Special Act to Support Quantum Industry Revitalization Takes Effect on 10 Days
Designation of a dedicated agency for promoting quantum technology
Expanding technology development and human resource exchange with the United States


The 'Special Act on the Promotion of Information and Communications Technology and the Activation of Convergence, etc.', which supports the strengthening of quantum technology competitiveness and the revitalization of the quantum industry, will be passed by the State Council on the 8th and will take effect on the 10th.

Quantums are particles possessing the smallest indivisible unit of energy. Quantum information and communication is an innovative technology that applies the physical properties of quantum mechanics—superposition, uncertainty, entanglement, and irreversibility—to information and communication technologies such as communications, sensors, and computers, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies. Currently, major countries around the world are competitively investing in this field. In Korea, there have been concerns that government support is needed due to its weak industrial base.

This enforcement ordinance establishes a new Article 30-2, specifying dedicated agencies for promoting sector-specific projects to promote quantum technologies, including technology development, human resource development, and standardization. In addition, with the establishment of Article 30-3, a consultation procedure with relevant central administrative agencies and local governments was established when designating related clusters.

Based on this, the Ministry of Science and ICT will continue to promote support for the activation of the quantum ecosystem and the expansion of technological development cooperation and human resource exchange between the two countries, as discussed at the Korea-U.S. summit.

First, unlike other quantum technologies, quantum cryptography is rapidly undergoing initial commercialization. As 19 services are being developed and tested in the public and private sectors in 2021, it will be utilized as a foundation for exchanges between companies and academia in both countries in the future. In addition, joint research topics and scopes, as well as procedures for exchange of specialized personnel, will be specified in consultation with major U.S. research institutes and government agencies.

Furthermore, the "Future Quantum Convergence Forum" will be launched within the first half of the year to facilitate industry-academia-research collaboration and promote the industrial application of quantum research findings. Hong Jin-bae, Director General of Information Security Network Policy, stated, "We will strive to enhance our technological and industrial competitiveness in the quantum field by continuing industry-academia-research collaboration and expanding exchanges with key technology-focused countries like the United States."