The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) to enhance research and development in this burgeoning field.
This declaration comes as the scientific community marks the centenary of two significant milestones in quantum mechanics: the development of matrix mechanics by Werner Heisenberg, Max Born, and Pascual Jordan, and Erwin Schrödinger's formulation of the Schrödinger equation, which has become fundamental to quantum physics and earned Schrödinger a Nobel Prize.
According to the UN, the year-long celebration will highlight the transformative impacts of quantum science on technology, culture, and our understanding of the natural world.
Thierry Breton, EU Internal Markets Commissioner, emphasised the broad recognition of quantum technologies' potential to drive sustainable and equitable global progress.
Global researchers are pursuing various methods to build a functional quantum computer, a technology poised to revolutionise fields such as climate studies, finance, and medical drug discovery.
Earlier this year, Microsoft and UK-based Quantinuum announced a significant breakthrough, reducing errors in quantum computing experiments and signalling the transition to a more reliable era of resilient quantum computing.
Last month, a research team led by Professor Richard Curry at the University of Manchester achieved a potential breakthrough in using pure silicon for scalable quantum computers.
Dr Yasser Omar, President of the Portuguese Quantum Institute and representative of the Quantum Flagship in IYQ, highlighted Europe’s historical and ongoing leadership in quantum science. He noted that throughout 2025, Europe’s Quantum Flagship initiative will showcase advancements in quantum computing, simulation, communication, sensing, and metrology.
"We eagerly anticipate the International Year of Quantum and the opportunity to engage with society to share and discuss the latest developments in quantum science and technology", Dr Omar said.
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