Quantum for Good: Setting the Stage for the International Year of Quantum

Introduction

The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) and Quantum Delta NL (QDNL) will host a two-day conference on “Quantum for Good: Setting the Agenda for the International Year of Quantum” to take place in November 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands. This conference will serve as a critical meeting to launch dialogues in advance of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) in 2025.  

In June 2024, the U.N. General Assembly officially declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum through a resolution co-sponsored by over 70 countries. The IYQ aims “to celebrate the contributions of quantum science to technological progress, raise awareness of its importance to sustainable development, and ensure that all nations have access to quantum education and opportunities.”  This event will build on the insights from the Quantum for Good: Frontier Technology for the SDGs side event held during the Action Days at the Summit of the Future in September 2024, deepening the exploration of how quantum technologies can drive positive societal and global outcomes. As the world looks to quantum technologies to solve some of its most pressing challenges, this November gathering will also lay the groundwork for a follow-up conference scheduled for late 2025.

Objectives

• Creating awareness: Raising global awareness about the transformative potential of quantum technology for addressing global challenges. 
• Building partnerships: Fostering new partnerships between governments, private sector players, academia, and civil society to push forward quantum technology initiatives for public benefit. 
• Generating actionable solutions: Encouraging the development of practical, scalable, quantum-based solutions for problems in areas like sustainability, healthcare, and financial security. 
• Influencing policy: Educating policymakers to develop supportive frameworks and initiatives that ensure quantum technologies are available inclusively. 

This event will catalyze global action on quantum technology, helping ensure it is deployed in ways that directly contribute to the greater good.

Program Overview 

The November 2024 conference is designed to set the research, policy, and advocacy agenda for UNICC, QDNL, and a comprehensive group of partners during the International Year of Quantum, culminating in a landmark event in November 2025 to showcase outcomes and results. Over the course of two days, key stakeholders, including representatives from governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society, will gather to explore how quantum technologies can be harnessed for global good, with a focus on contributions from developing nations, participants will discuss how to ensure quantum technology serves broader humanity, especially by contributing to sustainable development goals (SDGs) and inclusive global growth. 

Day 1 – Policy and Governance: The first day of the conference will focus on the high-level political, regulatory, and policy dimensions of quantum technologies. This day will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions with representatives from government and international organizations and related stakeholders. These discussions will explore the opportunities and challenges surrounding quantum technologies, particularly concerning governance, regulation, and equitable global access. 

The political discussions will provide a platform for an open dialogue between policymakers from developed and developing countries. Topics will include how quantum regulations can be shaped to benefit all nations, ensuring that developing countries are not left behind in this technological revolution. The aim is to foster a shared understanding of how quantum can drive global public good, moving beyond commercial interests and national advantages. 

The day will conclude with a networking dinner, offering an opportunity for colleagues to connect more deeply with key UN, civil society, academic, public and private sector partners around quantum technology. 

Day 2 – Agenda-Setting Workshops: The second day will consist of focused workshops designed to shape the agenda for the group throughout 2025 (and beyond). The workshops will be led by leaders from the co-hosting organizations, each subgroup either focusing on a specific quantum technology or tackling a specific thematic area. 

The workshops will kick off with a brief whole-group session to set the plan for the day. Following this, subgroups will break out into specialized sessions to focus on developing their specific objectives, strategies and plans for 2025. Each group will identify key milestones to achieve by the end of 2025, contributing to the overarching outputs that will be presented at the follow-up conference in November 2025. 

After lunch, rapporteurs from each group will present their group’s ideas and next steps in a plenary session, allowing for collective feedback and fine-tuning the agenda for the year ahead. 

Key Outcomes: 

• Establishment of a clear research, policy, and advocacy roadmap for the International Year of Quantum in 2025; including a date for the annual 025 conference.
• Concrete objectives and milestones for each sub-group. 
• A platform for continued collaboration among governments, international bodies, and private sector actors, ensuring a focus on inclusivity and equity in quantum technology development. 

By integrating actors from the UN system, governments, the private sector, and especially from developing countries, the conference will set the stage for meaningful global collaboration in quantum. Ultimately, the event will contribute to ensuring that quantum technology not only drives innovation but also benefits humanity as a whole, fostering sustainable and equitable development worldwide.