Han Sang-wook, head of the Quantum Technology Utilization Research Hub Project, at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in Seoul. Provided by KIST.
“The time has come for quantum technology to move into full-scale application research. We need to create a hub where people can work closely together, building joint labs that actively utilize the infrastructure of government-funded research institutes. It will also serve as a talent reservoir for the graduates of our quantum graduate schools.”
Last month, at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) headquarters in Seoul, Han Sang-wook, head of the Quantum Technology Utilization Research Hub Project, emphasized the urgent need for a physical hub to facilitate active joint research among academia, industry, and research institutes as the strategic future technology of quantum continues to develop rapidly.
“While ‘convergent technology’ sounds sophisticated, it’s a difficult field,” Han explained. “I don’t believe anything substantial can be created through academic conferences and forums alone.” He elaborated that in the early stages of the quantum industry, it is most important for people from diverse backgrounds to gather and pool their ideas.
Developed countries like the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Germany already have active quantum research hubs. The project’s goal is to establish a similarly vibrant hub in Korea. “The most important thing is for people’s daily lives to overlap, creating many opportunities for natural conversation, whether it’s bumping into each other while getting coffee or passing in the hallway,” he stressed.
Sharing large-scale infrastructure is another core value of the research hub. “The advantage of government-funded research institutes is the ease of building and maintaining large-scale equipment,” Han said. “The idea is to open up and share expensive infrastructure that is essential for initial research but difficult for individual research groups to acquire.” He added, “A key characteristic of the quantum field is the high proportion of junior researchers. We will promote joint research to allow students to be based here and generate ideas.”
The project group will operate a total of 10 Joint Quantum Lab (JQL) projects by 2029. Including the other host institute, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, the total will be 20. The funding is 300 million KRW per lab annually, and the five KIST-affiliated JQLs were selected last November.
In quantum technology, implementing a light source that emits photons (particles of light) with controlled quantum properties one by one is paramount. Among the five KIST-affiliated JQLs, a team from Korea University aims to create a room-temperature quantum light source as portable as a flashlight. A team from Kyung Hee University is challenging itself to develop a detector that can not only detect the presence of photons but also resolve the number of photons.
Other projects include quantum device miniaturization, a quantum sensor to precisely measure the temperature of brain cells, and the localization of a quantum computing cloud environment.
All JQLs must include at least one postdoctoral researcher. This is expected to serve as a ‘talent reservoir’ for Ph.D. graduates from the quantum graduate schools at Korea University, KAIST, and POSTECH, allowing them to continue their research capabilities in the field.
“The goal of all JQLs is to create commercializable outcomes,” Han explained. “Researchers participating in the JQLs can utilize KIST’s infrastructure on an equal footing with KIST researchers.” He also noted, “The program is so popular that 39 teams applied for the five JQL spots we will be selecting this November.”
In addition, the project group will hold a ‘Quantum Exchange Day’ event twice a year to create opportunities for outstanding students to present their achievements, receive awards, and engage in joint research through international exchange. Han said, “In the long term, we plan to construct a nine-story building in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, to support quantum technology research and industrialization.”
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