Seongnam City Joins National Quantum Cluster Competition... Establishing Quantum Software Hub Based in Pangyo

Joining the Gyeonggi-Jeonbuk Ultra-Wide Consortium

On May 19, Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province announced that it will participate as a key hub in the Gyeonggi-do–Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province ultra-wide consortium for the '2026 Quantum Cluster Designation Competition' promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, aiming to become the central city for South Korea's quantum industry.

Seongnam City Hall view. Provided by Seongnam City

On May 15, the city submitted a letter of intent to participate in the Gyeonggi-do–Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province ultra-wide consortium to Gyeonggi Province, in order to take part in the Ministry of Science and ICT's '2026 Quantum Cluster Designation Competition'. Subsequently, on May 18, Gyeonggi Province, along with Seongnam City and other participating organizations, submitted the application for the quantum cluster designation competition to the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Through this competition, Seongnam City plans to join the Gyeonggi Province ultra-wide consortium to create a 'quantum computing and communications demand hub (Spoke)' and a 'quantum computing algorithm and software (SW) development hub'.

In particular, with an industrial base that includes more than 1,800 information technology (IT), biotechnology (BT), and cultural technology (CT) companies concentrated in Pangyo Techno Valley, as well as approximately 34% of the nation's fabless companies, Seongnam is recognized as an optimal location, serving both as a key demand center for quantum technology and a hub for practical demonstration.

Gyeonggi Province and Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province plan to build a quantum transformation (QX) cooperative system that links research and development, demonstration, and industrialization through this collaboration. Gyeonggi Province will be responsible for research and development and technological advancement, while Jeonbuk will handle demonstration infrastructure and the industrial application base, dividing their roles accordingly.

Seongnam City, as the core hub implementing Gyeonggi Province's research and development strategy on the ground, is expected to play a leading role in establishing a virtuous cycle structure in the national quantum industry value chain, focusing on quantum computing algorithm and software development.

Additionally, by participating in this cluster, Seongnam City is expected to accelerate the localization of quantum software and systems, which currently rely heavily on foreign sources, contributing to securing technological sovereignty. The city also anticipates supporting local companies in their quantum transformation (QX), thereby strengthening future industrial competitiveness and creating high-quality jobs.

A Seongnam City official stated, "Seongnam is the ideal location for the quantum industry, boasting a unique information and communication technology (ICT) ecosystem centered around Pangyo Techno Valley. We will actively prepare to become a leading city in the era of the global quantum economy."

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