[Seoul = Newsies] reporter Yoon Hyun-sung = The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on 21 September (local time) that the “Korea-US Quantum Technology Cooperation Center” as a base for quantum technology cooperation in the US will begin operation with an opening ceremony. The Cooperation Center, located in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., will work to identify and match quantum technology cooperation needs and partners between Korea and the US region, and support cooperation projects.
The opening ceremony was attended by more than 30 people, including government officials and quantum technology researchers from the two countries, and the unveiling ceremony of a plaque commemorating the announcement of the vision of the cooperation center and the establishment and operation of the institution was held, starting with the relevant progress report.
The Quantum Technology Cooperation Centers are a follow-up to the Korea-US Summit and are a part of the Quantum Technology International Cooperation Program to provide full-cycle and all-round support for domestic industry, academia, and federations to closely collaborate with outstanding overseas R&D (R&D) institutions. Another will be added to the European region next year.
In the afternoon of the same day, six joint research centers in each technical field, which are operated in conjunction with the cooperation center, held a workshop with the participation of research directors from both countries as an opening event. In the workshop, research and operation plans for each joint research center were mutually shared, and cooperation plans were discussed to create synergy between cooperation centers and joint research centers and between joint research centers.
Prior to the opening ceremony, Koo Hyuk-chae, Director of R&D Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science & ICT, met with Gretchen Campbell, Deputy Director of the Office of Quantum Coordination Office (NQCO) at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), to discuss the timeline for signing the Korea-US Joint Statement on Quantum Technology Cooperation. In addition, he also requested active attention and support for the planning of new joint research projects between the Ministry of Science and Finance and the National Science Foundation (NSF) so that they can proceed at a rapid pace.
In his congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony of the Cooperation Center, Director Koo said, “In the field of quantum technology, it is important to create a global ecosystem for the commercialization of technology, and Korea and the United States have high potential for mutual benefit of cooperation in various fields such as joint research, training and utilization of professional manpower, and building a supply chain for key components.”, and noted, “it is time to start a future-oriented partnership with the opening of the cooperation center and joint research center.”