Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Heng Swee Keat announced Singapore’s National Quantum Strategy (NQS) on May 30, 2024, at the Asia Tech x Summit, backed by close to S$300 million (USD 219 million) from the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan. The strategy was driven by the National Quantum Office, according to the government announcement.
NQS comprised four strategic thrusts: scientific excellence, engineering capabilities, talent, and innovation and enterprise partnerships. Four funding initiatives were established: the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), elevated to a flagship national research centre; the Quantum Engineering Programme 3.0 (QEP 3.0), including a new National Quantum Sensor Programme; the National Quantum Processor Initiative (NQPI), to build capabilities in designing and manufacturing quantum processors; and the National Quantum Scholarships Scheme (NQSS), offering up to 100 PhD and 100 Master-level scholarships over five years.
CQT, hosted by NUS, would coordinate quantum research efforts across A*STAR, NUS, NTU, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design. The investment built on more than S$400 million that Singapore had already invested in quantum research since 2002.