Incheon City Seeks to Attract 'Quantum Cluster'... Aims to Become a Super-Gap Tech City

Incheon City is aiming to attract a quantum cluster by employing a differentiated strategy that integrates quantum technology with its regional strategic industries, namely bio and materials, parts, and equipment (so-called "SoBuJang") sectors.

On March 12, the city announced its intention to compete for designation as a quantum cluster, a program promoted in line with the government's "Comprehensive Quantum Plan" and "Quantum Cluster Basic Plan" announced this past January. The quantum cluster is a national strategic initiative that will designate up to five metropolitan governments by July, supporting projects with a budget of up to 100 billion won over five years.

In response, the city has secured a budget this year to support the quantum industry and will actively promote initiatives such as the quantum transformation (QX: Quantum Transformation) of local industries and projects to enhance quantum literacy. The total project budget amounts to 1,993 million won, and the city plans to support quantum technology development funding, foster quantum culture, promote quantum literacy, and discover public demonstration models that leverage quantum technology to solve public issues.

In addition, through the "Quantum Bio Sensing Solution Demonstration and Consulting" project, which was selected last year as part of a public offering by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the city will use the results of the first year to further advance the level of technology and application models. By conducting both demonstrations in the quantum and bio fields and consulting on quantum transformation for companies, the city aims to raise the practical application and commercialization levels of quantum technologies in industry settings.

Incheon City Hall

To date, the city has worked on cultivating the ecosystem by leveraging the IBM 127-qubit quantum computer infrastructure introduced at Yonsei University's International Campus (Songdo), facilitating a three-party business agreement between Canadian quantum computing company D-Wave and Yonsei University, and hosting quantum technology seminars and conferences. The city has also established an institutional foundation by creating a dedicated quantum technology team and enacting the "Ordinance on Fostering and Supporting the Quantum Industry."

The city plans to formulate a quantum industry development plan by May through research services and expert consultations. In preparation for the cluster designation competition in July, it also intends to expand participation from potential quantum transformation companies and further detail the development plan.

An official from Incheon City stated, "If artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that revolutionizes the foundation of industries, quantum technology is a game-changer that will reshape the landscape of future industries. By leveraging regional specialized industries such as bio and logistics, we will consolidate our capabilities in future strategic technologies, including physical AI and quantum technology, and strive to become a super-gap technology city leading Korea."

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