In recent years, quantum technology has progressively transitioned from theoretical exploration to practical application and has been widely recognized by governments as a critical infrastructure technology with significant national security implications. Key Asian economies, including Japan, China, South Korea, and Singapore, have successively formulated national-level quantum development strategies and intensified investment in applications across energy, communications, and other strategic sectors. These efforts have positioned quantum technologies at the strategic forefront of next-generation industrial competition. Each of these economies has developed a distinctive quantum ecosystem aligned with its institutional conditions and resource endowments, offering valuable reference points for Taiwan.
Japan: Integrating Academia, Industry, and Research to Build a Comprehensive Technology Development Environment
Japan has adopted a policy‑led approach to quantum technology development. Since 2021, it has successively released the Vision of a Quantum Future Society, the Quantum Technology Innovation Strategy, and the Strategy for Quantum Future Industry Development, establishing three national targets for 2030: achieving ten million quantum technology users, generating JPY 50 trillion in application-related economic value, and fostering the emergence of quantum unicorn enterprises.
Japan has placed strong emphasis on the integration of academia, industry, and research. I t established the Quantum Technology Innovation Hubs (QIH) as a national network, consolidating 12 institutions, including the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). On the industrial front, Fujitsu, in collaboration with RIKEN, completed the development of a 64‑qubit superconducting quantum computer in 2023 and is advancing the integration of supercomputing and quantum computing. NTT, working with the University of Tokyo, is developing photonic quantum computers; NEC, in partnership with AIST, is advancing quantum annealing technologies; and Hitachi is investing in silicon‑based quantum computing. Taken together, large enterprises play a central role in Japan’s quantum development landscape, acting as key integrators of research capacity, industrial deployment, and long‑term commercialization pathways.
China: Government-Led, Industry–Academia Coordination with an Application-Oriented and End-to-End Strategy
Since 2010, China has incorporated quantum technology into successive national development plans, from the 12th through the 14th Five-Year Plans. Through initiatives such as the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan and the Science and Technology Innovation 2030 Major Projects, China has strengthened coordination across academia, industry, and research institutions. Its strategy places strong emphasis on foundational research, the development of technology platforms, and end-to-end industrial chain autonomy, while actively promoting the formulation of quantum technology standards. Together, these efforts are shaping a progressively integrated and state‑coordinated quantum ecosystem.
China has prioritized quantum computing, quantum communications, and quantum sensing as core areas of development. In academia, the research team led by Pan Jianwei developed the Zuchongzhi‑3 superconducting quantum processor, demonstrating strong capabilities in foundational quantum research. On the industrial side, Origin Quantum has released the Origin Wukong superconducting quantum computer and the Origin Tianji 4.0 measurement and control system, supporting early‑stage application deployment and system integration. In quantum communications, large‑scale initiatives such as the Beijing–Shanghai Quantum Backbone Network and the Micius quantum satellite represent landmark achievements in national‑level engineering and infrastructure development.
China has also advanced the localization of critical components, including dilution refrigerators and measurement and control systems, with companies such as QuantumCTek and SpinQ Technology participating in supply‑ chain development. While notable progress has been achieved in localization, industrial coordination, and standards development, challenges remain in scaling downstream applications and achieving broad‑based commercialization. Constraints on international technological collaboration, together with market expansion limitations and technical barriers, continue to shape China’s quantum development trajectory.
South Korea: Systematic Deployment Leveraging Semiconductor and Communications Leadership to Drive Applications
South Korea identifies quantum technology as a pivotal driver of future national economic growth, societal development, and security. The government has formalized the Quantum Science and Technology and Industry Promotion Act, establishing an institutional foundation for industrial development, and has released the Quantum Initiative Promotion Strategy, earmarking approximately KRW 198 billion to expedite the commercialization of quantum technologies.
South Korea’s strategic objectives include advancing fault‑tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) by leveraging semiconductor expertise, with a focus on semiconductor‑based spin qubits and topological qubit chip fabrication processes. To drive practical applications, the government has launched large-scale flagship initiatives, including Quantum Entanglement Transmission Technologies, Three‑Node Quantum Repeaters, Quantum Precision Navigation Systems, and Quantum MRI for medical applications, thereby bolstering core capabilities in quantum communications and quantum sensing. Complementary measures, such as Quantum Software and Algorithm Challenges, have been introduced alongside the deployment of leading quantum computing platforms from IBM and IonQ, with the aim of cultivating a robust and application‑oriented quantum software ecosystem.
