Ignacio Cirac: Newton Medal winner looks to the future of quantum technology

People People Podcasts Ignacio Cirac: Newton Medal winner looks to the future of quantum technology 15 Oct 2026 Michael Banks This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features Ignacio Cirac, who has won the 2026 Isaac Newton Medal and Lecture for his “pioneering contributions that founded modern quantum information science, uniting profound theoretical insight, experimental vision, and exceptional scientific leadership shaping quantum physics and technology worldwide”. Cirac is director of the theory division at the Max-Planck-Institute for Quantum Optics in Germany. In conversation with Physics World’s Michael Banks, Cirac explains how an early interest in mathematics and science fiction drew him to quantum information – along with the field’s potential to create new technologies. He talks about his collaboration in the 1990s with Peter Zoller to design quantum simulators and computers based on trapped-ion qubits. Cirac weighs up the pros and cons of the qubit technologies available today and highlights the benefits of systems based on Rydberg atoms. Looking to the future, Cirac cautions against quantum hype and points out that it is still not clear how quantum technologies will be used in the future. He also calls on European academics to maintain their scientific excellence and for more money to be invested in the continent’s quantum industries. This podcast is supported by American Elements, the world’s leading manufacturer of engineered and advanced materials. The company’s ability to scale laboratory breakthroughs to industrial production has contributed to many of the most significant technological advancements since 1990 – including LED lighting, smartphones, and electric vehicles. Want to read more? Registration is free, quick and easy Note: The verification e-mail to complete your account registration should arrive immediately. However, in some cases it takes longer. Don't forget to check your spam folder. If you haven't received the e-mail in 24 hours, please contact customerservices@ioppublishing.org. E-mail Address Register Michael Banks is news editor of Physics World Back to People Physics World podcast Explore our two regular podcast series, Physics World Weekly and Physics World Stories Read previous Francis Halzen and IceCube: why neutrinos keep attracting Nobel prizes Astroparticle physics Podcasts Discover more from Physics World Quantum Research update Your beer can only cool so fast. Blame quantum mechanics Quantum News Quantum physicist Ignacio Cirac awarded 2026 Isaac Newton Medal and Prize Diversity and inclusion Blog Why supporting international colleagues is everyone’s responsibility Related jobs United States | UTC Quantum Center Announcement: Two Tenure-Track Faculty Positions in Quantum Physics Czech Republic | The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC Director General Dresden | International Max Planck Research School for Chemistry and Physics of Quantum Materials PhD positions in Quantum Materials research Related events Materials | Conference 2026 International Semiconductor Conference (CAS) 14—17 October 2026 | Sinaia, Romania Optics and photonics | Conference International Conference & Expo on Lasers, Optics & Photonics 26—28 October 2026 | Frankfurt, Germany Scientific enterprise | Conference Pittcon 2027 24—28 April 2027 | Pittsburgh, US Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors