16th KCIK-ICTQT Symposium on Quantum Information – a summary

Members of the National Centre for Quantum Information (KCIK) and global leaders in quantum research spent three days in the Tricity area discussing the current state of knowledge about quantum phenomena and the most intriguing challenges currently facing scientists. The conference was chaired by Professor Paweł Horodecki, Director of KCIK, and was co-organized by the International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies at the University of Gdańsk (ICTQT), headed by its Director, Professor Marek Żukowski. The symposium took place from May 7 to 10 and was part of the celebration of the 55th anniversary of the University of Gdańsk and the 100th anniversary of quantum research.

“We are currently celebrating the centenary of quantum mechanics,” said Professor Wojciech Żurek from Los Alamos National Laboratory (USA). “And yet, there remains a problem that has been unresolved since its inception: how does the classical world emerge from the quantum one? We have been waiting for a brilliant idea that would solve this puzzle, but such an idea has not come—and likely won’t come anytime soon. However, we have made significant progress over the past 100 years.”

Speakers from around the world shared their discoveries, as well as new research questions and approaches to quantum phenomena. From philosophical issues to precise calculations, from fundamental and theoretical research to potential practical applications—over the course of three days, the symposium explored quantum science from every angle. Nobel laureate Professor Anton Zeilinger, who has collaborated with the University of Gdańsk since 1990, also participated online with a presentation titled Schrödinger’s cat is never dead and alive. Among the distinguished guests who attended in person at the UG Conference Centre in Sopot were Professor Charles Bennett and Professor Michael Berry. The full list of speakers is available here.

On the first day of the symposium, a joint poster session was organized with the “Quantum Horizons” Conference, which took place at the European Solidarity Centre under the auspices of the National Science Centre, the coordinator of the European QuantERA program, commemorating Poland’s presidency of the European Union.

Those interested in advanced quantum topics are encouraged to consult the Book of Abstracts from the 16th Quantum Information Symposium, available [here].

The event photogallery is available [here].

We also warmly invite you to another major upcoming event organized by ICTQT UG: the Foundations of Physics conference.