In December 2020, Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), and Academia Sinica announced plans to invest a total of NT$8 billion (approximately US$280 million) over five years to establish a research and development team for quantum computing. The plan, described as the “Quantum Technology Flagship Project,” called for cross-agency coordination and the consolidation of the country’s quantum research capabilities.
According to reporting by the Quantum Insider, the initiative covered quantum devices, quantum computers, quantum algorithms, and quantum communication technologies. A new base was planned at the Southern Campus of Academia Sinica, with relevant infrastructure to be put in place between 2022 and 2024, including a laboratory building for quantum experiments.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Lin Minn-tsong stated that while the initiative may not yield immediate results, it was imperative for Taiwan to invest in quantum research to secure a position in advanced technologies.