- Korea becomes the first Asian country to host the ITU Quantum World Tour, underscoring its ambition to emerge as a global leader in quantum technology
- Event broadcast worldwide via ITU’s flagship platform “AI for Good” on January 28 at 3:00 p.m., reaching audiences in 183 countries
【Related National Agenda Task】 28-1. Fostering Future Strategic Technologies through Public-Private Collaboration
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MIST), headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, co-hosted the Quantum World Tour (QWT) online on January 28 in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and global quantum industry media outlet The Quantum Insider (TQI). By hosting the event, Korea – the first Asian country to do so – reaffirmed its growing global presence in quantum science and technology and strengthened the foundation for international cooperation.
The Quantum World Tour is a series of international virtual webinars that spotlight the quantum technology ecosystems of various countries and share how governmental strategies are translated into innovation across research sites and industries. It is broadcasted via the ITU’s global flagship platform, ‘AI for Good,’ which connects approximately 55,000 experts from governments, industries, academia, and research institutes across 183 countries.
This time holds particular significance as Korea is the first stop of this year’s global journey and the first Asian country to host the Quantum World Tour. The ITU described Korea as “a country where advanced technology, creativity, and ambition are integrated,“ adding, ”This will be a great opportunity to identify how Korea’s ingenuity translated into breakthroughs in quantum computing and Quantum Secure Communication (QSC).“
Since the Act on Promotion of Quantum Science, Technology, and Industry took effect in November 2024, Korea has been rapidly establishing industrial ecosystems for quantum technology while solidifying its systematic foundation. This event will serve as a stepping stone for Korea to impress global leaders with its quantum technology capabilities and to create opportunities for practical technology cooperation and investment.
Under the theme ‘Strategy, Science and Scale,’ this event highlights the multi-dimensional process of how policy vision drives innovation in industries and links to academic research.
In the first session, which provided a blueprint for Korea’s quantum leap strategy, the Ministry of Science and ICT shared the national quantum strategy and its detailed, stage-specific roadmap. In the following panel discussion, key players from industry, academia, and research institutes―including the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), and SK Telecom―engaged in in-depth discussions on strategies for securing technology sovereignty, creating private-public cooperation models to gain a competitive edge in the global market, and establishing international cooperation plans, all while emphasizing Korea’s leadership in policy making.
In the second session, the present and future of Korea’s vibrant quantum industry were highlighted. Representatives from sector-specific startups―SDT, GQT Korea, and Qunova―presented their core technologies and strategies for global market expansion. In the subsequent discussion, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and KRISS discussed plans for industry-academia cooperation, multifaceted training programs to address talent shortages, and strategies for attracting and developing global talent.
Kim Sung-soo, Deputy Minister of the Office of R&D Policy at the MSIT, stated, “By opening the Quantum World Tour for the first time in Asia, Korea demonstrates that its quantum ecosystem has reached a global level.“ He also added, ”The MSIT will provide continued support to domestic companies to expand their international networks and generate tangible outcomes.”
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Please refer to the attached PDF.