymbolic AI, large action models, agentic AI deployment, Algorithm Drift, and the BAPNA Engine
2. Quantum Computing and Cognitive Intelligence — fault-tolerant quantum computing, quantum error correction, silicon photonics, neuromorphic chips, quantum-classical hybrid architectures, and post-quantum cryptography
3. GeoEconomic Intelligence and Cognitive Sovereignty — national AI sovereignty frameworks, the Silicon Curtain, Collective Synchronicity Protocols, and the geopolitical implications of the AI and quantum transition

CQIS 2026 is not exclusively academic. It is designed for researchers, executives, policymakers, and technologists who are operating at the cognitive frontier — people who are actively shaping the post-algorithmic era, not merely studying it. Academic researchers, enterprise practitioners, government officials, and capital principals are all represented in the delegate cohort.

CQIS 2026 does accept paper and speaker submissions from researchers and practitioners. See the Submit page for details.

CQIS 2026 is held at The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS.

The Royal Institution is one of the world's most storied scientific institutions, founded in 1799. It has hosted the discoveries of Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday, and James Dewar, and continues to operate as an independent charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. The Faraday Lecture Theatre — where Faraday himself delivered his famous Christmas Lectures — is the primary venue for CQIS 2026 plenary sessions.

The Royal Institution is located in Mayfair, central London, a short walk from Green Park Underground station (Jubilee, Victoria, and Piccadilly lines). It is also accessible from Bond Street (Central and Elizabeth lines) and Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines).

The nearest major rail terminus is London Victoria (approximately 20 minutes by Underground). London Heathrow Airport is approximately 45 minutes by the Elizabeth line.

The Royal Institution does not have dedicated parking. The nearest public car parks are in Mayfair and St James's. Delegates are strongly encouraged to use public transport.

The Royal Institution is accessible to delegates with mobility requirements. Please indicate any accessibility requirements when completing your delegate application, and the CQIS 2026 team will ensure appropriate arrangements are made.

Three delegate pass tiers are available, each subject to individual vetting and approval:

All prices are exclusive of VAT. UK VAT (20%) will be added at checkout.

Standard Delegate Pass includes:

• Full access to both conference days (22–23 October)
• All plenary sessions and breakout tracks
• Delegate materials and proceedings
• Lunch and refreshments on both days

Executive Delegate Pass includes everything in Standard Delegate, plus:

• Priority seating in plenary sessions
• Access to the Executive Delegate networking lounge
• Invitation to the VIP Gala Dinner on 22 October

Founding Sovereign Pass includes everything in Executive Delegate, plus:

• Permanent recognition as a Founding Sovereign of CQIS — the inaugural cohort
• Reserved seating in the Faraday Lecture Theatre
• Private briefing with the mayaNess Society leadership team
• Founding Sovereign certificate and commemorative materials

A 30% discount is available on all pass tiers for applications approved before 22 August 2026. Early bird pricing is applied automatically at checkout for approved applications received before the deadline.

Early bird pricing closes at midnight BST on 22 August 2026. Applications submitted after this date will be charged at standard pricing.

Group applications (three or more delegates from the same organisation) are considered on a case-by-case basis. Contact the CQIS 2026 team via the application form to discuss group arrangements.

All prices are quoted in British Pounds Sterling (GBP). Payment is processed in GBP. International delegates will be charged in GBP; currency conversion is handled by your payment provider.

Applications are submitted via the CQIS 2026 Apply page. The application form collects information about your professional background, domain expertise, and the specific aspects of the Summit programme most relevant to your work.

The Sovereign Reality Filter is the mayaNess Society's structured prequalification process for CQIS 2026 delegate applications. It assesses three dimensions:

1. Domain depth — genuine expertise in at least one of the Summit's three thematic pillars
2. Strategic orientation — the capacity to think at the level of systems, not just components
3. Cognitive sovereignty — the disposition to direct AI systems rather than be directed by them

The Filter is designed to ensure that every delegate in the room is operating at the cognitive frontier. Applications that do not meet the Filter's criteria are declined.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Most applicants receive a decision within five to seven business days of submitting a complete application. During peak application periods (particularly in the weeks before the early bird deadline), review times may be longer.

Yes. CQIS 2026 is a vetting-gated event. Applications that do not meet the Sovereign Reality Filter criteria will be declined. The mayaNess Society does not provide detailed feedback on declined applications.

Approved applicants receive an email with a link to complete their delegate registration and payment. Payment must be completed within seven days of approval to secure your place. Places are allocated on a first-paid basis among approved applicants.

Yes. The 180-delegate cap is firm and will not be increased. Given the format and venue of CQIS 2026, the cap is a design feature, not a constraint. Places are expected to be fully allocated well in advance of the event date.

A detailed programme schedule is available at mayaness.org/events/cqis-2026/schedule. The schedule includes session titles, track assignments, and timing for both conference days.

Yes. CQIS 2026 is accepting submissions from researchers and practitioners working at the frontier of cognitive AI, quantum computing, and GeoEconomic intelligence. Submissions are reviewed by the CQIS 2026 Programme Committee.

Submit via mayaness.org/events/cqis-2026/submit.

CQIS 2026 is a closed, off-the-record event. Sessions are not recorded or livestreamed. This is a deliberate design choice: the closed format enables the candid, unguarded conversations that make CQIS 2026 worth attending.

Selected proceedings and summaries will be published after the event for delegate access only.

CQIS 2026 is conducted entirely in English.

The VIP Gala Dinner is a private dinner at The Royal Institution on the evening of 22 October 2026, for Founding Sovereign and Executive Delegate pass holders. It begins at 18:30 BST, immediately following the close of Day 1.

The Gala is designed for the conversations that cannot happen in a conference room: unguarded, unrecorded, and consequential. Seating is limited to the Founding Sovereign and Executive Delegate cohort.

The VIP Gala Dinner is included in the Founding Sovereign and Executive Delegate passes. It is not included in the Standard Delegate pass.

A limited number of institutional sponsorship positions are available for organisations whose work is directly relevant to the Summit's thematic pillars. CQIS 2026 does not accept commercial exhibit sponsorships.

Sponsorship enquiries: mayaness.org/events/cqis-2026/sponsors

CQIS 2026 is a professional event. Business or smart casual attire is appropriate for both conference days. The VIP Gala Dinner on the evening of 22 October is a formal occasion; black tie or equivalent is encouraged.

Lunch and refreshments are provided on both conference days. The VIP Gala Dinner on the evening of 22 October is a full dinner for Founding Sovereign and Executive Delegate pass holders.

Dietary requirements can be indicated on your delegate registration form.

The Royal Institution is located in Mayfair, one of London's most central neighbourhoods. There are numerous hotels within walking distance, ranging from boutique properties to major international chains. The CQIS 2026 team does not have a formal hotel partnership but can provide recommendations on request.

For questions not answered in this FAQ, please use the contact form at mayaness.org or submit your enquiry via the delegate application form.

CQIS 2026 is organised by the mayaNess Society. For full event details, visit mayaness.org/events/cqis-2026.