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IYQ Closing Ceremony

Celebration and Reflection: The Quantum Legacy

The IYQ Closing Ceremony will be held on February 10 & 11, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana.  Attendance is free and open to the public, but registration for all participants with UNESCO will be required, as space in the venue is limited. Please fill in the registration form.

Key information and registration

High-Level Opening Ceremony, February 10, 2026

09:00   Registration, Welcome & Exhibition Walkthrough | Quantum 100 video

10:00   Welcome Address and Opening Statements

10:10   Statements by:

  • UN Resident Coordinator
  • UNESCO Assistant Director – General for Science
  • Past President of American Physical Society – John Doyle 
  • Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology – Ghana

10:50  Cultural Interlude

11:00   Keynote Address: A Century of Quantum Science: Celebrating 100 Years of Discovery, Impact, and the Next Frontier for Humanity

             Presenter: Michele Dougherty

11:30   Group Photograph/Coffee Break/

 

PART I

12:00   Launch of the 2025 IYQ Report—UNESCO

12:15    Panel Discussion: From Celebration to Continuity: Consolidating the Gains of IYQ2025 and Advancing the International Day of Quantum Science

              Moderator: Sir Peter Knight

              Panelists:

  • UNESCO Representative
  • Ghana Representative
  • Paul Cadden-Zimansky
  • Yasser Omar      

12:45.   Cultural Segment:  Quantum Rhythms 

  • Performance by a Ghanaian Youth inspired by Science
  • Reading of the Winning Poem from the IYQ2025 Contest

13:15   Lunch Break & Exhibition Walkthrough

14:30   Dialogue: Africa and the Future of Quantum Science and Technology: Leadership, Innovation, and the Road Ahead

              Moderator: Sandro Scandolo (ICTP)

              Panelists:

  • Nii Narku Quaynor (Ghana – Riche-Mike)
  • Ahmed Younes
  • Yassera Ismail 
  • Estelle Inack
  • Zeblon Vilakazi

15:15   Keynote Address: Unlocking Tomorrow: Quantum Knowledge as a Catalyst for Human Advancement

              Presenter: Heike Riel (IBM)

15:45   Summary of Day 1 Activities and Announcement

16:00   End of Part I

 

PART II

19:00   Welcome Dinner: Hosted by the Minister for Education, Ghana (Hon. Haruna Iddrisu

Engagement and Inspiration: Quantum Futures. February 10, 2026

09:00   Recap of Day 1 Activities

              Moderator: Amal Kasry – Chief of Section for Basic Sciences, Research, Innovation and Engineering – UNESCO

09:15     Launch of Global Quantum Initiative. Official Announcement by UNESCO / GESDA

09:30   Panel Discussion 1: Shaping the Next Decade

Description: This distinguished panel will explore the strategic priorities that will define the next decade of quantum science and technology. Bringing together global leaders from research, industry, and policy, the discussion will examine emerging frontiers in quantum innovation, the frameworks needed to advance responsible and secure technologies, and the partnerships essential for inclusive global progress.

              Moderator: Jonathan Bagger (APS CEO)

              Panelists:

  • Dr. Mira L. Wolf-Bauwens (GESDA)
  • Silvina Ponce Dawson (IUPAP)
  • President of the African Physical Society Prof. Wagué 
  • Joe Queenan SCQuantum 
  • Gillian Makamara – ITU (Pending)

10:15   Panel Discussion 2:  Quantum Science for Global Development: Building Talent, Expanding Access, and Shaping the Future of National Competitiveness

Description: This panel will explore how quantum science can drive inclusive global development through strategic workforce preparation, wider access to emerging technologies, and industry-led innovation. It will also examines how quantum capabilities are redefining national identity, economic resilience, and global competitiveness beyond today’s quantum computing landscape.

              Moderator: Carla Hermann 

              Panelists:

  • Rosario Fazio 
  • Prince Osei AIMS (Pending)
  • Daniel Moraes from Venturus/GESDA 
  • David Morcuende (QuIC) 

11:00   Forum:  Education, Workforce Force, and Youth

              Moderato:  TBD

13:00 Lunch Break

14:30 Cultural Visit

17:00 Departure

Obtaining a visa for entry to Ghana is required for most foreign passport holders.  Visa requirements depend on your passport nationality. Please check the requirements for your own country, but typically include information regarding:

 

  • date of arrival
  • duration of stay
  • purpose of visit
  • travel itinerary
  • place of lodging

 

Generally, valid documentation of a yellow fever vaccination is required upon arrival in Ghana.

 

Tourist visas can typically use their hotel accommodations as host with documentation of a booking confirmation.Â