Key research infrastructure to strengthen South Korea's competitiveness in quantum technology has been newly established in the industrial city of Ulsan.

On the 13th, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) held an opening ceremony for the 'UNIST Quantum Nano-Fab' and officially launched a national research facility capable of carrying out the entire process of quantum device development in one space.

The newly opened Quantum Nanofab is a facility established through a total investment of 30 billion won, and is configured to autonomously conduct full-cycle research ranging from the design, fabrication, analysis, verification, and demonstration of quantum devices.

It is an open research infrastructure built through two national projects supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute of Information and Communication Technology Planning and Evaluation (IITP).

UNIST has expanded and built this quantum nanofab based on the nanofab facility it has operated for the past 18 years.

The existing nanofabs are open process infrastructures jointly utilized by over 60 institutions nationwide, supporting tens of thousands of research processes annually and serving as key hubs for domestic nanotechnology research.

In addition, the scope of research has been further expanded by adding equipment specialized for quantum processes and a dedicated support system.

Quantum Nanofab is equipped with world-class analytical equipment and has about 30 process and analysis specialists on-site to support researchers.

Through this, domestic and international researchers [can] work on advanced quantum device processesIt is expected to function as an open research platform that provides an environment where researchers can freely utilize the technology and promotes cooperation between industry, academia, and research institutes.

With the opening of this facility, UNIST has evolved beyond its existing semiconductor and nano-process-focused research infrastructure to become a comprehensive research hub encompassing quantum technology.

The strategy is to foster Ulsan, which has grown particularly through the automobile, shipbuilding, and petrochemical industries, as an innovation hub in the southeastern region by adding a cutting-edge quantum and semiconductor technology base.

UNIST presented three principles for the operation of its quantum nanofab: a "one-stop research environment," "open joint use," and "future industrial vision."

The plan is to increase research efficiency through a researcher-centered integrated process system and to lead the expansion of the quantum ecosystem through a nationwide joint utilization model.

UNIST President Park Jong-rae stated, “This investment goes beyond the simple expansion of research facilities and marks a turning point that elevates the nation’s quantum technology capabilities to the next level,” adding, “We will create a virtuous cycle so that quantum research achievements originating in Ulsan lead to technological advancement and strengthened industrial competitiveness.”