Singapore invests $300M in National Quantum Strategy

It aims to boost the nation’s quantum industry.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced an investment of nearly $300m into Singapore's National Quantum Strategy (NQS) to boost the country's quantum industry over the next five years. 

“As technology stakeholders, we must make a collective commitment, to capture the upsides of technology, while using it responsibly and ethically to benefit humanity.  This is a complex question which we will need to ask ourselves repeatedly,” said Heng at the Asia Tech x Singapore conference on 30 May.

Alongside, the Green Data Centre (DC) Roadmap was introduced to guide sustainable growth in digital infrastructure. 

The NQS will focus on elevating the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), establishing a National Quantum Sensor Programme, launching the National Quantum Processor Initiative (NQPI), and introducing the National Quantum Scholarships Scheme (NQSS). 

The National Quantum Strategy will be executed through four key funding initiatives, including the elevation of the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), already recognised as a research center of excellence hosted by the National University of Singapore, to a flagship national research center.

It will also establish the National Quantum Sensor Programme under the Quantum Engineering Programme 3.0 (QEP 3.0) to develop quantum sensors, complementing existing quantum initiatives. 

Additionally, NQS will launch the National Quantum Processor Initiative (NQPI) aiming to propel Singapore's capacity in quantum computing, enabling the nation to design and construct its quantum processor.

Moreover, the National Quantum Scholarships Scheme (NQSS) will also be introduced to nurture talent in quantum research and development, grooming the next generation of quantum experts. 

“These four elements – scientific excellence, engineering capabilities, talent, and innovative enterprises – form an integrated approach in building a quantum ecosystem,” said Heng.