We’ve Unraveled the World of Quantum Technologies Together Again!
On Monday, April 14, 2025, in celebration of World Quantum Day, the cultural center Kácečko in Bratislava hosted the event “Kvantové zápletky” (Quantum Entanglements), offering inspiring lectures, lively discussions, and an exceptionally friendly atmosphere.The event attracted over 110 attendees – from students and educators to curious laypeople and technology enthusiasts.
Slovakia and the Quantum World
The evening was opened by Mário Ziman, Chair of QUTE.sk—the Slovak National Center for Quantum Technologies – who is a leading figure in the field of quantum technologies in Slovakia. He briefly welcomed the visitors, highlighted the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology proclaimed by UNESCO, and emphasized that Slovakia not only has strong research teams but also aims to actively participate in European initiatives in quantum communication and computing.
Podujatie nadviazalo na úspešné minuloročné podujatie, pričom teraz sme sa rozhodli vytvoriť formát, v ktorom chceme každoročne priblížiť a v širších súvislostiach objastniť aktuálne témy z oblasti kvantovej vedy. Tento rok sme sa sústredili na tri kľúčové témy: vývoj kvantových počítačov, ich využitie vo výpočtoch a otázku dôveryhodnosti kvantovej komunikácie.
The event followed up on last year’s successful edition, this time introducing a new format aimed at annually exploring and contextualizing current topics in quantum science. This year, we focused on three key themes: the development of quantum computers, their use in computational tasks, and the trustworthiness of quantum communication.
Quantum Computers, Computation, and Trust
The lecture block began with Daniel Reitzner’s presentation on the scalability of quantum computers – one of the biggest scientific and technical challenges developers face today. He explained why a handful of qubits isn’t enough; we need reliable, scalable systems that can be controlled and corrected even in the presence of noise and errors.
Daniel Nagaj followed with a talk on how quantum computers can already solve certain tasks more efficiently than classical ones – such as simulations of quantum systems, optimization problems, or tasks with a specific algebraic structure. He gave practical examples of how quantum computing is being used in scientific research and where it holds promise for industry applications.
The final lecture was given by Mário Ziman, who returned to explore the trustworthiness of quantum communication and what makes quantum encryption so unique. He explained that quantum protocols don’t merely offer stronger encryption but introduce a completely new way to build trust – one that is physically verifiable and independent of assumptions about an adversary’s computational power.
All three talks were presented in an accessible way and supported by visual illustrations. The audience responded with great enthusiasm, asking insightful questions that sparked a dynamic discussion lasting into the evening hours.
Open Discussion and Community Spirit
The event culminated in a joint discussion with all speakers. Attendees asked about the practical use of quantum technologies, the challenges of integrating them into daily life, and what motivates and inspires theoretical quantum physicists in their work. The atmosphere was relaxed and open—typical of a community that wants to both develop and share science.
During the discussion, Prof. Vladimír Bužek joined the program and highlighted a historic milestone: the 20th anniversary of the first-ever cross-border transmission of quantum-encrypted information, carried out between Austria and Slovakia at the Kittsee border crossing. This took place during the World Year of Physics, celebrating the centenary of Albert Einstein’s “miracle year.” The encrypted transmission was the result of a collaboration between the Research Center for Quantum Information at Institue of Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, led by Prof. Bužek, and the group of Nobel Laureate Anton Zeilinger in Vienna.
To thank the audience for their active participation, we concluded the evening with a prize drawing featuring book gifts. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive – many appreciated the clarity of the talks and the chance to speak directly with experts.
Looking Ahead
This event, organized by QUTE.sk in cooperation with the Research Center for Quantum Information at the Institute of Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, marked a symbolic milestone for Bratislava: the city became the first in Slovakia to receive the title Quantum City – a place open to science, technology, and the quantum future. We believe that every city can become quantum – if it supports the dialogue between science and society and creates space for new ideas.
On April 14, in celebration of World Quantum Day, the international Quantum City Prize was launched – an initiative aiming to bring awareness of quantum science into public spaces during the International Year of Quantum. The competition encourages artistic interventions, urban installations, educational activities, and collaborations with local communities as ways to make the quantum revolution more tangible and accessible.
“Kvantové zápletky” is becoming a tradition, and we plan to continue this format in the coming years—each year with fresh, timely topics from the world of quantum science and technology. Our goal remains to connect experts with the general public, inspire the next generation of researchers, and build a vibrant Slovak quantum community.
Check out the photo gallery from the event:
