Episode 124: Vijoy Pandey on Quantum Networking & Cisco’s Quantum Software Stack

In Episode 124 of Entangled Things, Patrick is joined by Vijoy Pandey, Senior Vice President of Outshift by Cisco. Together, they explore the future of quantum networking, the power of entanglement, and how these breakthroughs will shape the next generation of technology. Vijoy also shares an exciting announcement: the launch of Cisco’s Quantum Software Stack.

Want to dive deeper? Don’t miss the Cisco Quantum Summit, happening September 30 and October 1: https://research.cisco.com/quantum-summit.

Vijoy Pandey is GM and Senior Vice President of Outshift by Cisco, leading the company's internal incubation engine that delivers what's next and new for Cisco. Outshift focuses on emerging technologies that target adjacent markets and personas, with current initiatives spanning AI-enabled infrastructure, quantum networking, and next-generation infrastructure solutions.

Outshift operates as a series of startup-like teams inside Cisco, rapidly validating which emerging technologies can become meaningful businesses for the company's future. Under Vijoy's leadership, these teams work across three key layers: agentic AI, next-gen infrastructure, quantum networking, and more. This model allows Outshift to move quickly and test multiple opportunities simultaneously while leveraging Cisco's enterprise strengths and established processes.

Vijoy oversees a broader strategic scope that includes several critical Cisco-wide initiatives. He also leads Cisco Research, driving foundational research across quantum networking, security, observability, and emerging technologies. He directs Cisco's Open Source initiatives and the Developer Network (DevNet), which leads API consistency and programmability across Cisco's portfolio while pioneering AI-native infrastructure tools. Additionally, he co-chairs Cisco's Responsible AI committee.

Vijoy holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Davis, and is an inventor on over 80 patents in cloud computing, AI/ML, and distributed systems. Through his leadership of Outshift, Vijoy continues to guide Cisco's exploration of emerging technologies, ensuring the company can move quickly to capture opportunities in new markets before they fully mature.