Today, the UN has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). The year-long, worldwide initiative aims to 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, including Canada, have access to quantum education and opportunities.
“The UN’s recognition of the innovation, advancement and future capabilities of quantum information and technology is greatly impactful,” says Dr. Norbert Lütkenhaus, Executive Director, Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC). “Here at IQC, we serve as an anchor point of an ecosystem of trust within Canada and are an international destination for quantum excellence, training more than 3,000 researchers in quantum information science and technology from around the world. We’re looking forward to working together with our national and international partners to continue to lead quantum innovation in 2025 and beyond.”
IYQ coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of modern quantum mechanics — the theory that describes the behaviour of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic scales and has made possible many of the world’s most important technologies. Over the past century, quantum theory has become foundational to physics, chemistry, engineering, and biology and has revolutionized modern electronics and global telecommunications. Inventions like the transistor, lasers, rare-earth magnets, and LEDs—technologies that brought the internet, computers, solar cells, MRI, and global navigation to fruition—all exist because of quantum mechanics.
Looking forward, advances in quantum applications could enable new computing and communication models with the potential to accelerate innovations in materials science, medicine, and cybersecurity, among other fields, and to offer insights into fundamental science. 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.
Broad, multinational support for IYQ signals the need to strengthen the education, research, and development capacities of governments to advance quantum science and technologies for the benefit of humanity. The U.N. proclamation stands as an open invitation for anyone to learn more — especially those at universities, in K-12 classrooms, and other venues for science communication. Throughout 2025, the IYQ consortium will organize regional, national, and international outreach events, activities, and programming to celebrate and develop learning resources for quantum science, build scientific partnerships that will expand educational and research opportunities in developing countries, and inspire the next generation of diverse quantum pioneers. More information about these activities will be announced in the coming months.
