Insider Brief:
- The Quantum World Tour launches its second episode on October 9, 2025, spotlighting South Africa’s growing role in the global quantum ecosystem.
- South Africa’s growing ecosystem spans quantum communication research, a vibrant academic and startup community, and workforce initiatives dedicated to broadening access of emerging technologies.
- The Tour, organized by the ITU and The Quantum Insider, is a free, public series designed as a “living blueprint” for how countries translate quantum strategies into infrastructure, talent, and commercialization.
- To register, visit AI for Good – Quantum World Tour: South Africa
The Quantum World Tour, a global initiative launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with The Quantum Insider, will host its second episode on October 9, 2025, with a spotlight on South Africa, the scientific powerhouse of the African continent.
The South Africa episode will take place online from 12:30 to 14:00 CEST, hosted on the AI for Good Neural Network and live-streamed on YouTube. This 90-minute session will explore how South Africa is advancing quantum science and technology to address both national priorities and global challenges.
South Africa’s Quantum Ecosystem: Science, Strategy, and Inclusion
South Africa has long been a leader in scientific research in Africa, with institutions such as Stellenbosch University, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SA QuTI) driving forward discovery in physics and emerging technologies. Building on this foundation, the country is now carving out its own place in the global quantum economy.
From quantum communication experiments to building a skilled and diverse workforce, South Africa’s approach emphasizes both scientific excellence and inclusivity. By integrating universities, research institutes, and industry players, the nation is creating pathways for quantum technologies to support resilience, security, and economic growth.
Part of this united effort is Prof. Andrew Forbes, Director of the South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SA QuTI). Under his leadership, SA QuTI has been bringing together universities, research councils, and other stakeholders to coordinate development and build shared infrastructure. Forbes’ own research group at the University of the Witwatersrand has been internationally recognized for advancing high-dimensional quantum communication using structured light, a field where South Africa is a global leader.
Alongside him, Dr. Yaseera Ismail of Stellenbosch University is pursuing work in quantum optics and free-space communication, while Dr. Isaac Nape, now at IBM, has contributed to foundational studies in quantum entanglement and photonic quantum information processing. Together, they represent a growing community of scientists shaping both the theoretical and experimental pillars of Africa’s quantum future.
Agenda Highlights
The South Africa episode of the Quantum World Tour will feature:
- A briefing on South Africa’s National Quantum Efforts by Prof. Andrew Forbes, Director, South African Quantum Technology Initiative.
- An overview of South Africa’s quantum ecosystem, powered by The Quantum Insider market intelligence, and presented by Cierra Choucair, Director of Strategic Content at The Quantum Insider.
- A panel discussion on strategy, science, and scale featuring Forbes, Dr. Isaac Nape (IBM), and Dr. Yaseera Ismail (Stellenbosch University), moderated by Cierra Choucair, Director of Strategic Content at The Quantum Insider.
- A startup showcase with presentations from Dr. Christine Steenkamp (Stellenbosch University) and Dr. Kessie Govender (Cape Peninsula University of Technology).
- A panel on workforce development featuring Dr. Kelvin Mpofu (CSIR) moderated by Cierra Choucair, Director of Strategic Content at The Quantum Insider.
About the Quantum World Tour
Launched during the 2025 AI for Good Global Summit, the Quantum World Tour is a collaboration between the ITU and The Quantum Insider. The series will feature country-specific episodes, each blending ecosystem briefings, expert discussion, startup showcases, and workforce initiatives. Designed as a “living blueprint” for ecosystem building, the Tour will highlight how nations are translating vision into infrastructure, talent, and commercialization.
Following South Africa, future stops will include China, Russia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and many others. The Quantum World Tour is free to attend. To register, visit AI for Good – Quantum World Tour: South Africa.
