Ministry of Science and ICT to Support Strengthening Future Quantum Technology and Industry Competitiveness

Provision of Support for Quantum Research and Development, Workforce Training, and Standardization under the Information and Communications Convergence Act
Institutional Support for Technology Development and Personnel Exchange Following the Korea-US Summit

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 9th that the revised "Special Act on the Promotion of Information and Communications and Convergence Activation, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the Information and Communications Convergence Act)," which supports strengthening competitiveness in quantum technology and revitalizing the quantum industry, will be implemented from the 10th after passing the Cabinet meeting (enforcement decree) on the 8th.

The Information and Communications Convergence Act to be implemented this time comprehensively includes provisions on the definition of quantum information and communications, support grounds for research and development, workforce training, international cooperation, standardization, designation of dedicated institutions, and quantum information and communications industry clusters. The Ministry of Science and ICT explained that this is significant in that it increases the possibility of government-level support for quantum technology and industry in the future.

Quantum information and communications (quantum communication, sensors, computing) are core technologies that will lead the transformation of future industries. While major countries such as the United States, Europe (EU), and Japan are making competitive investments, domestically, due to the high technical difficulty and weak industrial base, there have been calls for systematic government-level support.

The enforcement decree of the Information and Communications Convergence Act, which passed the Cabinet meeting on the 8th and will be implemented together, specifies a dedicated institution to promote sectoral projects for the advancement of the quantum field such as technology development, workforce training, and standardization, and also establishes consultation procedures with relevant central administrative agencies and local governments when designating quantum information and communications industry clusters.

Based on this, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to continuously pursue follow-up measures to support the activation of a systematized quantum ecosystem and to expand cooperation in quantum technology development and personnel exchanges between Korea and the United States, as discussed at the Korea-US summit.

First, since 19 services are being developed and demonstrated this year in the public and private sectors for quantum cryptographic communication, it will continue to be used as a foundation for industrial and research exchanges between the two countries. Through consultations with major US research institutions and ministries, the ministry will specify joint research topics, scope, and procedures for expert personnel exchanges. Additionally, the establishment of the "Future Quantum Convergence Forum" will be promoted in the first half of the year as a channel for industry-academia-research exchanges to promote the industrial utilization of quantum research achievements.

Hong Jin-bae, Director of Information Security Network Policy, said, "Through the implementation of the Information and Communications Convergence Act, which has established a systematic promotion foundation for quantum technology expected to determine the future industrial landscape, we expect that Korea's quantum information and communications research ecosystem and industrial ecosystem will be activated simultaneously." He added, "We will strive to enhance our technological and industrial competitiveness in the quantum field through continuous industry-academia-research cooperation and expanded exchanges with key technology countries such as the United States."