The Public Quantum Network (PQN) has received the inaugural Continental Quantum City Prize for North & Central America, a prestigious award presented at the Closing Ceremony of the United Nations International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025). Launched in November 2023 at the Urbana Free Library, PQN is the world’s first public quantum network, linking the library to a physics lab via fiber optics and allowing public interaction with quantum phenomena. The network was recognized for placing “quantum content directly in the urban landscape so that people can discover it serendipitously as part of their daily lives.” “It is so exciting to receive an award that recognizes precisely the intention we had in creating PQN: to bring quantum science and technology into the public space!” said Virginia “Gina” Lorenz, PQN co-PI and Illinois Grainger College of Engineering physics professor, signaling a major step towards accessible quantum technology.
Public Quantum Network Wins Continental Quantum City Prize
This prize, established by World Quantum Day, specifically honors initiatives that successfully integrate quantum science and technology into everyday urban life, moving it beyond the confines of research labs. The network, a collaboration between researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and local institutions, links the library to Loomis Laboratory of Physics via a fiber-optic network. This connection enabled Leon Wilson, the Urbana Public Library IT Manager, to become the first public user to manipulate entangled photons – a foundational element of quantum communication, computation, and sensing. Beyond basic demonstrations, visitors have been able to recreate a Nobel Prize-winning experiment, access a ‘quantum fortune cookie,’ and even send quantum Valentine’s Day messages. Lorenz also noted, “We are so grateful for the continued support of The Urbana Free Library and Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband in creating and hosting the first node.” Plans are already underway to expand the network with new nodes at Fermilab’s Lederman Science Center and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, signaling a commitment to broader public engagement. Beyond simply observing demonstrations, the public has actively participated in complex quantum experiments, even recreating the setup of the 2022 Nobel Prize-winning experiment. Researchers are now actively preparing to extend the network’s reach beyond its initial location, building on the existing fiber-optic link between the library and Loomis Laboratory of Physics.