The government will invest approximately 650 billion won over eight years to secure quantum technology, including high-performance quantum computers. This plan aims to pursue independent technology in the quantum field, where U.S.-China hegemonic competition is fierce.
On June 26, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the 5th National Research and Development (R&D) Project Evaluation General Committee and finalized the results of the appropriateness review for the “Quantum Science and Technology Flagship Project.” The project will invest 645.4 billion won over eight years until 2032 to develop quantum technologies for global competition, including a 1,000-qubit quantum computer and 100km quantum internet.
The ministry decided to pursue the project from this year through a preliminary feasibility study exemption last August. However, due to the lengthy subsequent procedure of determining the budget through an appropriateness review, substantial research support became possible from the second half of the year. The budget is slightly reduced from the initial government request of over 700 billion won.
Through this project, the ministry plans to challenge the development of a superconducting quantum chip (QPU) with operational error correction. Error correction is a technology to solve the error phenomenon that increases with the number of qubits. Research is actively progressing worldwide, with Google introducing its new technology-equipped quantum chip “Willow” last December.
The ministry also finalized the preliminary feasibility study results for seven projects selected last year. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Korean-style hydrogen reduction steelmaking demonstration technology development project will conduct a demonstration of 300,000-ton hydrogen reduction steelmaking based on the world’s first spectral hydrogen flow reduction furnace over five years with 814.6 billion won. The hydrogen reduction steelmaking process is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 95% compared to the existing blast furnace process.
Projects in the 100 billion to 300 billion won range will also be pursued, including digital media innovation technology development, disaster and safety management R&D, semiconductor advanced industry technology development, climate change adaptation water disaster management technology development, and construction lifecycle safety innovation technology development.
Ryu Gwang-jun, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, “Key projects that penetrate major issues in our society, such as growth through fostering new industries and responding to the climate crisis through carbon-neutral industrial transformation, have been confirmed for implementation,” adding, “We will continuously consider and strive to ensure that national R&D investment leads to improving the quality of life for citizens and enhancing national competitiveness.”