Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is also chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF), announced an investment of close to SG$300 million into the country’s National Quantum Strategy (NQS) to advance the growing local quantum industry.
This investment will strengthen the nation’s position as a leading hub in the development and deployment of quantum technologies over the next five years.
The NQS is funded by the National Research Foundation, (NRF), and driven by the National Quantum Office (NQO), hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
Also, the NQS will focus on four funding initiatives anchored by four strategic thrusts – scientific excellence, engineering capabilities, talent, innovation and enterprise partnerships.
First, on scientific excellence/ The NQS will invest to elevate the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) into a national R&D centre with nodes in partner institutions, including A*STAR and local universities, bringing together research talent across the country to drive national quantum research priorities.
Second, on engineering capabilities. To strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in quantum technologies and accelerate translation of quantum solutions, the Quantum Engineering Programme 3.0 will be enhanced with the addition of a new National Quantum Sensor Programme (NQSP).
The NQSP will bring research performers and industry partners together, to collaborate on industry-centric research projects in the focal areas of position, navigation and timing, biomedical sensing and imaging, and remote sensing.
A new National Quantum Processor Initiative (NQPI) will also be established to build local capabilities in the design and build up of Singapore’s own quantum processor(s).
Third, on talent. A National Quantum Scholarships Scheme (NQSS) will be funded under the National Quantum Strategy to develop a pipeline of up to 100 PhD and 100 Master-level quantum talent over the next five years to meet Singapore’s research and industry needs and build a quantum-ready workforce.
And fourth, on innovation and enterprise partnerships. Investments will be made to develop a vibrant quantum ecosystem through strong industry partnerships and the nurturing of local enterprises which can work with NQO.
The National Quantum Computing Hub (NQCH), a programme under NQO, will strengthen its innovation & enterprise and ecosystem building efforts, by driving synergistic tripartite partnerships with industry, end-users and the research ecosystem in quantum computing, to support the translation of quantum R&D into real world solutions.
Following the successful testbed trials of the National Quantum Safe Network (NQSN), IMDA also launched the National Quantum-Safe Network Plus (NQSN+) where operators will provide commercial quantum-safe solutions for businesses by the end of this year.
