May 2024 saw several governments move from aspirational quantum rhetoric toward operational commitments. Singapore announced a S$300 million National Quantum Strategy, the largest single-announcement quantum investment in Southeast Asia. Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with Pasqal to deploy the Kingdom’s first quantum computer. Sweden formally tasked its Research Council with developing a national quantum strategy. And the newly formed IEC/ISO Joint Technical Committee 3 held its inaugural plenary in Seoul, marking the start of structured international standards work for quantum technologies. Across these developments, the common thread is a shift from general positioning statements toward funded programs, hardware procurement timelines, and institutional infrastructure.
Singapore: National Quantum Strategy Backed by S$300 Million
What happened. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced Singapore’s National Quantum Strategy on May 30, 2024, backed by close to S$300 million (USD 219 million) from the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan. The strategy established four funding pillars: the Centre for Quantum Technologies elevated to a national research centre; the Quantum Engineering Programme 3.0, which includes a new National Quantum Sensor Programme; the National Quantum Processor Initiative to build domestic quantum processor design and manufacturing capabilities; and the National Quantum Scholarships Scheme offering up to 200 PhD and Master-level scholarships over five years. Singapore’s National Quantum Office was designated to drive implementation.
Why it matters. Singapore is the first Southeast Asian country to launch a dedicated national quantum strategy with a specific funding envelope. The investment builds on more than S$400 million already spent on quantum research since 2002, giving Singapore one of the highest per-capita quantum investments globally. The inclusion of a processor initiative is particularly telling: Singapore is not content to be a user of imported quantum hardware but is making an explicit bet on domestic manufacturing capability. The scholarship scheme is also notable for its scale relative to the country’s size, signaling that workforce constraints are taken as seriously as hardware development.
What remains unclear. How Singapore will manage the tension between building indigenous processor capability and the practical reality that global quantum hardware supply chains remain concentrated among a handful of companies. The strategy’s relationship to Singapore’s broader technology export control posture has not been detailed. The timeline for the National Quantum Processor Initiative, and whether it targets a particular qubit modality, is also unspecified.
Who should care. Quantum hardware companies evaluating APAC expansion; academic institutions with existing Singapore partnerships; defense and intelligence analysts tracking Southeast Asian technology sovereignty efforts; investors in quantum sensing given the dedicated sensor programme.
Saudi Arabia: Aramco and Pasqal to Deploy the Kingdom’s First Quantum Computer
What happened. Saudi Aramco signed an agreement with French quantum computing company Pasqal on May 20, 2024, to install the first quantum computer in Saudi Arabia. Pasqal will deploy, maintain, and operate a 200-qubit neutral-atom system, with deployment scheduled for the second half of 2025. The system will initially operate in analog mode before upgrading to a hybrid analog-digital mode. The companies stated their intention to establish a center for quantum research in Saudi Arabia involving leading academic institutions.
Why it matters. This is the first confirmed quantum computer deployment in the Gulf region and follows a deliberate escalation by both parties: a 2022 memorandum of understanding, Pasqal’s opening of a Saudi office in 2023, and a strategic investment from Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures. For Saudi Arabia, the deployment aligns with Vision 2030 technology diversification goals. For Pasqal, the agreement extends its geographic reach into a market where government-linked entities can serve as anchor customers. The energy sector focus is consistent with a broader pattern of oil and gas companies investing in quantum computing for reservoir modeling, supply chain optimization, and materials science applications.
What remains unclear. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. Whether the planned research center will function as an independent institution or as a division within Aramco remains unspecified. The scope of “use case identification” has not been elaborated, leaving open whether other Saudi entities, including KAUST and other universities, will have access to the system.
Who should care. Energy sector technology strategists; quantum hardware companies evaluating Gulf market entry; university research offices considering Saudi partnerships; European quantum companies tracking Pasqal’s international expansion model.
Sweden: Government Tasks Research Council with Developing National Quantum Strategy
What happened. On May 28, 2024, the Swedish government formally mandated the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) to develop a basis for a national quantum strategy covering 2025 to 2030. The mandate required the Council to assess Sweden’s existing research strengths, identify pathways to accelerate both theoretical and applied quantum research, and address security and defense implications including protective measures and secure international partnerships. The strategy was expected to include strategic goals for research, education, innovation, commercialization, and research infrastructure. The assignment followed the 2023 Swedish Quantum Agenda, which had called for a coordinated national approach.
Why it matters. Sweden joins a growing group of European countries moving from ad hoc quantum research funding to structured national strategies. The mandate’s explicit inclusion of security and defense dimensions is notable for a country with a longstanding tradition of military non-alignment that recently acceded to NATO. The directive to consider how Sweden’s existing research strengths (through institutions like KTH and Chalmers, and the WACQT program) can be positioned within international partnerships reflects a pragmatic acknowledgment that mid-sized countries cannot pursue quantum self-sufficiency. The timeline is tight: developing a strategy basis in time to inform 2025-2030 programming requires rapid consultation and analysis.
