Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States, Dr. Ralf Heckner, will host the kickoff event of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), in Washington D.C. This inclusive celebration will be hosted at the Swiss Residence in Washington on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, simultaneously with the UNESCO launch in Paris.

On this special occasion, a diverse group of 30 participants comprised of foreign diplomats, U.S. government officials, scientists, and industry representatives will play the Quantum Diplomacy Game. Washington, D.C., is the first stop of this unique anticipatory game designed by the Open Quantum Institute at CERN and will be activated in different parts of the world on the occasion of the IYQ 2025.

The 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) recognizes 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics.