Singapore’s quantum ecosystem gets a boost from three national platforms

From left, Dr Ye Jun, Senior Scientist, from IHPC, Mr Papani Venkatesh from NSCC Singapore and Dr Han Rui, Scientific Project Coordinator, from CQT at NUS, are pictured at Singapore’s ASPIRE-1 supercomputer. The three organisations are pooling their expertise and resources to create the National Quantum Computing Hub. Credit: Quantum Engineering Programme, Singapore.

Singapore’s Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) has launched three national platforms to grow the country’s capabilities in quantum computing, quantum-safe communication and the manufacturing of quantum devices. CQT researchers are contributing to research efforts across the national platforms. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, and Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF), Mr Heng Swee Keat, spoke on the initiatives in his opening address at the Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG), the region’s flagship tech event, on 31 May 2022.

“Our investment in quantum computing and quantum engineering is part of our approach of trying to anticipate the future, although we can never predict the future, and proactively shaping the future that we want,” Mr Heng said. 

The three national quantum platforms, which are hosted across the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, (A*STAR), and the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore, will coordinate activities across research organisations and build public-private collaborations to put Singapore at the cutting edge in quantum technologies. The platforms are:

• National Quantum Computing Hub - which will develop quantum computing capabilities and explore applications through industry collaborations;
• National Quantum Fabless Foundry - which will support microfabrication techniques for quantum devices and enabling technologies;
• National Quantum-Safe Network - which will conduct nationwide trials of quantum-safe communication technologies that aim to enhance network security for critical infrastructure.

Singapore has made steady investments in research in quantum technologies over two decades. Launched in 2018, the QEP is a national programme that applies quantum technologies for solving user-defined problems. QEP is supported by the NRF and A*STAR.

NRF Chief Executive Officer Professor Low Teck Seng said, “The launch of the three national platforms signals the intent and ambition of Singapore to build upon our past investments in quantum technologies, and take it further through close industry development with our partner agencies. The platforms will leverage strengths from each participating institution to develop critical capabilities across the pillars of quantum computing, communication, and devices, enhancing our vibrant quantum research ecosystem.”

“Quantum technologies are attracting global interest thanks to their potential impacts across industries. The creation of three national quantum platforms in Singapore allows us to act as a bigger player in the key areas of computing, communication and manufacturing. The Quantum Engineering Programme supports these initiatives and other efforts to reap the benefits of Singapore’s strong heritage in quantum research,” said CQT Principal Investigator Alexander Ling. Alexander is the Director of the QEP and an Associate Professor in the NUS Department of Physics.

The programme is committing $23.5 million to the three platforms for up to 3.5 years under Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise 2020 (RIE2020) plan. These platforms will receive further support from across the research landscape.

National Quantum Computing Hub (NQCH)

The NQCH will pool expertise and resources from CQT’s teams at NUS and NTU Singapore, A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) and the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore in building a quantum computing ecosystem in Singapore.

Quantum computers have the potential to outperform today’s supercomputers in speed and energy efficiency on some kinds of problems.

Researchers at CQT and IHPC will develop quantum computing hardware and middleware. They will also explore applications with industry collaborators in fields such as finance, supply chain, and chemistry. Meanwhile, NSCC will host a quantum computing facility and provide the supercomputing power needed to develop and train the algorithms that could eventually be used on quantum computers.

A quantum processor measuring less than 2cm across sits in the centre of the golden plate extending from this structure in the CQT’s research labs at NTU Singapore. The chip was made in facilities coordinated by the National Quantum Fabless Foundry. The hardware will be developed under the National Quantum Computing Hub towards being offered for cloud access. Credit: Quantum Engineering Programme, Singapore.

The hub will also build international collaborations and train new talent to address a skills shortage in this emerging industry.

"Quantum computing is coming. The question is not about ‘when’, but about ‘who’ will be ready to use this technology. The approach taken in Singapore is to combine the expertise from our researchers with the needed support to achieve such a mission. The NQCH goals, as a collective effort of CQT, IHPC and NSCC, are to provide the infrastructure for a production quantum computer, the middleware to run it and the quantum algorithms that solve relevant practical tasks. This effort extends to produce quantum talent beyond physicists and to provide trustworthy information to the community," said CQT Director José Ignacio Latorre, who is also Lead Principal Investigator of NQCH and a Professor at NUS.

“Quantum computing is a revolutionary technology that promises a significant shift in how information is processed and analysed to solve complex problems traditionally limited by classical computers. We are pleased to contribute our expertise in computational science, high performance computing, artificial intelligence and optimisation to this ecosystem effort to develop quantum ready algorithms and software. Working alongside CQT and NSCC, we strive to enable many diverse quantum and classical hybrid computing applications in collaboration with industry partners,” said Dr Su Yi, Executive Director, IHPC, A*STAR, and a Co-Principal Investigator, NQCH.

“The potential for quantum computing is enormous and a scientific game-changer. Supercomputers will be a key resource in accelerating quantum computing research and developing the tools and algorithms needed to support the new technology. The partnership between NSCC, IHPC and CQT reflects a whole-of-research commitment that covers the entire value chain for the development of the quantum computing ecosystem in Singapore,” said Associate Professor Tan Tin Wee, Chief Executive, NSCC, and a Co-Principal Investigator for NQCH.

National Quantum Fabless Foundry (NQFF)

The National Quantum Fabless Foundry (NQFF), hosted at A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), will support micro and nanofabrication of quantum devices in QEP’s three pillars of quantum computation, communication and sensing. It will also develop enabling devices related to Singapore’s strategic needs in the quantum technology ecosystem.

Manas working on a photoelectron spectroscopy system. Credit: Quantum Engineering Programme, Singapore.

“The National Quantum Fabless Foundry looks forward to supporting the quantum research community by developing enabling quantum devices and a quantum-based economy, and facilitating the development of quantum systems in Singapore,” said CQT Principal Investigator Manas Mukherjee. Manas is Director of the National Quantum Fabless Foundry and also a Senior Scientist at IMRE, A*STAR. “We want to act as a bridge between R&D and industry to help shape the future of microelectronics, and forge more partnerships with the best fabrication facilities in Singapore,” he added.

National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN)

The NQSN, which was announced in February 2022, will conduct nationwide trials of quantum-safe communication technologies that promise robust network security for critical infrastructure and companies handling sensitive data. The initiative, led from CQT, as well as NUS and NTU, has over 15 private and government collaborators. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is one of the collaborators.

“IMDA is working closely with our Institutes of Higher Learning, industry and research partners to collaborate on the operation and implementation of the National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) on Singapore’s fibre network infrastructure. This is to ensure that Singapore’s communications networks and systems remain futureproof and secure as quantum computing technologies are developed. We will continue to push the boundaries of such frontier technologies so both consumers and businesses in Singapore can benefit from them,” said Wee Sain, Director, Communications and Connectivity Engineering, IMDA.

Selected media coverage:

• The Straits Times - https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/tech-news/spore-boosts-investments-in-quantum-computing-with-2-new-programmes-heng-swee-keat