This year’s special publication adopts a macro-level perspective to systematically present the full landscape of the “quantum revolution.” It offers a comprehensive examination of both the current state and future trajectories of quantum technologies, encompassing global industry trends, core technological breakthroughs, emerging application domains, and the evolving policy and industrial dynamics of major economies. Beyond analyzing recent advances in quantum computing, communications, and sensing, the publication also highlights application potential across key sectors, including finance, materials, pharmaceuticals, energy, and intelligent robotics.
Standing at the 2025 inflection point, as quantum technologies transition from laboratory research toward market deployment, we recognize that this “second quantum revolution” is not merely a contest of scientific and technological capability. Rather, it constitutes a comprehensive competition encompassing institutional frameworks, talent cultivation, industrial positioning, and international collaboration. The future of quantum technologies will belong to those economies and enterprises capable of establishing complete and resilient quantum ecosystems at an early stage. Against this backdrop, Taiwan’s industries must leverage existing strengths, focus on niche technologies and cross‑domain applications, and articulate a distinctive development pathway to capture strategic opportunities within the global quantum landscape.
From Scientific Breakthroughs to Industrial Transformation:
The Evolutionary Context of Quantum Technologies
Quantum technologies have emerged as a central pillar of the next global technological revolution. Major international enterprises such as IBM and Google, alongside leading economies including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Japan, have launched national‑level quantum strategic initiatives. The prominence of quantum technologies in the early twenty-first century lies in their ability to transcend the limitations of conventional computation and classical physics, demonstrating disruptive potential across computing, communications, sensing, metrology, and simulation, with the capacity to fundamentally reshape established technological paradigms.
Taiwan’s Quantum Technology Landscape: Coexisting Challenges and Opportunities
The Taiwan government has initiated investment in quantum technologies and is currently in an early phase of exploration and foundational development. Looking ahead, several key challenges and strategic issues must be addressed. First, the effective integration of R&D resources and the establishment of application-oriented environments are essential to maximizing investment efficiency and generating scalable momentum. Second, industrial participation in quantum hardware and software research and development must be further strengthened. In parallel, the cultivation of interdisciplinary quantum talent has become an urgent priority.
Although Taiwan entered the quantum technology domain relatively later, it possesses distinctive strategic opportunities. Taiwan benefits from world‑leading semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and a highly integrated ICT industry value chain, providing clear advantages in silicon‑based quantum chip design, control systems, advanced packaging and testing, and algorithm development. Moreover, amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, global demand for trusted and resilient supply chains continues to grow. Leveraging its established international credibility, Taiwan is well positioned to assume a strategic role as a key node in the ongoing reconfiguration of the global quantum technology industry.
Building a Quantum Industry Ecosystem: Four Strategic Pillars
In the face of quantum technologies, which constitute an emerging field characterized by high uncertainty yet immense potential, how should Taiwan define its positioning and strategic deployment? This publication articulates four strategic pillars for building a quantum technology industry ecosystem, intended to serve as a starting point for cross‑ministerial, cross‑domain, and cross‑generational dialogue and policy deliberation.
Pillar I: Key Technology R&D and Application Innovation
Taiwan’s quantum development strategy should adopt a focused and selective approach, capitalizing on its established strengths in ICT and semiconductor industries to target niche, high-impact technological domains. Priority areas should include core quantum chip technologies, quantum control systems, and critical subsystem components. By establishing open validation and testing platforms, domestic firms can be supported in technology verification and product upgrading, thereby gradually forming a more complete local quantum supply chain. At the same time, Taiwan should actively promote the integration of artificial intelligence and quantum t echnologies, adv ancing transitional applications such as quantum simulation and hybrid quantum computing, while strengthening linkages with key industrial sectors including finance, pharmaceuticals, energy, and healthcare.
Pillar II: International Collaboration and Standards Participation
Quantum technology is inherently a global arena of competition. Taiwan must therefore proactively strengthen international collaboration to enhance global connectivity and market access. Active participation in international alliances and industrial cooperation platforms, including the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED‑ C), the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC), and Quantum Strategic Industry Alliance for Revolution (Q‑STAR), will enable Taiwan to establish strategic partnerships in research, development, and supply chains with leading quantum economies. In parallel, Taiwan should engage more strategically in international standards‑setting processes in order to increase its influence within the evolving architecture of the global technology supply chain.
Pillar III: Quantum Technology Governance and Talent Preparedness
Given the potential risks and high sensitivity associated with quantum technologies, Taiwan must establish a comprehensive technology governance framework. Such a framework should incorporate risk assessment mechanisms, data sovereignty provisions, and ethical guidelines, while remaining aligned with national security legislation, export control regimes, and intellectual property systems. With respect to talent preparedness, Taiwan should develop a cross‑disciplinary quantum talent framework that extends beyond the training of basic research personnel to encompass vertically and horizontally integrated pathways spanning secondary education, higher education, graduate training, and industry engagement.
Pillar IV: Testbed Development and Start-up Incubation
To accelerate quantum innovation an decosystem formation, Taiwan may focus on two complementary strategies. The first strategy is the establishment of national-level quantum research and development testbeds and shared platforms. Given the high costs, stringent stability requirements, and technical barriers associated with quantum research, individual institutions often lack the capacity to independently sustain such infrastructure. Drawing on experiences from Europe and Japan, Taiwan could develop state‑led, medium‑ to long‑term shared quantum platforms that provide access to experimental resources and environments for the validation of key systems and modules. The second strategy involves actively promoting quantum entrepreneurship and start-up incubation in order to accelerate investment flows, strengthen technology commercialization, and support the broader development of a sustainable quantum ecosystem.
Towards a New Era: Advancing National Competitiveness through Quantum Technologies
The advancement of quantum technologies represents not only a scientific and technological breakthrough, but also a comprehensive national endeavor encompassing institutions, talent, and industrial collaboration. For Taiwan to secure a distinctive position in the global quantum competition and translate quantum innovation into sustained national competitiveness, a holistic deployment across four dimensions is required. These include key technology research and development together with application innovation, international collaboration and participation in standards‑setting, quantum technology governance and talent preparedness, and the development of testbeds alongside start-up incubation. The second quantum revolution calls for long‑term strategic commitment and collective engagement across industry and society. Only through consensus‑building and integrated resource mobilization can Taiwan cultivate a distinctive quantum‑driven growth engine, meet the challenges posed by future technologies, and unlock the next wave of industrial opportunity.
