Quantum Technologies Advancing from Laboratory Research to Commercial Deployment
Rooted in the fundamental principles of physics of the early twentieth century, quantum technologies are rapidly transitioning from experimental research to commercial application, driving a new era of global scientific and industrial transformation. Recently, the field has moved beyond scientific feasibility toward practical implementation, emerging as a key pillar of technological advancement and national security policy worldwide.
In the United States, IBM announced in April 2025 a five‑year initiative valued at USD 150 billion to advance quantum‑centric supercomputing, formally signaling the onset of a new era of quantum-supercomputing convergence. IBM has further established strategic alliances with universities, national laboratories, and industry partners to foster a quantum industrial ecosystem, thereby strengthening its influence in global standards‑setting processes. In May 2025, IBM also presented its latest quantum computing system to President Donald Trump at the White House, highlighting the increasing integration of quantum technology into national strategy and geopolitical significance.
U.S. federal policy has also been proactive. As early as 2018, the U.S. enacted the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA), laying the strategic groundwork for long‑term quantum development. According to a 2025 MeriTalk report, senior federal quantum officials noted that “the real‑world deployment of quantum systems is approaching a critical threshold.” The U.S. government is now focusing resources on quantum commercialization and defense applications, thereby accelerating the formation of a national quantum application ecosystem. This evolution marks a shift in quantum technologies from academic enquiry to components of national infrastructure and industrial value chains.
Europe has further enhanced its efforts through the Quantum Flagship program launched in 2018, supporting progress in quantum communication, sensing, and simulation, with the aim of establishing a competitive, Europe‑based quantum industry ecosystem within the coming decade. China is likewise investing significant state resources into quantum satellites, superconducting computing, and photonic technologies, with Beijing and Hefei emerging as leading hubs of global quantum activity. Public sources indicate that China presently holds the leading position globally in the number of quantum‑related patents.
No longer confined to academic inquiry, quantum technologies have thus become a strategic frontier in global technological competition. Quantum‑enabled AI is already enabling more efficient quantum chemistry simulations, while quantum computing is widely expected to deliver capabilities that surpass GPU‑based acceleration for large‑scale language models. Within the U.S. quantum industry, there is growing anticipation for a unifying leadership role, often described metaphorically as a “quantum czar,” akin to J. Robert Oppenheimer, to guide the sector across the so‑called commercialization “valley of death.” The strategic implications are clear: nations and industries capable of unifying quantum–supercomputing convergence, quantum–AI integration, and cybersecurity will be positioned to exert decisive influence over future economic and security frameworks.
Taiwan’s Opportunities and Challenges: Building a Quantum Industrial Value Chain
Within the global transition toward quantum technologies, Taiwan’s policy framework remains in its initial phases, and participation in quantum‑related commercial sectors is still limited. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductor manufacturing and its deep integration within global supply chains have led businesses, particularly in computer peripherals and systems, to increasingly recognize the substantial industrial potential of quantum technologies. Many have already initiated technical planning and strategic investments in a relatively low‑profile manner.
As movingly depicted in the documentary, A Chip Odyssey, Taiwan’s achievements in semiconductors were not the result of chance, but of sustained effort accumulated over decades. From the initial entrepreneurial vision that began at the soymilk shop to the prolonged separation and personal sacrifices endured by engineers and their families, countless contributions laid the foundations of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. Through this long process of gradual commitment, “accumulating earth to form a mountain,” Taiwan ultimately built a globally competitive semiconductor industry that embodies both technological capability and collective resolve.
The fundamental question now, as posed poignantly in the film’s conclusion, “What's next?” is whether Taiwan is ready to build its next technological apogee in the quantum era. If past progress was defined by precision engineering and advances in semiconductor process capabilities, the emerging “quantum peak” will demand a willingness to embrace uncertainty, entanglement, and fundamentally non‑classical modes of thinking.
Taiwan holds several structural advantages in entering the quantum industry. It possesses one of the world’s most concentrated semiconductor supply chains, globally competitive packaging and testing capabilities, and a deep pool of engineering talent. Rather than building a quantum ecosystem from scratch, Taiwan can leverage its semiconductor strengths to pursue complementary licensing, collaborative development, and integrated supply-chain partnerships with leading international quantum businesses.
Amid intensifying U.S.–China strategic competition, Taiwan must accelerate its positioning efforts. By leveraging chip technologies as a strategic anchor, Taiwan can develop a multi‑layered supply chain that integrates AI, quantum technologies, and advanced packaging. Taiwan is well positioned to become a regional hub for quantum component prototyping, system integration, and standards validation—linking the Asia‑Pacific region with North American and European quantum industries. By securing this position, Taiwan can move beyond its current role as a semiconductor foundry and play an active role in shaping quantum industrial agreements and technical standards.
From Strategy to Talent: The “Quantum–AI Integration Platform” as a Pathway Forward
Several structural challenges continue to impede the development of Taiwan’s quantum industry.
First, the absence of a comprehensive national quantum strategy makes it difficult to concentrate resources on clearly defined priority areas. Second, systematic coordination mechanisms among government, industry, academia, and research institutions remain limited, resulting in largely fragmented efforts. Third, despite its importance for talent development and international collaboration, deeper integration among semiconductor, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum technologies has yet to be fully realized.
Government backing will be indispensable to the establishment of a competitive quantum industry. Taiwan’s past incentive schemes for semiconductor development provide a relevant policy template, including tax credits for quantum-related investment, the establishment of a dedicated quantum research institute within ITRI to cultivate specialized talent, and the facilitation of pilot‑scale development and testing. However, the most pressing challenge lies in the shortage of interdisciplinary quantum talent. The quantum industry requires system‑level thinkers capable of integrating algorithms, control systems, and fabrication processes. It also demands professionals with broad strategic vision who can design executable industrial roadmaps to ensure that quantum technologies take root and scale in Taiwan.
In essence, if quantum and artificial intelligence (AI) are set to become the primary arena of global technological competition, Taiwan must avoid limiting itself to the role of a contract manufacturer or production base for foreign firms. Instead, it should proactively establish a “Quantum–AI Integration Platform” that brings together chip design, algorithm optimization, and AI application scenarios, thereby positioning Taiwan at a strategic vantage point within the global quantum value chain.
Quantum technologies are no longer a distant concept; they are unfolding in real time. The strategic trajectories pursued by the United States, China, and Europe clearly demonstrate that early positioning is decisive in shaping long-term industrial influence. If Taiwan can seize this opportunity and evolve from a “Silicon Island” into a “Quantum Island,” it will achieve not only technological advancement, but also renewed national competitiveness and cultural confidence.
Just as the vision and dedication of earlier generations enabled Taiwan to build its semiconductor stronghold over the past six decades, laying the foundation for national prosperity, today’s leaders must demonstrate equal foresight and resolve. By aligning quantum development with Taiwan’s broader innovation agenda, including the integration of AI and next‑generation technology initiatives, Taiwan can mobilize its national capabilities to build a new quantum summit that will sustain future generations for decades to come.
