Singapore Boosts Quantum Computing Investment

Singapore’s government will invest some S$300 million (US$222 million) over the next five years to fuel quantum technology research and talent development.

Through such investments, the government aims to build quantum processors in Singapore, and which could propel the development of generative artificial intelligence as well as fuel the discovery for new materials for batteries and pharmacy. As such, only a handful of countries – the United States, Japan, South Korea, Finland, France, China, and Germany – have the capacities to develop a national quantum computing industry.  

For Singapore, the latest investment is also part of its National Quantum Strategy (NQS) which aims to solidify Singapore’s status as a premier hub for the advancement and implementation of quantum technologies.

 Singapore’s National Quantum Strategy

Singapore’s National Quantum Strategy will focus on four core financing initiatives: scientific excellence, engineering skills, talent development, and innovation and industrial partnerships.

1. Scientific Excellence: The Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), which was established in December 2007, will be raised to a national R&D hub, with nodes in partner institutions like A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), NUS, NTU, and local universities, to drive national quantum research agendas.

2. Engineering Capabilities: The Quantum Engineering Programme 3.0 will be expanded and will launch thematic grant calls focusing on quantum communications and security, quantum processors, computation and simulation, and quantum sensing and metrology. Two new national-level quantum programs will be established:

• National Quantum Sensor Programme (NQSP) to promote industry-focused research in areas like as position, navigation, timing, biological sensing and imaging, and remote sensing.
• A National Quantum Processor Initiative (NQPI) will also be formed to foster local expertise in designing and constructing quantum processors using trapped ions, neutral atom arrays, and photonics and control electronics.

Current national-level quantum programs, including the National Quantum Computing Hub (NQCH), National Quantum Federated Foundry (NQFF), and National Quantum Safe-Network (NQSN), will enhance their capabilities and continue partnering with industries.

3. Talent Development: Over the next five years, the National Quantum Scholarships Scheme (NQSS) will fund the development of up to 100 PhD and Master’s level quantum experts, resulting in a quantum-ready workforce.

4. Innovation and Enterprise Collaborations: In coordination with the National Quantum Office, investments will be made to create a dynamic quantum ecosystem through strong industry collaborations and the development of local firms.

Why Quantum computing?

Traditional computers operate using binary bits, which are either 0s or 1s. In contrast, quantum computers utilize qubits, which can exist as both 0s and 1s simultaneously due to quantum mechanics. This unique capability makes quantum computers exponentially powerful as more qubits are added. Quantum computing can quickly explore enormous numbers of possibilities by utilizing quantum mechanics, completing tasks in hours that would take standard computers hundreds of thousands of years.

Japan’s first prototype quantum computer, launched in 2017, is capable of doing complicated calculations 100 times quicker than a normal supercomputer. In 2019, Google’s quantum computer completed a computation in 200 seconds that would have taken the world’s fastest supercomputers 10,000 years.

Quantum computing has the potential to alter several vital industries due to its capacity to process massive volumes of data exponentially quicker than ordinary computers. It has the potential to revolutionize drug discovery by precisely simulating complex molecules such as enzymes and proteins, hence expediting the development of therapies for diseases like malaria and HIV. Furthermore, they promise advances in materials science, allowing for the development of more efficient and sustainable batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.

In the field of artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computers are positioned to improve capacities in interpreting human language nuances and performing difficult tasks connected with general AI. This includes reducing computing expenses for big language models and enhancing the efficiency of simulations for virtual environments and high-resolution data.

According to BCG, quantum computing might generate between US $450 billion and US $850 billion in value over the next 15 to 30 years.

Countries like the United States, China, France, Finland, Germany, South Korea, and Japan, are the only nations attempting to create a national quantum computer to get firsthand experience with the technology, due to the high costs of the technology. Hence, for Singapore to grab the title of Global Quantum Hub is very beneficial, looking at the future growth of quantum computing and its prospects.

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