Africa has already secured a place in the global quantum science landscape. Researchers across the continent are contributing to advances in quantum communications, photonics, sensing and fundamental physics, while South Africa has established national programmes aimed at building expertise in the field. But as quantum science begins its transition from laboratory experiments to real-world technologies, some researchers argue that the next challenge is no longer scientific discovery. It is developing the engineering, fabrication and industrial infrastructure needed to transform quantum effects into practical devices. “Quantum technology in a general sense has three main pillars,” says Andrew Forbes, professor in the School of Physics at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). “Communication, sensing and computing.” Quantum communication is already among the most mature branches of the field and could see widespread deployment in the near future. Quantum sensing, which exploits quantum effects to make highly precise measurements, could find applications in mining, environmental monitoring, navigation and health care. Quantum computing remains the most visible area of quantum research, but large-scale machines capable of outperforming conventional computers on most real-world tasks are still under development. “There is no quantum computer that can outperform a classical computer yet,” says Forbes. For African researchers, that distinction suggests that the continent’s greatest opportunities may not lie in building the world’s first large-scale quantum computer. Instead, they may emerge from developing quantum sensors, communication systems, photonic technologies, specialised software and advanced materials that underpin future quantum industries. From science to technology That shift from theory to technology is increasingly reflected in international research. A recent study demonstrated how researchers could use an electron beam to create more than 40,000 precisely arranged defects inside a crystal lattice, pointing towards a future in which materials can be engineered atom by atom for quantum applications.1 For Neerish Revaprasadu, professor