What's the status of South Korea's quest to become a Quantum Four

Earlier this year, South Korea announced plans to invest more than 3 trillion won (about $2.33 billion) in quantum technology by 2035, a sure sign that it intends to become a global leader in the field. To this end, South Korea will increase the number of quantum researchers sevenfold to 2,500, develop its own quantum computers and advanced quantum sensors, and secure a 10 percent global market share in quantum technology by 2035, signing cooperative agreements with IBM and IonQ to train local technologists in the process.

Like other countries in the region, South Korea has been actively involved in quantum technology research and development for decades and has a healthy ecosystem with multiple initiatives and institutions dedicated to advancing the field not only at the national level, but also at the private company level.

We will now provide a brief overview of the country's developments up to mid-2023.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) is one of the major players in quantum computing in Korea. Over the past few years, KIST has been conducting research in quantum information processing and quantum computing; in addition to developing quantum algorithms, hardware, and software, they are also exploring potential applications of quantum computing.

In addition, universities, industries, and government agencies are collaborating to promote quantum computing in Korea. To support the research, development and commercialization of quantum technologies, the Korean government has launched the Quantum Computing Development Strategy. The government funds researchers to conduct research, establish testbeds, and collaborate with industry and academia to conduct research.

Another noteworthy fact is that IonQ has signed an agreement with the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT to foster a regional quantum computing ecosystem.

On June 27, 2023, IonQ, a leader in the quantum computing industry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to educate quantum science and technology professionals and promote the field of quantum computing.

Korea has also been increasing its focus on quantum technology and supporting it by providing funding and incentives to those involved in the field. In addition to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), several universities in Korea have established quantum computing research centers or laboratories. The following are some of the most important players in the quantum technology ecosystem in Korea:

- Seoul National University (SNU) conducts research on quantum algorithms, error correction, and quantum simulation.

- The Quantum Information and Computing Laboratory at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) also conducts research in quantum computing and related fields; students interested in quantum computing can participate in KAIST's research and education programs. Through the IBM Quantum Network, KAIST will exchange information with other organizations and companies to enhance the global position of Korean technology in the field of quantum computing.

Official website link:

https://cse.snu.ac.kr/en/lab/quantum-information-and-quantum-computing-lab

- Another noteworthy project is the Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Quantum Information Research Support Center (Q-Center), which was established as a result of the Ministry of Science and ICT's project to create a quantum information ecosystem.

- The Institute for Quantum Information Technology (IQIT) at Yonsei University aims to enrich human life through quantum information research and prepare for the future information society by developing quantum ecosystems and teaching quantum information technology. Researchers at Yonsei University conduct cutting-edge research in the fields of software development, algorithm development, and quantum ecosystem development to advance the frontiers of quantum computing.

Official website link:

https://devcms.yonsei.ac.kr/iqit_e/index.do

Several companies in Korea are also actively involved in quantum computing. Quantum computing has sparked the interest of global companies, with companies such as Samsung, SK Telecom, and LG Electronics interested in the technology; their R&D efforts have focused on the development of quantum computers, quantum algorithms, and quantum communication systems.

Smaller startups are also involved.

EYL, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with an office in Arlington, Virginia, was founded in 2015 and offers a miniature 5-millimeter-sized quantum random number generator chip. In addition to developing ultra-lightweight chip encryptors for all IoT devices, EYL is also developing thin-film quantum random number generators for ID cards and credit cards.

First Quantum provides solutions for core quantum computing applications using its proprietary Carnot Map-based quantum optimization protocols and intellectual property.First Quantum is located in Seoul and was founded in 2022. The company has a particular focus on computational fluid dynamics governed by Navier-Stokes nonlinear partial differential equations, the solution of which is critical to the aerospace industry, astrophysics, and numerical weather and climate prediction. Further, the company is working on quantum algorithms for financial engineering problems such as portfolio optimization and derivatives pricing.

QSIMPLUS offers a product called QSIMpro, a software simulator for encrypted communications. This product does not require the hardware that would normally be needed, thus reducing time and cost. Non-specialists in the field of quantum communications can implement and verify various QC systems by dragging and dropping blocks that behave like hardware components. The company was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Seoul.

Another important company in South Korea is Qunova Computing, which provides software services to customers in the pharmaceutical discovery and materials industries.Founded in Daejeon in 2021, Qunova's quantum software solutions allow customers to save significant time in the research and development process by identifying candidate materials and drugs with desired properties faster, thereby reducing costs and maximizing the use of resources.

In June 2023, Qunova partnered with PASQAL, a French company, and POSCO Holdings, a South Korean steel company, to jointly conduct research and development of quantum AI algorithms. The collaboration will focus on developing innovative technologies, such as optimizing environmentally friendly steelmaking processes and developing materials for secondary batteries by combining POSCO Group's AI technology with PASQAL's quantum computer technology.

The contributions of the following two scholars have advanced the field of quantum technology in Korea:

- Hyunseok Jeong is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Seoul National University, where he leads the Quantum Information Science Group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He has made significant contributions in the fields of quantum optics and quantum information, especially in quantum invisible state transfer and quantum repeaters.

- As a professor in the School of Electrical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Jaewan Kim has made outstanding contributions to the development of quantum communication technologies, including quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum hacking detection.

Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) has marked a major milestone by announcing a comprehensive Quantum Science and Technology Strategy. The ambitious plan, which aims to propel South Korea to become a global center of the quantum economy by 2035, underscores the country's commitment to make up for its relatively late entry into the quantum field; the strategy covers a wide range of applications from quantum computing and the quantum Internet to quantum sensors.

Importantly, as one of the top five publicly disclosed quantum commitments globally, the initiative recognizes South Korea's current technological shortcomings and outlines a robust plan to achieve quantum parity with leading countries by 2035. Korea's goal of training up to 2,500 quantum professionals and promoting the global quantum market demonstrates its strong commitment to this emerging field.

Equally noteworthy is the Ministry's plan to establish strategic partnerships with quantum technology companies, including IBM and IonQ. These collaborations with industry leaders will help accelerate quantum development in Korea. South Korea has also expanded its investment in international collaborations to 210 billion won for 2023-2025: a significant increase from the 13 billion won for 2019-2022.

Not everything is positive, however, as an article published in the Korea Economic Daily last year criticized South Korea's quantum computer development efforts, stating that the country lacks an industrial ecosystem in the field of quantum computing.

In conclusion, while South Korea recognizes that it is catching up with other countries in quantum technology, its ambitious and comprehensive strategy, significant financial investment and strategic partnerships can help it close the gap and potentially become a major player in the global quantum economy.

Reference link:

[1]https://eng.kist.re.kr/eng/aboutus/organization.do

[2] https://www.hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/pasqal-qunova-computing-and-posco-holdings-collaborate-on-quantum-computing-solutions-for- traditional-steelmaking-and-material-development/

[3]https://quantum-korea.kr/en_main/