The United Nations has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the birth of modern quantum mechanics — the theory that describes the behaviour of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic scales. The international year was launched on the 4th February 2025 with an event at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. With over 1000 participants the event brought together scientists, industrialists, students and members of the physics and quantum community. The EPS president attended alongside the presidents of the German, French and UK physical societies. Attendees heard from Nobel laurates Anne L’Huillier, Bill Philips, Alain Aspect and Serge Haroche, they were treated to discussions on the importance of quantum science for sustainable development, education in quantum fields and the current state of the quantum industrial sector. 

The EPS is a participating partner in the International Year of Quantum Science and Technologies and we are looking forward to events throughout the year. In April we will inaugurate the City of Göttingen as an EPS historic site. We are preparing a special issue of EPN on quantum science and technology and we are looking forward to the many and varied events which our member societies have planned throughout the year. These range from quantum games and even an escape room organised by the German and Swiss Physical societies, exhibitions of quantum science held at London’s Royal Society and la Palais de la Découverte in Paris. Publications highlighting historic journal articles from the Italian Physical Society and in Physics World, summer schools for undergraduate and post graduate students held in Lithuania and Moldova, France and Italy, plus events focused on Policy Makers in held not only Brussels but also in Poland. Finally, we should not forget education, many of our members are creating educational resources in their country’s languages, so that the fascinating topic of quantum science is accessible to everyone. 

FLTR: Doris Reiter, Karin Zach, Claus Lämmerzahl, Mairi Sakellariadou, Klaus Richter, Bernhard Nunner, Wiebke Schuppe und Dieter Meschede
Image credit: DPG