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The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum

10 / 06 / 2024

June 7th, 2024—The United Nations (UN) has officially declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science & Technology (IYQ2025), coinciding with the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics.

A year-long initiative will be observed through activities at all levels to increase public awareness of the importance of quantum science and its applications. The goal is to ensure proper access and improve the national capabilities in quantum technologies.

THE INITIATIVE

Over a century after the initial developments of quantum mechanics, humanity is entering the second quantum revolution with outstanding technological and scientific developments that will impact and shape our societies like never before.
Acknowledging the critical impact of these developments, the scientific community has warned institutions, governmental entities and the general public about the impacts, consequences, and actions to maximise the benefits of such technologies while mitigating the risks.

In 2021, The American Physical Society (APS) sent the proposal to the United Nations, endorsed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and the German Physical Society GPS) and many other supporting institutions. An initiative that sparked the proposal to mark 2025 as the International Year of Quantum, as already done with the International Years of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements (2019), Light and Light-based Technologies (2015), and Crystallography (2014).

In May 2023, led by the nation of Mexico, the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO= endorsed the resolution encouraging official UN proclamation, followed by an endorsement of the entire UNESCO General Conference in November 2023, which was co-sponsored by nearly 60 countries.

Later the same year, in November, a General Assembly of Key Quantum Stakeholders, including LuxQuanta, took place in Barcelona, where key members of the industry and academia gathered to discuss and prepare a list of insights and initiatives to consider for 2025 as the year of quantum. The goal was to agree on common points, challenges and needs in policymaking and different technologies to receive the needed support from the UN and be able to stimulate them.
As part of it, all the stakeholders from industry and academia signed an open letter to endorse the initiative and support the resolution. 

Quantum Key Stakeholder Assembly with representants from LuxQuanta. November 2023. 

In May 2024, Ghana formally submitted a draft resolution to the U.N. General Assembly for the official proclamation of the International Year. Sixty countries co-sponsored the resolution before its approval.

On June 7, 2024, the U.N. General Assembly officially declared 2025 The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
 

The Importance of Quantum Physics in Society

The term "Quantum" has suffered from a great societal misunderstanding, excluding its experts. It is an overused and many times wrongly used term in sci-fi movies and books, used as a mystical term to explain non-scientific theories and new age beliefs without any scientific base, and has been generally seen as an overcomplicated and impossible-to-understand topic for the general audience.

However, quantum mechanics is central to our understanding of the physical universe, from subatomic particles' behaviour to galaxies' distribution in the cosmos. Even more, the pillars of our current society are built on quantum mechanics, being the basis for technologies like the laser or the transistor and key in areas such as chemistry or life science, with profound impact on our society and economy.

Now, we are entering what is known as the Second Quantum Revolution, in which outstanding technologies such as Quantum Computing, Sensing, and Cryptography, to name a few, will revolutionise all sectors. Joe Niemela, Chair-Elect of the APS Forum on International Physics (2021), said:

"This is an opportunity to work together with partners worldwide to raise global awareness of the enormous current impact and future promise of quantum science and technology in addressing critical challenges, including energy, communications, pharmacology and climate change,”
“Promoting science education, outreach, and relevant technologies that can improve the quality of life of citizens everywhere, including remote regions off the grid, is also a wonderful opportunity to emphasise the role of science as a common good for all humanity." 


2025: The Quantum Year

The IYQ2025 will allow any individual, group, school, institution, or government to use 2025 to increase awareness about quantum science and technology, particularly those that reach audiences unaware of its importance.

The most important step in finding new insights and new solutions will be inspiring young people, drawn from all over the world, to be the next generation of quantum pioneers who see beyond the surfaces and screens around them and use quantum science to make a positive difference in the lives of others. This International Year is an opportunity for young people — and curious people of any age — to learn more about how quantum science underpins the physical world, drives technological innovation, affects government policies, impacts the global economy, and influences art and culture.

LuxQuanta, a leading manufacturer in Quantum Key Distribution, will contribute to spreading the word and collaborate with key events to support and disseminate the importance of quantum technologies to all audiences.

"Throughout next year, projects from Europe’s Quantum Flagship initiative working on quantum computing, simulation, communication, sensing and metrology will be showcasing their results. We now look forward to the upcoming International Year of Quantum and the opportunity to engage with society throughout the year to disseminate and discuss the latest developments in Quantum Science and Technology“ Said Yasser, President of PQI – Portuguese Quantum Institute, representing the Quantum Flagship in IYQ.


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