What remains unclear. The budget envelope for the eventual strategy has not been indicated. Whether the strategy will privilege particular technology areas (Sweden has strength in superconducting qubits through WACQT) or adopt a broader portfolio approach is not yet known. The relationship between the national strategy and Sweden’s participation in EU Quantum Flagship activities also requires definition.
Who should care. Nordic quantum companies and research groups; EU Quantum Flagship participants evaluating Nordic partnerships; defense planners in NATO member states; workforce development organizations operating in the Nordic region.
International: IEC/ISO JTC 3 Holds Inaugural Plenary, Publishes First Quantum Computing Standard
What happened. Two related developments in May 2024 marked the beginning of formal international standardization for quantum technologies. On May 17, ISO and IEC published ISO/IEC 4879:2024, the first international standard defining quantum computing terminology. Then from May 28 to 30, the newly established IEC/ISO Joint Technical Committee 3 on Quantum Technologies held its inaugural plenary in Seoul, hosted by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards. Representatives from IBM, Microsoft, LG Electronics, Huawei, the UK’s National Physical Laboratory, NIST, and government authorities from Japan and China participated. Discussions covered standards development in quantum computing, quantum sensing, terminology, and technology classification.
Why it matters. The formation of JTC 3, and its first plenary meeting, signals that quantum technologies have crossed a threshold of maturity sufficient to warrant dedicated international standards infrastructure. This is distinct from the work done within JTC 1 Working Group 14, which produced ISO/IEC 4879 before handing the portfolio to JTC 3. Korea’s role as JTC 3 chair is worth noting: South Korea has been investing in positioning itself within international quantum governance structures, and chairing the committee gives it influence over the agenda and pace of standards development. The presence of both U.S. and Chinese government representatives at the inaugural plenary is a reminder that standards bodies remain one of the few arenas where geopolitical competitors continue to interact on quantum issues.
What remains unclear. JTC 3’s work program and priority areas have not yet been published in detail. How quickly the committee will move from terminology toward performance benchmarks, interoperability specifications, or safety standards is unknown. Whether JTC 3 will coordinate with or overlap the work of national standards bodies (such as NIST’s quantum standards efforts) is an open question with practical implications for industry.
Who should care. Standards professionals in quantum companies; national standards bodies evaluating participation in JTC 3; quantum hardware and software vendors concerned about interoperability requirements; policymakers tracking the governance architecture for emerging technologies.
Denmark: Novo Holdings Commits DKK 1.4 Billion to Quantum Startup Ecosystem
What happened. Novo Holdings, the investment arm of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, announced on May 1, 2024, that it was allocating DKK 1.4 billion (approximately EUR 188 million) for investments in quantum technologies. A dedicated Quantum Investments sub-team was established within Novo Holdings’ Seed Investments area, focused on quantum computing, sensing, and algorithms with applications in the life sciences. While the investment mandate is global, Denmark was identified as the anchor point, with Deep Tech Lab, Quantum (Denmark’s NATO DIANA accelerator site) named as a key ecosystem partner.
Why it matters. This is one of the largest single private-sector quantum investment commitments announced in Europe. Combined with the Danish government’s DKK 1.2 billion commitment and other Novo Nordisk Foundation grants, the total positions Denmark as having what it described as the world’s highest per-capita quantum investment. The life sciences focus distinguishes this from most national quantum programs, which tend to prioritize computing hardware and cybersecurity. The Novo Holdings model, combining philanthropic foundation resources with commercial investment discipline, offers a template that other countries with strong foundation ecosystems may seek to replicate.
What remains unclear. The allocation between seed-stage investments, growth-stage investments, and direct research funding has not been detailed. Whether the life sciences focus will narrow the investment thesis to quantum computing for drug discovery, or extend to quantum sensing for diagnostics and imaging, remains to be seen. The timeline over which the DKK 1.4 billion will be deployed is not specified.
Who should care. Quantum startups with life sciences applications; pharmaceutical and biotech companies evaluating quantum partnerships; other European innovation funds considering quantum allocation strategies; NATO DIANA participants tracking accelerator site developments.
Also in May 2024
Finland’s innovation fund Sitra published a policy paper calling for a national quantum strategy, recommending the creation of a National Centre of Excellence for Societal Impact of Quantum Technologies and a “QuantumFinland” collaborative structure. At the time, only five EU member states had national quantum strategies.
Croatia publicly presented its CroQCI quantum communication infrastructure project, with state secretary Bernard Gršić describing it as strategically important for the country’s cybersecurity. The project aims to protect state information infrastructure across energy, finance, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors, with operational applicability expected within two to three years.
Qatar held its first national quantum computing workshop, organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and separately partnered with Q-CTRL to integrate quantum education tools into Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s academic and executive programs.
UNESCO’s Information for All Programme organized a session on responsible quantum governance at the WSIS+20 Forum in Geneva, presenting a draft policy brief and gathering input on inclusive global governance frameworks for quantum technologies.
Bosnia and Herzegovina signed an association agreement for the EU’s Digital Europe Programme, gaining access to funding calls that cover supercomputing and advanced digital skills, including quantum-adjacent capabilities.
Detailed analysis of each development in this briefing, with cross-jurisdictional comparisons and sector-level impact assessments, is available to Quantum Policy Radar subscribers.