Singapore: Policy-Driven Construction of a Comprehensive Quantum Technology Ecosystem
Singapore launched its Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) in 2018 and introduced a National Quantum Strategy in 2024, committing close to SGD 300 million over five years. The strategy aims to build an end-to-end ecosystem spanning foundational research through application demonstration. Coordinated by the National Quantum Office (NQO), Singapore has established three core national platforms: the National Quantum Computing Hub (NQCH), the National Quantum Fabless Foundry (NQFF), and the National Quantum‑Safe Network (NQSN). These platforms integrate resources from A*STAR, the National University of Singapore, and the Nanyang Technological University, while actively pursuing bilateral cooperation with the United States and Europe.
In quantum computing, the National Quantum Computing Hub (NQCH) provides national testbed platforms, with simulation and algorithm development led by the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) and A*STAR. In quantum sensing, QEP 3.0 and the National Quantum Sensing Programme prioritize navigation and biomedical applications. In quantum communications, the Infocomm Media Development Authority and CQT jointly operate the National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) and the commercial NQSN+ network, strengthening national cybersecurity infrastructure. Anchored by CQT, Singapore’s quantum ecosystem has fostered a growing cohort of start‑ups, including SpeQtral, S‑Fifteen Instruments, and Horizon Quantum Computing.
Conclusion
Learning from Japan:Strengthening Technological Capabilities through Industry–Academia Collaboration
In 2025, Global Research and Development Center for Quantum Artificial Intelligence Technology (G‑QuAT) in Japan collaborated with NVIDIA to develop the quantum research supercomputer ABCI-Q, significantly accelerating Japan’s quantum technology advancement. Japan’s strong capabilities in cryogenics and materials science provide a solid foundation for its quantum industrial development. Taiwan may draw valuable lessons from Japan’s model of leveraging close industry–academia collaboration to strengthen technological capacity and support long‑term innovation.
Drawing on China’s Experience in Industry–Academia Coordination and Standards Development
China’s quantum development demonstrates the effectiveness of policy coordination, industrial chain integration, and platform‑based approaches in fostering collaboration across academia, industry, and research institutions. Taiwan may draw on China’s experience in standards development and coordinated resource integration to inform multi‑stakeholder collaboration, while further strengthening cross-ministerial coordination and international linkages to enhance participation in global quantum value chains.
Emulating South Korea’s Use of Flagship Projects and Commercialization-Oriented Strategies
Although South Korea entered quantum technology development relatively late, its strategy demonstrates a challenge‑driven mindset that tolerates early‑stage failure and actively incentivizes foundational research. By launching large-scale flagship projects tailored to its strengths in semiconductors and communications, South Korea has pursued commercialization through a comprehensive and systematic framework. This experience offers valuable reference points for the refinement of Taiwan’s quantum strategy.
Referencing Singapore’s Model to Build Taiwan’s Quantum Industry Competitiveness
Singapore has accelerated the deployment of quantum communications, sensing, and computing through international collaboration and integrated resource mobilization, positioning itself as a leading Asia‑Pacific quantum hub. Taiwan may draw lessons from Singapore’s national strategy‑driven and cross‑ministerial coordination model, combined with the parallel development of industry–academia collaboration and start-up incubation, to build a globally competitive quantum industry ecosystem.
Final Observation
Asian economies exhibit diverse strengths and development pathways in quantum technology. Japan leverages research‑oriented institutions and corporate dynamism to establish leadership in quantum and supercomputing integration; China builds large‑scale platforms through policy coordination and industrial chain integration; South Korea advances application deployment through a systematic approach rooted in semiconductor and communications capabilities; and Singapore emphasizes international collaboration to position itself as a regional quantum hub. Taken together, these experiences provide important reference points for the formulation and strategic deployment of Taiwan’s quantum policies, supporting the identification of a development pathway aligned with Taiwan’s institutional strengths within the evolving global quantum landscape.
