International Year of Quantum Science and Technology

Visit the official IYQ website

Celebrating 100 years of quantum mechanics

The 2025 has been announced as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) by the United Nations, which recognises 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics. The IYQ activities will run throughout the 2025, and will be officially launched in February at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

To celebrate the milestone, the National Quantum Computing Centre will mark this year through a range of activities, including events, interviews and articles. The aim is to stay connected with the quantum community, inspire people from all backgrounds to engage with quantum science and technology, and to advance quantum computing for societal benefit.

Our main events

Scalability Conference 2025

The NQCC’s Quantum Computing Scalability Conference 2025 will take place on 2nd – 4th April 2025 at the Keble College, Oxford.

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4th Annual Commercialising Quantum Global 2025

NQCC will be participating in the Annual Commercialising Quantum Global returns for its fourth edition, bringing together 1,000 attendees from across the quantum ecosystem.

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Summer Science Exhibition 2025

The NQCC is leading a ‘quantum zone’ at the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition in 2025, working with partners to showcase quantum science and technology across the UK.

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NQCC’s Quantum Hackathon 2025

The National Quantum Computing Centre will host the fourth UK Quantum Hackathon in July 2025. As part of the NQCC’s SparQ programme, the event aims to explore and raise awareness about the current capabilities and limitations of quantum computing technology, nurture talent development, and bring stakeholders together.

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Articles

New day dawns for quantum computing in the UK

The official opening of the National Quantum Computing Centre’s main facility highlighted the pivotal role it will play in fostering collaboration across the UK’s burgeoning quantum ecosystem.

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UK Quantum Hackathon 2024 Taps UK Talent to Reveal Quantum Computing’s Potential For Real-World Impact

The UK Quantum Hackathon 2024, held for the third consecutive year, continues to provide the resources to elevate the standards of innovation and collaboration in the quantum computing landscape.

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Quantum hackathon makes new connections

With more participants and more use cases across a diverse range of industry sectors, the 2024 edition of the UK’s Quantum Hackathon set new standards for engagement and collaboration.

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Software expertise powers up quantum computing

Combining research excellence with a direct connection to the National Quantum Computing Centre, the Quantum Software Lab is focused on delivering effective solutions to real-world problems

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News and updates

NQCC launches Insights Paper exploring quantum computing’s transformative potential in healthcare and pharmaceuticals

The NQCC’s first Insights Paper explores the convergence of quantum computing with healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Developed through extensive sector engagement, the paper offers clear, actionable insights for healthcare leaders, pharma innovators, policymakers, and funders. Explore how quantum computing can help tackle national and global healthcare challenges and accelerate advancements in drug discovery, early diagnosis, and personalised treatment.

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The NQCC Quantum Computing Access Programme – now open for academic proposals

The Quantum Computing Access Programme offers UK academia access to cutting-edge quantum computing resources, supporting the growth of the nation’s quantum computing community. Academic users are invited to submit an application for access to QC resources in Q2 2025. This programme is part of the NQCC’s ‘SparQ’ initiative, which supports the UK’s journey toward quantum readiness.

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STFC Cross Cluster Proof of Concept: SparQ Quantum Computing Call

The NQCC, in collaboration with the STFC’s Campus and Cluster team, is pleased to announce the successful projects awarded funding as part of this year’s Proof of Concept Call in Quantum Computing.  

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The Responsible Quantum Industry Forum’s principles launched

Quantum technologies, including computing, communications, and sensing, have the potential for transformative impacts. As these technologies become more widely adopted in the UK and beyond, it is critical that they are developed and used responsibly, as emphasised by the strong focus in the UK’s National Quantum Strategy to responsible innovation, ethical use, and societal good.

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