"Let's Catch Up with Quantum Science 10 Years Behind"... Industry-Academia-Research Joint Effort Launches

Ministry of Science and ICT to Hold High-Level Quantum Science Strategy Dialogue on the 10th
KAIST-Led Consortium of 9 Universities Selected for Additional Quantum Graduate Schools
Promotion of Selection for 5 Quantum Advantage Challenge Research Projects Based on Quantum Computing
Strengthening Institutional Support to Encourage Corporate Participation

The government is strengthening strategic cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutes to advance quantum science and technology. It is providing a fund of 40 billion KRW to startups related to quantum technology and has additionally selected nine universities led by KAIST to establish quantum graduate schools for nurturing core quantum talents. Measures such as promoting challenging quantum gain research projects based on quantum computing and strengthening institutional support for corporate participation were also announced.

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT. File photo.

On the afternoon of the 10th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the 2nd Quantum Science and Technology High-Level Strategic Dialogue at a hotel in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, chaired by Minister Lee Jong-ho, where these policies were announced. This strategic meeting is the second, following the first held on December 29 last year. Notably, industry players such as Hyundai Motor Company, LG Electronics, POSCO Holdings, and SK Telecom participated, drawing attention. During the meeting, industry, academia, and research institutes shared progress on activating quantum cooperation and continued discussions on the future development direction of quantum science and technology in Korea. Korea is pursuing the enactment of a quantum law, becoming the second country in the world after the United States to do so, to foster the mid- to long-term growth of quantum science, technology, and industry, and has initiated a preliminary feasibility study for a large-scale R&D project worth 1 trillion KRW. Additionally, during President Yoon Seok-yeol’s visit to the United States in March, the 'Korea-US Joint Statement on Quantum Information Science and Technology Cooperation' was signed, marking the start of technological cooperation with the US.

The Ministry of Science and ICT also announced at this event that, following the first consortium led by Korea University last year, a consortium of nine universities led by KAIST has been selected for the quantum graduate school to nurture top talents in the quantum field. Over a total of nine years (4+3+3 years), they will receive 24.2 billion KRW in support to develop and operate specialized quantum education programs for master's and doctoral students, provide more than 50% of personnel expenses, and offer education and career counseling, ultimately producing over 180 doctoral-level experts.

They also plan to select five projects in the first year for the 'Quantum Gain Challenge Research Based on Quantum Computing,' which explores the use of quantum computers with industry participation. Even for early-stage technologies like quantum science and technology, focusing solely on long-term technology development risks losing momentum, so fostering the early quantum market and industry must proceed in parallel. In the quantum computing field, it is expected that quantum computers at the current level, with 50 to 100 qubits including errors (NISQ, Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum), can be usefully applied. Software startups are emerging, and investments are increasing. Accordingly, the government will launch the 'Quantum Gain Challenge Research Based on Quantum Computing' project this year to support various innovative entities in exploring the economic and social applications of quantum science and technology and experiencing the potential of quantum algorithms and software. If finally selected by May, each project will receive 1 billion KRW annually for three years to verify the feasibility of quantum computing applications. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Hanyang University will lead the 'Material Innovation Quantum Simulator Development' project, developing a quantum simulator specialized for new materials for hydrogen production, storage, and utilization, with participation from Hyundai Motor Company. The 'Quantum Technology Development Leading (Quantum Sensor)' project, involving LG Electronics, Quantum Sensing, and the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, will also commence to develop advanced quantum sensors.

Institutional support to encourage corporate participation in quantum research and industry will also be strengthened. The government and the National Assembly are promoting the enactment of the 'Quantum Science and Technology and Quantum Industry Intensive Promotion Act,' which includes support measures such as relaxing matching ratios for corporate participation in government R&D and granting exclusive licenses for derived patents. For the first time this year, the Financial Services Commission and the Ministry of Science and ICT will collaborate to provide credit guarantees and policy funds worth 40 billion KRW to nurture early-stage quantum startups and support research and industrialization. This is expected to be implemented within the first half of the year. From June 26 to 29, the global quantum academic and exhibition event 'Quantum Korea 2023' will be held for four days at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).

Minister Lee Jong-ho said, "Quantum technology is at a stage of partial commercialization, and there is an opportunity for us to catch up before full commercialization. However, since major countries are all racing at full speed, we must accelerate the pace of technological catch-up. The quantum economy will be a long race, and since it is a three-legged race requiring cooperation between the public and private sectors, industry, academia, and research institutes must work together in talent development, technology development, and creating utilization industries."

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