Executive summary 13

Part I: The year that was 18

Chapter 1: Genesis of a global effort 19

1.1. One hundred years ago 19

1.2 The accelerated development and widening quantum divide calling for an international year 20

1.3 The Idea for an International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 21

1.4 Building international consensus: The UN Resolution and UNESCO as lead agency 21

1.5 Governance of IYQ 23

1.6 Partners, sponsors and IYQ Global Fund 25

Chapter 2: IYQ global participation and key moments 29

2.1. Global moments of the year 29

2.2. IYQ-sponsored events and initiatives 34

2.3. Partner contributions and enabling support 38

Chapter 3: IYQ in numbers: A year of global mobilization 41

3.1. Event formats and delivery modes 42

3.2 Reach and regional distribution 43

3.3 Audiences, participation and inclusion 46

3.4 Signals and trends beyond the Year 48

Chapter 4: UNESCO and the International Year: Shaping an inclusive quantum future 51

4.1 UNESCO’s comparative advantage 52

4.2. UNESCO quantum programmes under IYQ 53

4.2.1 Building the evidence base for global quantum cooperation: UNESCO Global Survey on Quantum Research and Infrastructure 54

4.2.2 Infrastructure accessibility and capacity building: Remote access initiative in quantum science and technology 54

4.2.3 Addressing gender gap: UNESCO quantum computing course for African female scientists 54

4.2.4 Connecting science and society:IUPAP/UNESCO International Colloquia on Physics for Society 55

4.2.5 Public engagement and science popularization through art and science 56

4.3. Strategic publications and policy frameworks 56

PART II: Mapping the quantum landscape 58

Chapter 5: Findings from the UNESCO global quantum survey 59

5.1 The UNESCO Global Quantum Survey: scope and method 59

5.2 Respondent profile 61

5.3 Accessibility to quantum research infrastructure 62

5.4 Quantum talent: training, retention and mobility 64

5.5 Quantum education and training: provision and gaps 67

5.6 Policy priorities, funding and research stages 68

Chapter 6: Critical gaps in infrastructure, policy and human capacity 73

6.1 Infrastructure disparities 73

6.2 Policy and governance gaps 76

6.3 Human capacity: A pipeline under strain 79

Chapter 7: Priority areas for action 83

7.1 Technology convergence and access pathways 83

7.2 Education, capacity building and talent development 84

7.3 Accessibility of infrastructure and sharing mechanisms 86

7.4 Policy preparedness and multi-level cooperation 87

7.5 Ethics, public value, inclusive innovation and sustainable development 88

7.6 Open science and knowledge sharing 89

PART III: Charting the quantum future 92

Chapter 8: From legacy to the next phase of global quantum cooperation 93

8.1 Sustaining the Legacy of IYQ 2025 93

8.2 A successful year calls for a longer-term global imperative 94

8.3 Lessons from IYQ 2025 and implications for the next phase 98

Chapter 9 The UNESCO Global Quantum Initiative 101

9.1 The case for the Global Quantum Initiative 101

9.2 Vision, mission and strategic objectives 102

9.3 Strategic objectives and flagship programmes 103

9.4 Phased implementation (2026–2028) 106

9.4.1 GQI Steering Committee and Working Groups 106

9.4.2 Phases of Implementation 108

9.5 Expected outcomes by 2028 113

Chapter 10: Call to Action 115

10.1 Immediate next steps 115

10.2 Collective development of the Global Quantum Initiative 116

10.3 An invitation to shape the quantum future 117

Annexes 1: UNGA Resolutions and Statements 119

Annexes 2: UNESCO Executive Board document 122

Annexes 3: Founding Member’s activities 128

Annexes 4: Sponsors activities 135