October 1-2, 2025
Materials design
in the Quantum Age
- Université de Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Edito
by Christophe Jurczak
Quantonation
Welcome to the official website of the Alain Aspect Symposium, an annual event inspired by the pioneering work of Professor Alain Aspect, Nobel Laureate and a central figure in the development of quantum physics. This Symposium brings together leading scientists, industry experts, and innovators to explore the transformative potential of quantum technologies in addressing the pressing challenges of our time.
Nobel Prize Laureate (2022) Prof. Alain Aspect has, throughout his career, been a passionate advocate for fundamental science, notably through his experimental validation of Bell’s inequalities in the foundations of quantum physics, as well as his contributions to atomic and optical physics. At the same time, he has consistently championed the application of scientific knowledge, encouraging his students to pursue careers in industry and to found companies such as PASQAL, Muquans, Quandela and WelinQ.
The Symposium serves as a platform to advance dialogue and collaboration across disciplines. Each edition focuses on a critical theme, showcasing the intersection of quantum innovation and real-world impact.
The 2023 edition, dedicated to Quantum and Healthcare, explored how quantum technologies are revolutionizing medical research, diagnostics, and treatment. From advanced imaging to drug discovery, the event highlighted the extraordinary potential of quantum solutions to transform the healthcare landscape.
Building on that momentum, the 2024 edition turned its focus to Quantum and Climate, addressing one of the most urgent global challenges of our era. Held on November 19–20 at iXcampus in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, this edition brought together over 200 participants, including scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers from Europe, Japan, and North America. The program featured keynote talks, startup and corporate sessions, and roundtable discussions, all aimed at exploring how quantum technologies can drive advancements in climate modeling, renewable energy, and sustainability.
Materials design in the Quantum Age
Looking ahead, we are pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of the Alain Aspect Symposium will take place on October 1–2 at Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, under the theme Materials design in the Quantum Age.
This upcoming edition will examine the growing role of quantum technologies in designing and discovering new materials—not only for quantum computing, but also for healthcare, energy, and many other applications. By bringing together experts in classical and quantum computing, simulation, condensed matter, materials science, chemistry, sensing, the Symposium will highlight how quantum innovation can accelerate the creation of novel materials with real-world impact.
As we look to the future, the Alain Aspect Symposium continues to be a beacon for innovation, fostering collaboration and inspiring new breakthroughs in quantum science and its applications. We invite you to join us in this journey to harness the power of quantum technologies for the benefit of humanity and our planet.
Bio
ALAIN ASPECT
Alain Aspect is Professor at the Institut d’OptiqueUniversité Paris-Saclay and at École Polytechnique (Institut Polytechnique de Paris). He is co-recipient of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics for his experimental work on Bell inequalities, which probed the foundations of quantum physics. These experiments have profoundly affected our understanding of nature, and closed a debate opened at the beginning of the last century by Einstein, who considered quantum physics to be incomplete.
Prof. Aspect’s results paved the way for the science of quantum information and the development of quantum technologies, which are at the heart of research at the Institut quantique (‘Quantum Institute’) at l’University of Sherbrooke.
Together with his partners Georges-Olivier Reymond and Christophe Jurczak, Prof. Aspect founded Pasqal, a company dedicated to building quantum computers, in 2019. The company, which employs over 140 people, has offices in France, the Netherlands and Sherbrooke, within the Quantum Innovation Zone.
