United Nations proclaims 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology

It’s official: 2025 will be the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). The United Nations approved on 7 June a resolution for the year-long celebration.

The worldwide initiative will celebrate the contributions of quantum science to technological progress over the past century, raise global awareness of its importance to sustainable development in the 21st century, and ensure that all nations have access to quantum education and opportunities.

The Centre for Quantum Technologies and Institute of Physics Singapore are partners of the initiative.

A century of progress

IYQ coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of modern quantum mechanics, or more specifically of work by physicist Werner Heisenberg on the ‘matrix mechanics’ formulation of quantum mechanics. He published this work in 1925.

In the century since, quantum theory has revolutionised modern electronics and global telecommunications. Looking forward, advances in quantum applications could accelerate innovations in materials science, medicine, and cybersecurity, among other fields.

In this way, quantum science and technology is poised to help address the world’s most pressing challenges — including the need to rapidly develop renewable energy, improve human health, and create global solutions in support of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

Other disciplines of science and technology have been celebrated in previous years, for example 2005 was the International Year of Physics and 2015 was the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies.

An invitation to learn

The U.N. proclamation for IYQ is the culmination of a multiyear effort spearheaded by an international coalition of scientific organisations. After Mexico shepherded the coalition’s initial proposal through UNESCO’s 42nd General Conference in November 2023, Ghana formally submitted a draft resolution to the U.N. General Assembly in May 2024 that garnered co-sponsorship from six countries before its approval on 7 June.

The American Physical Society will administer the campaign through an international consortium. The U.N. proclamation stands as an open invitation for anyone to learn more — especially those at universities, in classrooms, and other venues for science communication.

Jonathan Bagger, chief executive officer of the American Physical Society, said “With worldwide events and programming, we hope to build a vibrant and inclusive global quantum science community.” 

Stand by for details of events planned in Singapore in 2025!

This text is adapted from a press release by the American Physical Society