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A year of events, education, and engagement across Italy.
The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology concludes with its closing ceremony on February 10-11, 2026, in Accra, Ghana. Throughout 2025, NQSTI served as a distinguished partner of IYQ, contributing to quantum education and outreach across Italy.
As a distinguished partner, NQSTI organized over 15 events in 2025, engaging audiences ranging from high school students to senior researchers, from artists to entrepreneurs. These initiatives addressed the core themes of the International Year: education, research excellence, industry engagement, and inclusive participation in quantum science and technology.
Here’s a selection of highlights.
IYQ Launch in Italy
The Second NQSTI National Congress in Rome opened IYQ activities in Italy. The three-day congress, held at CNR headquarters and Sapienza University, convened researchers from all NQSTI spokes for plenary sessions, parallel presentations, and thematic workshops on photon-based and electron-based quantum technologies.
Public Outreach and Education
World Quantum Day
NQSTI marked World Quantum Day with two events. On April 14th, the NQSTI Quantum Marathon featured a full day of public conferences streamed live on YouTube from Pisa, Camerino, Catania, and Bari, featuring both Italian and international speakers.
Ludoteca Quantistica in Naples welcomed families and students to the Physics Museum for hands-on exploration of quantum mechanics. Participants played QTris (a quantum version of Tic-Tac-Toe), Quantum Taboo, Entanglion, and Entang-Like under the guidance of researchers and science communicators.
Exhibitions and Arts
The |Quant'ARTE Festival> in Milan explored the intersection of art and quantum science. Through its |Quant'ARTE>Talents program, students from Fine Arts Academies and Design Institutes created original artworks inspired by quantum concepts, working with NQSTI researchers. The works were exhibited at My Own Gallery from December 3th-17th.
The QUANTUM: Quantum Physics is for Everyone exhibition ran from October 20th to December 15th at the University of Camerino. The exhibition combined illustrative panels, interactive exhibits, and games like QTris in two-hour sessions designed for high school groups visiting by reservation.
Training and Capacity Building
Programs for Students and Teachers
The Summer School "(Not)Playing with Quantum Technologies" in Bari introduced high school students to quantum science through four days of hands-on activities focused on understanding the microscopic world.
The Summer School "Quantum Science and Technology for High School" in Volterra provided 40 hours of professional development for high school teachers. The curriculum covered quantum mechanics phenomenology, multi-qubit systems, entanglement, quantum logic gates, algorithms, Bell inequalities, and quantum cryptography through lectures, laboratory work, and gamified learning.
International Schools
NQSTI organized two international schools for Ph.D. students, recent graduates, and early-career researchers.
The International School: Advances in Solid-State Quantum Technologiesin Catania brought together international faculty to deliver lectures on quantum hardware across multiple platforms (superconductors, semiconductors, impurities, topological systems) as well as open quantum systems, optimal control, AI applications, quantum sensing, and thermodynamics. Sessions also addressed applications in energy, climate, health, and enterprise sectors.
The International School: Advances in Atomic and Photonic Quantum Technologies in San Benedetto del Tronto, organized with the University of Camerino, covered atom-based platforms, photonic systems, optomechanics, sensing, metrology, and quantum communication and information processing.
Both schools included poster sessions, scientific discussions, social events, and guided tours.
Industry Engagement
Outreach to Small and Medium Enterprises
A series of three online webinars for Italian SMEs explored Quantum Communication, Quantum Computing, and Quantum Sensing respectively. Each 60-minute session explained fundamental differences between classical and quantum technologies, new application possibilities, and business opportunities in the quantum ecosystem. The webinars included presentations from companies currently active in the quantum sector.
National Quantum Ecosystem
QDeal25 - Research, Enterprise and Innovation for Quantum Italy convened businesses, researchers, and institutions for Italy's first national event on quantum technology transfer. Co-organized with Confindustria Catania, the two-day workshop included keynote presentations, stakeholder sessions, and working meetings to develop project proposals in five areas: sensing and metrology, quantum computing, quantum communication and cybersecurity, enabling technologies, and ecosystem development.
Gender Balance and Inclusion
Italian Women in Quantum Technologies - IWQT25 spotlighted the work of Italian women researchers in quantum science. The workshop brought together established scientists and early-career researchers for presentations, poster sessions, networking, and mentoring. A roundtable discussion addressed women's participation in Next Generation EU-funded quantum projects.
Looking Ahead
As IYQ 2025 concludes with the closing ceremony on February 10-11, 2026, NQSTI's quantum research, education, and innovation activities continue. The events of 2025 established new collaborations and networks across Italy's quantum community.
Documentation from major events, including YouTube recordings, abstracts, and digital catalogs, remains accessible for continued use in education and outreach.
The activities and connections developed during IYQ 2025 support NQSTI's role in Italy's quantum science and technology ecosystem.