Taiwan should leverage semiconductors to make 'quantum leap': Expert

Taipei, Oct. 28 (CNA) Taiwan has an "absolute advantage" in semiconductors that it should leverage to build its own quantum computing ecosystem and cultivate local talent, an Academia Sinica fellow said Tuesday.

Chen Chii-dong (陳啟東), a distinguished research fellow at Academia Sinica's Research Center for Critical Issues and executive officer at the center's thematic center for quantum computing, said developing a homegrown quantum computer would stimulate advances in related hardware and control software.

He noted Taiwan's strength in semiconductor manufacturing could be harnessed to establish dedicated production processes and testing platforms, as chips are crucial to quantum computing performance.

Chen also emphasized the importance of education and the time needed for talent cultivation, saying that Taiwan currently welcomes talents from the fields of physics, information science, electrical engineering, and electronics to enter the quantum domain.

Also on Tuesday, Jeff Lin (林昭憲), general director of the partially government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute's Industry, Science and Technology International Strategy Center, proposed several strategies to boost Taiwan's quantum industry ecosystem.

First, Taiwan should leverage its advantages in its semiconductor and information and communications technology (ICT) industries, targeting core technologies and integrating them with artificial intelligence applications to create an innovative chain from research and development to market implementation.

Second, Lin suggested establishing a strategic research and supply chain partnership with developed countries such as the United States, Europe and Japan, as well as boost industry-academia-research collaborations.

For quantum technology governance, Taiwan should construct a comprehensive framework that covers the issues of risk assessment, data sovereignty, and ethics principles.

Regarding talent management, the legal and education systems should be strengthened to cultivate cross-disciplinary talent, Lin continued.

Lastly, Taiwan should set up a quantum research and verification platform that integrates innovation funds and resources to speed up commercialization and build an ecosystem of start-up incubation and innovation investment to transform research efforts into industrial energy, he said.

Lin said that quantum technology has become the new strategic frontier following AI, noting that 30 countries have already incorporated the field into their national development plans.

Taiwan's strengths in semiconductors, medical technology, energy, automation, and ICT provide a strong foundation for transforming quantum opportunities into practical advances, he said.