Gyeonggi Province Forms 'Quantum Cluster Attraction Consortium' with North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province

Gyeonggi Province has joined hands with North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province to attract the National Quantum Cluster.

On May 15, Gyeonggi Province announced that it has formed a consortium with North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province and is developing strategies to foster the quantum industry based on ultra-wide regional cooperation, following the government's public call last month for the designation of regional quantum clusters to establish a quantum industry ecosystem.

The cooperation plan between the two regions is being discussed with a focus on an industrialization strategy that links quantum materials, parts, and equipment with quantum computing, centering on quantum communication as the core axis.

Gyeonggi Province will be responsible for research and development as well as technological advancement, while North Jeolla will leverage its abundant demonstration infrastructure and industrial application base to establish a quantum transformation (QX) cooperation system that connects research and development, demonstration, and industrialization.

Through this, Gyeonggi Province expects to secure a foundation for demonstration and industrialization, while North Jeolla will be able to supplement its relatively weak capacity for original technology R&D, thereby creating a mutually complementary synergy.

Additionally, by linking the regions, they aim to accelerate technology transfer and commercialization, with tangible results anticipated in terms of investment and corporate attraction. Furthermore, they plan to establish an industry ecosystem covering the entire quantum technology value chain, from research and development to demonstration and industrialization.

This consortium is also significant as a cooperation model that transcends geographical distance. By closely connecting North Jeolla and Gyeonggi Province through digital and network-based collaboration beyond physical proximity, it is expected to present a new possibility for strengthening national-level competitiveness in the quantum industry through win-win cooperation, moving beyond inter-regional competition.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Gyeonggi Province serves as a hub for quantum technology with quantum fabs and research institutes such as Sungkyunkwan University and the Korea Nanotechnology Research Society. In addition, it is home to South Korea's largest semiconductor cluster and the Pangyo open quantum testbed, concentrating advanced IT industry infrastructure and establishing a unique competitive edge in forming the quantum industry value chain.

To promote the localization and cost reduction of quantum communication technology, Gyeonggi Province plans to develop communication device technology and establish a foundry. It will also link these efforts with quantum computing and materials, parts, and equipment, aiming to localize essential equipment and components for quantum systems and build the nation's first QPU foundry model.

North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province will promote financial and public data security demonstration projects in the field of quantum communication in partnership with the National Pension Service. Additionally, it plans to expand projects for financial security and industrial site demonstrations, strengthen corporate attraction and commercialization support, and accelerate the creation of a North Jeolla-style quantum industry ecosystem.

Hyun Byungcheon, Director-General of Future Growth Industries at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Cooperation with North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province will serve as a crucial catalyst for expanding Gyeonggi Province's advanced technological capabilities into a tangible industrial ecosystem." He added, "Through this, we expect not only to establish the optimal hub leading Korea's 'Quantum Transformation (QX)' but also to make a significant contribution to regional balanced development that fosters coexistence between the Seoul metropolitan area and non-metropolitan regions."

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