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The next generation of lighter alloys, more efficient batteries, and pharmaceuticals. Quantum technologies will change the world as much as electricity and the internet did - the leadership of the University of West Bohemia (UWB) in Pilsen shares this conviction. Experts from the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAV) and the New Technologies - Research Centre (NTC), marking World Quantum Day (the date April 14th refers to the first digits of the cornerstone of the quantum world, the Planck constant: 4.14), remind us that they are already laying the foundations for new materials and developing high-precision quantum sensors for medical and industrial use. They also focus on the development of computations, simulations, and algorithms - including those designed to withstand future quantum computers.

"Quantum technologies are not just an academic discipline; they represent a technological breakthrough comparable to the onset of electricity. They will fundamentally transform industry, energy, and security. Those who seize this moment will gain a lead for decades," explained Petr Kavalíř, Director of NTC. The strategic importance of these technologies is reflected in both the EU Quantum Strategy and the Czech National Quantum Strategy, which identify them as key to future competitiveness. However, a scientific leap of this magnitude also brings new threats, and the time when they become relevant is fast approaching.

The National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB) estimates that quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption standards will be available within five to fifteen years. According to Kavalíř, it could be even sooner: "There is recent talk of 2029 as the year by which we should have implemented algorithms resistant to quantum computers. Sensitive data is already being harvested globally today, only to be decrypted later." UWB is actively preparing for the arrival of quantum computers and new technologies. In this context, the university aims to be an expert partner for the City of Pilsen and the Pilsen Region, ensuring that the region, the city, and local companies remain at the forefront of technological development.

UWB is a member of the elite IBM Quantum Innovation Center network. Among the few in the country, researchers and students in Pilsen have direct access to state-of-the-art IBM quantum computers in the USA, enabling them to simulate complex physical processes. While Pilsen's NTC is an internationally recognized facility in this field, its success is built on interdisciplinarity. NTC collaborates with FAV and the Faculty of Arts, which last year participated in a conference on the philosophical questions of quantum physics. "I am pleased that we are succeeding in opening the world of quantum technologies to a wider audience," said Miroslav Holeček, Deputy Director of NTC for Development. According to him, the past International Year of Quantum Science and Technology at UWB was exceptionally busy. Regular seminars for students and the public continue this year.