Insider Brief
- Ireland has launched a mobile Quantum & Answers Trailer to educate the public on quantum technologies as part of a €10 million national effort to secure communications infrastructure.
- The trailer is a key outreach element of the IrelandQCI project, which is building a quantum key distribution network between Dublin, Waterford, and Cork.
- Trinity College Dublin reports the trailer will tour schools, conferences, and public events to explain quantum science and its societal impact through hands-on demonstrations.
- Image: From left to right at the launch are Prof. Dan Kilper, Director of the CONNECT Centre; Dr Deirdre Kilbane, IrelandQCI Project Lead; Dr Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity; Patrick Neary, Assistant Secretary – Communications at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and John Regan, Managing Director at ESB Telecoms. (Trinity College Dublin)
A new mobile exhibit is hitting the road across Ireland to explain quantum technologies to the public, as part of a €10 million government-backed effort to prepare national infrastructure for a future shaped by quantum computing.
The centerpiece is the IrelandQCI Quantum & Answers Trailer — a hands-on mobile unit designed to help people understand quantum science and its real-world uses. According to a news release from Trinity College Dublin, where the trailer made its debut, the initiative combines public outreach with a national push to build secure communication systems resilient to next-generation cyberattacks.
The trailer forms a highly visible outreach element of the larger IrelandQCI project, which is laying down a quantum key distribution (QKD) network between Dublin, Waterford, and Cork. This network, funded jointly by the European Commission and Ireland’s Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, integrates quantum technology with existing telecom infrastructure to safeguard communications from threats posed by future quantum computers.
The IrelandQCI project is part of the broader EuroQCI initiative, a European Union-wide program involving 26 member states to develop secure quantum communication networks. Trinity College Dublin noted that the Irish effort is led by the Walton Institute at South East Technological University (SETU), on behalf of the CONNECT Research Centre for Future Networks.
Speaking at the official launch held at Trinity, Irish government representative Patrick Neary, Assistant Secretary for Communications at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, joined Dr. Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity; Dr. Deirdre Kilbane, the IrelandQCI Project Lead and Director of Research at SETU’s Walton Institute; John Regan, Managing Director of ESB Telecoms; and Professor Dan Kilper, Director of CONNECT.
Making Quantum Accessible
The trailer features interactive experiments, demonstrations, and educational content to explain complex quantum ideas like entanglement and encryption in a way that is accessible to students and the general public. Trinity College Dublin reported that it is designed to encourage interest in STEM careers while raising awareness about the societal impact of emerging quantum technologies. Experts will help answer quantum questions such as ‘what are real life applications for quantum computing?’ and ‘how will a quantum network benefit Ireland?’
After its launch stop at Trinity, the Quantum & Answers Trailer will travel to schools, industry conferences, and STEM events around Ireland throughout the coming year. Organizers say the tour is intended to educate not only students and families, but also policymakers and business leaders on the importance of investing in secure quantum communication systems.
Projects like the trailer are vital to bridge the gap between advanced research and public understanding, according to the release. While quantum science may be complex, officials behind IrelandQCI believe that engaging the public is essential to building national readiness for technologies that could transform cybersecurity, communications, and computing over the next decade.
Quotes
At the launch, Patrick Neary said: “Quantum technologies represent a critical pillar in building Ireland’s secure digital future. The launch of the Quantum & Answers Trailer, as part of the IrelandQCI initiative, is a creative and important step in bringing the science behind these innovations to the public. We are proud to support this initiative, which not only educates but also inspires the next generation to engage with these technologies.”
Dr Deirdre Kilbane, IrelandQCI Project Lead, said: “Today is an exciting day for the IrelandQCI project, as we have been working towards an innovative initiative to raise awareness of the benefits of quantum technologies to the general public in an exciting way. We encourage anyone interested in learning about quantum technologies to follow the movement of the IrelandQCI Q & A Trailer on our social media channels, pose questions to our experts, and visit us at showcase events. With the creation of the secure communication network, this project represents a major step forward in our ability to protect and encrypt communications. Now, we are keen to educate the general public on how this will benefit wider society.”
Prof. Dan Kilper, Director at CONNECT, said: “Quantum technologies are changing the way we think about communication and cybersecurity. At CONNECT, we’re really proud to be part of the IrelandQCI Quantum & Answers trailer, it’s a brilliant way to bring these complex ideas to life. For us, it’s all about building trust in our digital future, sparking curiosity in the next generation of thinkers, and helping today’s workforce gain the skills they’ll need in a world where quantum technology will become part of everyday life.”
John Regan, Managing Director at ESB Telecoms, said: “ESB Telecoms takes immense pride in providing the vital fibre optic backbone for the Ireland QCI project. Quantum technology will ensure the security of our digital infrastructure and cyber security well into the future. Today marks another significant milestone with the launch of the Mobile Quantum Engagement Trailer, making it the perfect opportunity to bring this complex technology to life and showcase how it will future-proof Ireland’s critical network infrastructure.”
