3 days Ago By News Ghana
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.gh/twas-apex-award-2025-seeks-global-south-innovators-in-quantum-science/The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) has opened nominations for its 2025 Apex Award, a $100,000 prize recognizing groundbreaking contributions to quantum science and technology by researchers from developing nations.
The honor, among the most prestigious for scientists in the global South, includes a medal, certificate, and an invitation to present at TWAS’s 17th General Conference in Rio de Janeiro. Nominations close on 15 May 2025.Eligibility requires nominees to have resided and worked in developing countries for at least a decade.
The award aligns with the UN-declared International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, marking a century since quantum mechanics’ foundational breakthroughs. UNESCO, leading the global observance, emphasizes quantum innovation’s potential to revolutionize computing, communications, and materials science.“This award underscores the urgency of advancing quantum research and building scientific capacity worldwide,” said TWAS President Quarraisha Abdool Karim.
“Quantum technologies could redefine how we tackle global challenges from climate modeling to healthcare but their benefits must extend equitably.”The 2025 prize will spotlight theoretical or experimental advances that expand fundamental understanding or translate quantum principles into real-world applications. TWAS, a UNESCO-administered academy based in Trieste, Italy, highlights the award’s role in fostering South-South collaboration and sustainable development.
Past laureates have included pioneers in fields like renewable energy and biomedical engineering, reflecting the academy’s mandate to elevate science-driven solutions in low- and middle-income nations.Quantum science’s rapid evolution has intensified calls for inclusive participation in its development. While wealthy nations dominate investments in quantum computing and cryptography, TWAS stresses the need for diverse perspectives to ensure these technologies address inequities rather than exacerbate them.
Recent initiatives, such as Africa’s emerging quantum research hubs and India’s National Quantum Mission, signal growing momentum in the global South.The Apex Award’s focus on quantum innovation arrives as developing countries confront dual imperatives: closing technological gaps and avoiding dependency on foreign-led systems. Experts note that locally rooted research could enable tailored solutions, such as quantum-resistant encryption for vulnerable financial networks or precision agriculture tools for climate-stressed regions.
As the nomination window opens, the scientific community will watch for candidates whose work bridges disciplinary divides or empowers underserved populations. The award’s legacy, however, extends beyond individual achievement it reinforces the critical role of emerging economies in shaping a quantum future that prioritizes equity as much as discovery. News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.
com.gh/twas-apex-award-2025-seeks-global-south-innovators-in-quantum-science/.
