Singapore to Invest in National Quantum Strategy, Launches Green DC Roadmap

Heng Swee Keat, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF), announced the planned investment during the ATxSummit at the Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) 2024.

This investment is expected to establish Singapore as a leading hub for the development and implementation of quantum technologies in the next five years.

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The NQS is funded by the NRF, managed by the National Quantum Office (NQO), and hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It will prioritize four funding initiatives centered around four strategic thrusts: scientific excellence, engineering capabilities, talent, innovation and enterprise partnerships.

Scientific Excellence: The NQS will invest to elevate the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) into a national R&D center with nodes in partner institutions, including A*STAR and local universities, bringing together research talent across the country to drive national quantum research priorities.

Engineering Capabilities: To strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in quantum technologies and accelerate the translation of quantum solutions, the Quantum Engineering Programme 3.0 (QEP 3.0) will be enhanced with the addition of a new National Quantum Sensor Programme (NQSP). The NQSP will bring research performers and industry partners together to collaborate on industry-centric research projects in the focal areas of Position, Navigation & Timing, Biomedical Sensing & Imaging, and Remote Sensing. A new National Quantum Processor Initiative (NQPI) will also be established to build local capabilities in the design and build up of Singapore’s own quantum processor(s).

Talent: A National Quantum Scholarships Scheme (NQSS) will be funded under the National Quantum Strategy to develop a pipeline of up to 100 PhD and 100 Master-level quantum talent over the next five years to meet Singapore’s research and industry needs and build a quantum-ready workforce.

Innovation & Enterprise Partnerships: Investments will be made to develop a vibrant quantum ecosystem through strong industry partnerships and the nurturing of local enterprises which can work with NQO. The National Quantum Computing Hub (NQCH), a programme under NQO, will strengthen its innovation & enterprise and ecosystem; building efforts, by driving synergistic tripartite partnerships with the industry, end-users and the research ecosystem in quantum computing, to support the translation of quantum R&D into real world solutions. Following the successful testbed trials of the National Quantum Safe Network (NQSN), IMDA also launched the National Quantum-Safe Network Plus (NQSN+) whereby operators will provide commercial quantum-safe solutions for businesses by end of this year.

Green Data Centre Roadmap

During the event, DPM Heng also launched the Green Data Centre (DC) Roadmap, highlighting Singapore's dedication to digital sustainability and environmentally friendly strategies for data centers. The strategy seeks to design a digitally sustainable future by increasing capacity, encouraging energy efficiency, and advocating for the use of environmentally friendly energy sources in data centers.

At the Digital Sustainability Forum, a segment of the ATxSummit, Dr. Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, highlighted Singapore's dedication to promoting the sustainable expansion of DCs with the Green DC Roadmap.

The roadmap aims to deliver at least 300 megawatts (MW) of additional capacity in the short term, while enabling continued growth through the implementation of a green energy project. Moreover, the roadmap pioneers an end-to-end ecosystem approach, acknowledging the key role of DC operators as catalysts in establishing collaborations across different industries.

Finally, at the ATxSummit, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), released a report entitled “Greening AI: A Policy Agenda for the Artificial Intelligence and Energy Revolutions.” This first-of-its-kind report highlights Singapore's innovative initiatives in promoting digital sustainability throughout the AI value chain—from optimizing energy efficiency in data centers to ‘greening’ AI software.