2025 at We in Quantum Development: Rebrand, Mentorship, and Community Growth

Last year marked an exciting new chapter for WIQD.

In 2025, we headed in a new direction. We changed our name and our look to better represent our mission of fostering a quantum ecosystem where everybody feels that they belong. From Women in Quantum Development we became to We in Quantum Development.

Alongside our rebrand, we launched new formats and initiatives designed to connect, inspire, and support our diverse community.

New Initiatives and Events

Mentorship Programme

This year, we launched our pilot mentorship programme. We connected 15 mentor–mentee pairs, supporting individuals looking for career guidance and a stronger sense of belonging in quantum. With over 100 mentee applications, it became clear that mentorship is a significant and growing need within our community, one we are committed to expanding further in 2026. Yo can register your interest in the upcoming edition here.

Quantum Needs You!

Guided by the needs of our community, we hosted our first career-focused event, Quantum Need You!, connecting more than 75 diverse participants with companies and institutions across the quantum ecosystem.

Community Events

In March, we launched our first Women’s Day Hackathon, which brought together participants from diverse fields and career stages. Working in interdisciplinary teams, they developed five unique projects addressing the challenge of DEI data collection and communication in creative and impactful ways.

We also introduced a more informal, community-focused format with the inaugural WIQD Quiz Night, where participants tested their quantum and general knowledge while connecting in a relaxed setting.

Throughout the year, we were inspired by three impactful voices from the quantum world:

• Rosario González-Férez encouraged us to become mentors for the next generation of women in science.
• Eliška Greplová shared insights on how to build thriving, diverse research groups.
• Margriet van der Heijden highlighted the often-overlooked history of women in quantum physics.

Our Annual Symposium: We in Quantum

Our flagship event, the fourth Annual Symposium titled We in Quantum, marked a major milestone. Not only did we reconnect with our growing community, but we also announced an important change: WIQD officially became We in Quantum Development, a name that better reflects our mission and long-term vision.

Over 100 attendees joined us to discuss:

• Embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the foundation of technology development
• Diverse lived experiences within the quantum community
• Fostering neurodiversity in professional spaces
• Navigating gender in science
• Engaging cultural diversity in the workplace

Across all our activities, we didn’t just lead insightful discussions, we built meaningful connections between quantum professionals, enthusiasts, and organisations. A big thank you goes to our Organising Committee and staff, whose dedication made all of this possible.

Growing the Team

In 2025, we also welcomed two new Executive Board members and two staff members:

• Marisa Monteiro Borsboom, a seasoned legal expert and an ethical quantum governance champion, brings an interdisciplinary perspective to our mission of building a more inclusive quantum ecosystem
• Julia Oesterling, an expert on network creation, sustainable governance, and infrastructure development; brings a wealth of experience from her work with European Commission and major actors in quantum
• Florence Mooser, our Project Manager, led the organisation of our Annual Symposium and developed our new initiatives
• Mariam Alvi, our Student Assistant, supported communications and project management efforts

Expanding Our Presence Across Europe

In 2025, we continued to share our expertise beyond our own events, contributing to conferences, workshops, and panels across Europe:

• All Paths Lead to Quantum – Career Paths of Quantum Executives at the Perspektywy Women in Tech Conference (Warsaw)
• Attracting and Retaining Quantum Talent at FAB25.cz (Prague)
• Empowering Talent: Inclusion Strategies for the Quantum Workforce at EQTC (Copenhagen)
• A visit from the Czech delegation to Eindhoven University of Technology
• Beyond the Qubit: Women in Quantum Innovation with Quantum Diamonds (Munich)
• A Mentorship Workshop at the 2025 European Quantum Technology Summer School (Paderborn)

Thank You!

None of this would have been possible without our amazing community who continues to shape We in Quantum Development through their engagement, insights, and commitment!

👉 To stay up to date with our upcoming events, initiatives, and opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and follow us on LinkedIn!

We’re excited to continue fostering a quantum ecosystem where everyone feels that they belong!