“Bitgoeul Gwangju, Making It a Quantum Industry Hub” Gwangju City Signs Quantum Cooperation MOU with SKT and IDQ

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Gwangju Metropolitan City, SK Telecom, and IDQ have joined hands to establish a quantum information communication ecosystem in “Bitgoeul” Gwangju.

Gwangju Metropolitan City, SK Telecom, and IDQ Korea announced on the 17th that they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to supply quantum technology to research and development (R&D), public, and administrative sectors promoted by Gwangju Metropolitan City, and to cooperate in creating a quantum information communication ecosystem.

Going forward, through industry-academia-research-government cooperation, they plan to secure innovative technologies, build testbeds, and create an ecosystem where quantum-related technologies, personnel, and industries can be concentrated in Gwangju. Having led the “light industry,” Gwangju aims to maintain leadership in the quantum technology field that utilizes the properties of light and develop into a mecca of photonic convergence industry combined with the quantum industry.

To this end, SK Telecom will supply products, solutions, and services using quantum technology to Gwangju Metropolitan City and cooperate to ensure stable operation. Gwangju City will support related tasks for the introduction of quantum technology in R&D and public-administrative sectors. Both parties will also continuously cooperate to win government’s pioneering projects such as the “Digital New Deal” (quantum cryptography communication infrastructure construction and operation project) and collaborate on requesting government policy support for building the quantum ecosystem.

Previously, Gwangju City Hall and Gwangju Health and Environment Research Institute under Gwangju Metropolitan City have continued a “quantum partnership” with SK Telecom by participating in the Digital New Deal for two consecutive years since last year. SK Telecom is also considering applying quantum cryptography technology as a data security enhancement measure for the “K-Health Public Medical AI Service Ecosystem Construction” project being prepared by Gwangju City.

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, said, “I hope that SK Telecom, a global ICT leader, IDQ, a representative company in the quantum industry, and Gwangju, an AI-centered city, will open the way for win-win cooperation and mutual growth as strong partners,” adding, “We will build a foundation to revitalize the quantum information communication ecosystem and gather strength and wisdom to develop quantum technology and expand and discover application fields.”

Cho Young-rok, Head of CR Growth Support Office at SK Telecom, said, “The recent enforcement of the ‘ICT Special Act,’ which focuses on national fostering of quantum technology, makes this agreement even more meaningful,” and added, “We will actively cooperate to revitalize the quantum ecosystem through collaboration such as cluster construction.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.