Quantum Innovation 2025 - An International Symposium

December 2025

From 29 July to 2 August 2025, the International Symposium on Quantum Science, Technology, and Innovation, “Quantum Innovation 2025,” was held at Congrès Square GRAND GREEN OSAKA during EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The year 2025 marks 100 years since the birth of quantum mechanics, and it is also the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) designated by UNESCO. The opening day of the symposium, 29 July, held special significance as it commemorated the day Heisenberg’s groundbreaking 1925 paper was received, laying the foundation of quantum mechanics. Quantum Innovation 2025 was selected to be one of IYQ’s global events, providing a valuable forum for discussing the latest advances in quantum science and technology and future perspectives.

Quantum Innovation 2025 was jointly organized by research institutes and universities of the Quantum Technology Innovation Hub (QIH: https://qih.riken.jp/en/), with support from the Government of Japan, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and corporate sponsors. Ever since 2021, the symposium has been held in Tokyo every year as a three-day event; note that 2021 and 2022 were held online. 2025 marked its fifth year. The aim of Quantum Innovation is to disseminate cutting-edge quantum technologies and to promote collaboration in research, applications, education, and social awareness related to quantum technology. The symposium covers a broad range of quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum cryptography and quantum communications, highlighting not only outstanding recent achievements but also future trends and needs. It also plays a major role in advancing the practical implementation of quantum technologies, developing human resources, and strengthening international collaboration.

In addition to the conventional three-day program, there was a two-day Moonshot session addressing fault-tolerant universal quantum computers, and a one-day SIP session which addressed a future quantum society, making the event five days long and allowing participants to attend EXPO 2025. Approximately 1,000 participants from Japan and abroad attended Quantum Innovation 2025, making it one of the largest international events in the quantum field in Japan.

The Global Organizing Committee Chairs consisted of five members: Artur Ekert, Michelle Simmons, Isaac Chuang, Yasunobu Nakamura, and Masahiro Kitagawa. The Organizing Committee, comprising 39 members, designed the overall program and included General Chair Masahiro Kitagawa; Track Chairs Keisuke Fujii, Makoto Negoro, and Go Kato; Vice Track Chairs François Le Gall, Tadashi Sakai, and Takashi Yamamoto; Poster Session Committee Chair Shigeru Yamashita; and Local Organizing Committee Chair Takashi Yamamoto, among others.

We also received generous sponsorship support from 27 companies and 3 organizations. We sincerely thank these sponsors.

On July 29, following a welcome message from General Chair Masahiro Kitagawa, an Opening Session was held, chaired by Tetsuro Fukunaga, Technology and Innovation Policy, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, and Masashi Kawasaki, Executive Vice President of RIKEN. During this session, video messages were delivered by Yoshimasa Hayashi, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Association for Quantum Technology Promotion, and Seiji Kihara, Chairperson of the Quantum Industry Creation Project Team. In the Global Quantum Ecosystem session, four panelists, including Taro Shimada of Q-STAR, Toshiba, engaged in discussions on building a sustainable quantum ecosystem.

The Academic session, which in previous years had been held from the second day of the symposium, commenced in the afternoon on the first day. In addition, a poster session by researchers was held over the first and second days, featuring 244 presentations. Alongside the reception and sponsor exhibition, lively discussions took place among researchers and students, corporate participants and embassy representatives. 19 students and early-career researchers received poster awards. The sponsor exhibition, which was introduced for the first time, provided a valuable and meaningful opportunity for researchers to interact directly with participating companies.

On the third day, the IYQ keynotes featured presentations by six world-leading researchers, including the Global Organizing Committee Chairs. These talks were frequently cited in the post-event survey as particularly memorable. That evening, a banquet aimed at fostering networking among participants was held at the historic venue The Garden Oriental Osaka (Geihinkan). A tuna carving show, supported by a grant from the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, became an especially memorable event for many attendees.

During the final two days, the Moonshot session and SIP session were held, and the symposium concluded successfully amid a vibrant atmosphere, including active exchanges between attendees.

It was the hottest five days—both literally and figuratively— during Osaka’s summer.

We look forward to seeing you all again at Quantum Innovation 2026.