Sparks! 2025 – Imagining Quantum City

On Thursday, 19 June 2025, CERN hosted Sparks! 2025 – Imagining Quantum City, a public event dedicated to exploring the transformative potential of quantum technologies in shaping the cities of the future. Taking place at the CERN Science Gateway in Geneva and streamed online, the event guided participants through a speculative vision of a ‘Quantum City’, a future urban environment shaped by the applications of quantum mechanics. The programme is designed to offer a balanced glimpse into the possibilities of quantum technologies, grounded in current scientific developments.

The evening event showcased how quantum technologies could impact key areas such as healthcare, energy systems, and communication infrastructures. Through a series of accessible presentations and discussions, leading scientists and experts highlighted recent advancements and considered how these technologies might contribute to building more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive urban systems. The event also reflected on the historical role of cities as centres of innovation and examined how this legacy may continue in a quantum-driven future.

Earlier in the day, a parallel event—Sparks! Connect—took at CERN’s IdeaSquare. This workshop brought together urban planners and CERN researchers for a hands-on exchange focused on real-world applications of CERN technologies in urban settings. Topics of discussion included real-time data acquisition, infrastructure monitoring, and energy efficiency, supported by site visits and collaborative sessions.