The 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025) officially came to an end at a closing ceremony held on February 10-11, 2026  in Accra, Ghana,  and attended by a diverse audience of scientists, policy makers, educators, students and others. The ceremony capped a year of activities to raise awareness globally of the many advances in science and technology derived from the development of quantum mechanics a century ago, as well as newer developments on the horizon, and their potential to enrich the lives of people everywhere.

Holding the closing ceremony in Africa held special significance: Ghana had led 71 other co-sponsoring member states in submitting a resolution to the Agenda of the UN General Assembly. Moreover, the resolution emphasized the need to advance quantum science and technology within developing countries, adding significance to the location as a tangible step in that direction.  Many discussions in Accra touched on the need for equitable access to opportunities, and pointed to the demographically young population in Africa.  In his talk, Peter Haynes, Imperial College, addressed this, noting  that opportunities require jobs to exist. Many will likely come from start-ups, so in addition to the important task of training the next generation of scientists and engineers, “it’s also about  helping users, investors, regulators, and policy makers understand quantum technologies enough to engage with them confidently and to be intentional about ecosystem design” adding that “the most enduring legacy of any technological revolution is never the devices themselves but the people it trains.”

The closing ceremony, in effect, seemed more like a fresh invitation to the future of quantum science and technology.  Attendees– many of them young Africans– were treated to wide-ranging  discussions, as well as two special keynotes, the first given by space physicist Michele Dougherty — the first woman appointed as the UK Astronomer Royal in its 350-year history– and the second by Heike Reil, an IBM Fellow and President-elect of the German Physical Society. In addition, there were expert panels on topics ranging from strategic priorities, African innovation, global development and cooperation, education, and the launching of the UNESCO-led Global Quantum Initiative.  Finally, adding color to the celebration were recitations by winners of the IYQ 2025 poetry contest, video remarks from Quantum 100 honorees,  performances by local musicians, dancers, and orators, and the exhibition of winning photos in the IUPAP-IYQ 2025 photo contest.

 

Joe Niemela