IYQ began as a grassroots movement among a small number of scientists, educators, and historians who recognized that the centennial of quantum mechanics in 2025 would be a perfect occasion to help broaden public understanding of how central quantum science and technology has become to humanity over the past 100 years and how its impact will likely only increase over the next 100 years. Word quickly spread among an international network of like minded individuals who began approaching scientific societies and developed a set of guiding principles for all those working on planning a public-facing quantum centennial celebration.

Recognizing the importance of quantum science and the need for wider awareness of its past and future impact, dozens of national scientific societies officially gathered together to support IYQ and endorsed marking 100 years of quantum mechanics with a U.N.-declared international year. The timeline of endorsements for this international year also included the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), and the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IUHPST).

With broad support from the international scientific community, national governments also backed the idea, particularly given the critical role of quantum science and technology in developing sustainable solutions in energy, education, communications, and human health.

Led by the nation of Mexico, in May 2023 the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) endorsed a resolution encouraging official UN proclamation, followed by an endorsement of the full UNESCO General Conference in November 2023, which was co-sponsored by nearly 60 countries.

In May 2024, the nation of Ghana formally submitted a resolution for official proclamation of the International Year to the U.N. General Assembly. On June 7, 2024 the U.N. General Assembly officially declared 2025 to be The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. The resolution was co-sponsored by over 70 countries, representing over 5 billion people.