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Cutting-edge research in quantum technologies at the National University of Singapore (NUS) received a significant boost with the elevation of the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), a Research Centre of Excellence hosted by NUS, into a flagship national research centre. This development is part of Singapore’s new National Quantum Strategy (NQS), aimed at strengthening the country’s position as a leading hub in the development and deployment of quantum technologies.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat noted that the strategy began nearly 20 years ago with the establishment of CQT at NUS, now a premier global institution for quantum science and technology. He outlined the four key thrusts of the NQS: scientific excellence, engineering capabilities, talent development, and innovative enterprises, which together will build a robust quantum ecosystem in Singapore.
Over the next five years, nearly S$300 million will be invested in four key initiatives under the NQS: the CQT, the Quantum Engineering Programme 3.0 (QEP 3.0), the National Quantum Processor Initiative (NQPI), and the National Quantum Scholarship Scheme (NQSS).
These initiatives aim to build a vibrant quantum ecosystem in Singapore, where industry and research thrive alongside a skilled workforce, ensuring access to critical quantum technologies of national importance.
A key focus of the NQS is to strengthen scientific excellence in high-impact areas of quantum research, such as quantum communications, security, processors, and sensing. Under the NQS, CQT will be elevated to a flagship national R&D centre for quantum technologies, coordinating research talent across the country.
NUS will continue to host the Centre, with nodes at A*STAR and other universities in Singapore to promote research excellence aligned with Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise 2025 plan.
As a national centre, CQT will focus on basic science, quantum communication, cryptography, processors, and sensing, conducting groundbreaking research on large quantum systems, quantum internet technologies, computing platforms, and advanced sensing for GPS and communications.
CQT’s research will support other NQS initiatives like NQPI and QEP, accelerating quantum research into real-world applications. Additionally, CQT will train PhD and Master’s level scientists and engineers to grow Singapore’s talent pool and advance the quantum technologies ecosystem.
DPM Heng acknowledged Singapore’s strong start in quantum technologies will be furthered by the National Quantum Strategy, which supports research from scientific excellence to engineering. At CQT, ideas will be sparked, talent fostered, and collaborations will be formed with companies in fields from finance to biotech. The new National Quantum Scholarships will prepare students for a fast-advancing field with numerous career paths, explained Professor José Ignacio Latorre, Director of CQT and faculty member of the Department of Physics at NUS.
Beyond advancing scientific excellence, the NQS aims to strengthen Singapore’s engineering capabilities in quantum technologies to boost real-world applications. This will be achieved through initiatives like the National Quantum Sensor Programme (NQSP) under QEP 3.0, the NQPI, and the existing National Quantum Federated Foundry.
NQS will also focus on attracting, developing, and retaining talent to support quantum research and commercialisation. The NQSS aims to nurture up to 100 PhD and 100 Master’s level talents over the next five years, building a quantum-ready workforce to leverage the potential of quantum technologies.
NQS aims to build a resilient quantum industry through national initiatives that foster industry partnerships and nurture start-ups. Researchers from CQT will lead these endeavours, including the National Quantum Safe Network by Associate Professor Alexander Ling and the National Quantum Federated Foundry by Research Associate Professor Manas Mukherjee.
To complement these programmes, the NQO will launch thematic grant calls focusing on quantum communications and security, quantum processors, computation and simulation, and quantum sensing and metrology.
