By Michelle Tubb, Director of Sales and Marketing, IEEE Computer Society
This year marks the United Nations-designated International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). With a mission to “use the occasion of 100 years of quantum mechanics in 2025 to help raise public awareness of the importance and impact of quantum science and applications on all aspects of life,” IYQ seeks to show how quantum technologies support health and well-being, reduced inequalities, industry and infrastructure, economic growth, climate action, and clean energy.
As a distinguished partner of IYQ, IEEE plays a vital role in raising awareness of quantum developments, reiterating its positive impact on humanity, and facilitating opportunities to advance research and development efforts. Given the emerging role of quantum technology in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and many other computer science and engineering disciplines, the work of IEEE will be pivotal to its future.
Quantum Week
For instance, co-sponsoring IEEE societies convene leaders in quantum science and technology at Quantum Week, IEEE’s International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering. This event both supports the progression of fundamental research in quantum technology and spreads its applicability to industry.
Quantum Week 2024 wrapped with record attendance, historic paper submission increases (53% over the preceding year), and an exhibit featuring 86 companies (up 37% year-over-year), demonstrating the movement toward quantum commercialization. The 2025 conference, which takes place 31 August – 5 September in Albuquerque, N.M., will feature activities honoring IYQ and celebrating the successes of the computer scientists and engineers who are evolving the field.
The 10 IEEE societies/councils that sponsor IEEE Quantum Week include the Computer Society, Communications Society, Photonics Society, Council on Superconductivity, Technology & Engineering Management Society, Electronics Packaging Society, Signal Processing Society, Electron Devices Society, Consumer Technology Society, and Power & Energy Society.
Publications
As trusted sources of knowledge and information, IEEE publications are an essential resource for advancing understanding and fostering collaboration. Among IEEE’s portfolio of publications, those specifically tied to Quantum include the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, and the newest related publication, the fully open access IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering.
A growing community
While the activities taking place across IEEE draw together a diverse group of those scientists and engineers growing quantum science and technology, it takes ongoing collaboration to power achievements. Fortunately, the IEEE CS Quantum Technical Community (QTC) provides a year-long forum for addressing opportunities and challenges in hybrid-classical computing architectures, quantum machine learning, software engineering methods, error correction, optimization, benchmarks, and more. The reach of this community continues to grow, responding to global demands for quantum technologies.
Continuing the work
And those demands continue to rise, IEEE’s efforts not only bring focus to the intersection of quantum science and technology and other areas of development, it will also draw out opportunities for quantum technologies to better serve this world. Because as IYQ celebrates the work completed to date, it also acts as a rallying cry for the computer scientists and engineers to consider the next steps. It’s up to IEEE to lead the community to maintain the momentum and drive the future of quantum science and technology.
2 Responses
Quantum Week and the Trans on Quantum were both championed through the due diligence of the IEEze IEEE Future Directions. (FD)
FD recognized Quantum as one of the top contenders for next generation computing. After much consideration it began a new FD IEEE quantum initiative from the IEEE FD Rebooting Computing Initiative.
FD partnering with IEEE USA first made a trip to Capital Hill to understand the political climate. FD then spoke to NIST, who participated in the IEEE past Smart Grid Initiative. NIST asked that the IEEE do for Quantum what it did for Smart Grid. Amplify, and be a trusted technical voice.
FD conducted a workshop with industrial, government, academic and IEEE SMEs to hear what they were most interested in having the IEEE lead. Two of the items were an IEEE technical conference and a new journal in Quantum. FD responded and led the way for these items and others.
Now you know the rest of the story.
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