EU Flagship to celebrate World Quantum Day 2024

In celebration of this year’s World Quantum Day 2024, Europe’s Quantum Flagship is proud to stand alongside scientists, schools, and quantum enthusiasts from around the world in commemorating all the quantum pillars and domains – from quantum sensing and metrology, quantum computing, quantum communications, and quantum sensing – as well as their history and applications.

The Quantum Flagship encourages individuals and organisations around the world to join in with the celebrations of the quantum community by engaging the general public via workshops, panel discussions, talks, and exhibitions.

For this year’s event, organisers are encouraging participants to develop and submit their own events in their country/city/organisation, in any language and share a passion for how quantum science and technology can address some of the most important societal challenges of our time and the impact they have on our everyday lives.

Philippe Grangier, Coordinator of the Quantum Flagship CSA QUCATS, said: “Quantum mechanics has numerous practical implications. From revolutionising communications to advancing medicine and materials science, quantum technologies have already had an impact on nearly every aspect of our lives. As we commemorate World Quantum Day, we celebrate not only the achievements of the past but also the enormous possibilities of the future.”

In homage to Planck’s constant, one of the fundamental values governing all quantum physics, this awareness day is held on 14th April. The ‘4.14’ date is derived by rounding the first digits of Planck’s constant, or 4.1356677×10−15 electron volt seconds, a product of energy and time.

Yasser Omar, President of the Portuguese Quantum Institute – PQI and active member of the ‘World Quantum Day’ initiative, said: “For anyone passionate about science and technology, World Quantum Day 2024 is more than a way to marvel at the fundamental building blocks of our world. This ‘bottom-up’, decentralised initiative is a celebration of our global community. It’s about the researchers toiling away in laboratories or the engineers pushing the boundaries of what’s possible; it’s about the teachers and pupils in every school in every country sharing their passion for quantum physics and spreading the joy of quantum.

“It’s about the enthusiasts in every home around the world who are as excited about the science of elementary particles and forces that make up our universe as we are. But, beyond the scientists, engineers, and educators who are on the frontline, everyone is welcome to join us in celebrating this intriguing subject – from communicators, entrepreneurs, historians, philosophers, artists, museologists, or producers.”

World Quantum Day was first announced in 2021, with the inaugural celebration held on 14th April 2022. Last year, World Quantum Day saw global celebrations with over 400 events in more than 45 countries.

In the US, policymakers approved a bipartisan initiative on 2nd May 2023 commemorating and supporting World Quantum Day. Senators Todd Young and Maggie Hassan came together to pass a resolution that would highlight the importance of the quantum mechanics that are part of the technologies used in everyday life, such as semiconductors in computers, atomic clocks that power GPS systems, and MRI imaging.

Global celebrations in 2024

23rd March 2024 – 31st May 2024: Italian Quantum Weeks (IQWs) is a project created to highlight the WQD celebrations and consists of a series of activities spread across Italy, taking place between March and May 2024. In particular, IQWs promotes an educational dissemination exhibition, a quantum creativity competition, a national educational conference for schools and many local activities

1st April 2024 – 30th April 2024: TOPTICA Quantum Quiz is a fun app developed by TOPTICA Photonics. On the occasion of World Quantum Day, you can win the Schroedinger Cat*! Take part in our Quantum Quiz in April and enter your high score in the list. Please enter your real name and #wqd in the “Affiliation” field, and you will automatically be entered into the drawing. The game will end after nine questions of when you have lost both lives.

8th April 2024 – 14th April 2024: Quantum Week, from 8–14 April 2024, everything will revolve around quantum at various locations in Braunschweig and Wolfsburg. This week will be a varied programme ranging from lectures to symposia and invite you to take part in events such as the big Science Watch Party on World Quantum Day. Further information can be found on the Quantum Flagship Website.

12th April 2024: QUANTUM DAY4STUDENTS. Photonics Austria is a lively event for interested students on the topic of quantum technology. Interesting impulses and Nobel Prize Talks surround the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts at the various stands. It is also organised to find a quantum mentor! Exchange is possible at the respective stands with: @AIT, @FH Technikum Wien, @Infineon, @Joanneum Research, @qtlabs, @RECENDT, @SAL, @University of Vienna and @Blueprint Academy!