IEEE Quantum Week 2025 Opens Registration

IEEE Quantum Week, scheduled for August 31st to September 5th in Albuquerque, New Mexico, aims to accelerate commercialisation of quantum technologies. Organised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the event drew 1600 attendees and over 450 hours of programming in 2024, and will again connect researchers with industry leaders including Quantinuum, Microsoft, and Fujitsu. The conference focuses on bridging the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications, particularly in areas such as quantum software and hybrid computing architectures.

IEEE Event Overview

IEEE Quantum Week 2025 will take place from 31st August to 5th September at the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico, USA, with registration now open. The event, incorporating the IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE), facilitates interaction between fundamental research and practical application within quantum computing.

The programme encompasses a broad range of topics, including quantum systems software, engineering of quantum technologies, and the development of hybrid quantum-classical computing architectures. Specific areas of investigation will also include distributed quantum computing, the intersection of quantum computing with generative artificial intelligence, quantum simulation, quantum machine learning, and adiabatic computing. Further focus will be given to the integration of high-performance computing with quantum platforms, alongside software engineering methodologies relevant to quantum systems.

The 2024 iteration of IEEE Quantum Week, hosted in Montreal, attracted 1600 registrants and delivered over 450 hours of dedicated programming. The event showcased contributions from 80 exhibiting organisations – encompassing quantum companies, start-ups, and research laboratories – and featured presentations from nine keynote speakers. Accompanying these were 36 tutorials aimed at workforce development, 35 community-building workshops, 222 peer-reviewed technical papers, 16 panel discussions, 140 research posters, and six informal ‘birds-of-a-feather’ sessions. A career fair and student mentorship programme were also integral components.

Organisational support for the event is provided by a consortium of patrons, exhibitors, sponsors and supporters, including Quantinuum, QBLOX, QuantrolOx, Microsoft, Fujitsu, iQore, JHPCb-quantum, MunichQuantumValley, NanoQT, Zurich Instruments, Riverlane, classiq, zero-point-cryogenics, IQM, nanosystec, maybell, SingleQuantum, QuEra, SpinQ, and Toray. Increased participation from these entities, alongside emerging quantum ventures, indicates growing confidence in the potential for return on quantum computing investment.

Key Themes and Programming

The structure of IEEE Quantum Week 2025 programming extends beyond conventional conference formats. In addition to technical paper presentations and keynote addresses, the event prioritises interactive elements such as workshops and tutorials. This approach reflects the need for a skilled workforce and the importance of translating theoretical advancements into tangible products and services. The programme’s breadth, encompassing areas from quantum error correction to quantum sensing, suggests a holistic approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by quantum technologies.

The inclusion of a career fair and a student mentorship programme at the 2024 event demonstrates an attempt to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application. Such initiatives are crucial for attracting and retaining talent within the field.

The significant number of exhibitors – 80 in 2024 – representing a diverse range of organisations from established corporations to start-ups, underscores the increasing commercial interest in quantum computing. This level of industry participation is a key indicator of the potential for sustained investment and the development of a robust quantum ecosystem. The presence of entities such as Microsoft, Fujitsu, and Quantinuum alongside specialised firms like QBLOX and Zurich Instruments demonstrates a confluence of technological expertise and financial backing.

Participating Organisations

The composition of exhibiting and supporting organisations provides a clear indication of the current landscape of quantum technology development. Established technology corporations, including Microsoft and Fujitsu, are actively engaged alongside dedicated quantum computing firms such as Quantinuum, QBLOX, and Zurich Instruments. This combination suggests a strategic interplay between existing technological infrastructure and specialised quantum expertise.

Furthermore, the presence of regional quantum initiatives – notably MunichQuantumValley and NanoQT – highlights the growing international distribution of quantum research and development. These entities often serve as incubators for start-ups and facilitate collaboration between academia and industry, contributing to the maturation of local quantum ecosystems.

The inclusion of companies focused on cryogenic technologies – zero-point-cryogenics and IQM – is particularly noteworthy. Maintaining the extremely low temperatures required for many quantum computing architectures is a significant engineering challenge, and specialised firms in this area are critical to the scalability of quantum systems. Similarly, the participation of companies such as SingleQuantum and QuEra, focused on photonic and neutral atom quantum computing respectively, demonstrates the diversity of approaches being pursued in the development of quantum hardware. This breadth of technological exploration is essential for mitigating risk and accelerating progress in the field, attracting continued quantum computing investment.