Building a quantum roadmap for an entire region

Kiwoong Kim is from the Department of Physics at Chungbuk National University and directs the Chungbuk Quantum Research Center. The center’s mission goes beyond the university itself.

“The Chungbuk Quantum Research Center aims to take quantum technology, which is still largely theoretical, and expand it into industry,” he says. “We’re building a roadmap for quantum technology across the entire Chungbuk region, bringing together everything related to quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication, training people in the surrounding area and helping quantum specialists move into industry.”

As part of that effort, the center introduced a quantum computing program and set up its own quantum computer on-site.

Why owning the hardware gives an edge

For Kiwoong, the value of an on-premises system starts with what it reveals about how a quantum computer works in practice.

“When you have an on-premises quantum computer, compared to a situation where the only way to access one is through the cloud, you’re able to understand things like the hardware and the real data flow,” he says. “You come to understand directly how the errors in quantum qubits, which are the biggest issue right now, how they arise, and how to fix them. That’s something both students and industry can apply, which is a real advantage.”

A vehicle for industrializing quantum technology

Kiwoong’s goals extend past the classroom to Korea’s broader quantum supply chain. “Even if Korea can’t build quantum computers itself right now, there are many companies that could operate as part of the quantum computer supply chain,” he says. “Being able to show those companies a real quantum computer, and show them how they could contribute to the quantum industry, is an important vehicle for that. So having an on-premises quantum computer was extremely important.”

Motivation you can’t get from a screen

The difference between a cloud connection and a physical machine shows up clearly in the classroom, too. “Rather than a cloud service you connect to over the internet, a virtual computer, a quantum computer that students can actually see and touch plays a huge role in boosting student motivation,” Kiwoong says. “There’s a big difference between what students actually see in person and what they only see on a computer screen, and that difference matters a great deal.”

Research without waiting in a queue

For research, having dedicated access to hardware removes a practical bottleneck that cloud-only setups create. “When it comes to developing quantum algorithms or building methods to evaluate quantum systems, if you rely on existing cloud computers, the code we want to run often gets stuck in the queue and in many cases simply doesn’t run,” he explains. “To actually evaluate a given part of an algorithm, we need to be able to run our own equipment intensively and independently, and for that role, an on-premises quantum computer has a very significant advantage.”

A magnet for collaborators

Being among the first in Korea to operate its own quantum computer has also brought the center a network effect. “A lot of people took interest because of that,” Kiwoong says. “It played an important role in providing motivation and networking opportunities, bringing in many collaborators, as well as people who wanted to bring quantum transformation to their own work.”

The system also doubles as a testbed for industry. “Say a company has developed some piece of electronics. By connecting the electronics to the chip of the quantum computer we currently have running, they can test whether what they’ve developed works properly,” he says. “It serves a very important role as a testbed, and it’s contributing a great deal to Korea’s quantum industry ecosystem.”

Starting early, starting young

Looking ahead, Kiwoong wants to extend access even further down the education pipeline, with a simple program for elementary, middle, and high school students to engage with quantum phenomena early on.

He’s also clear about why a real machine matters more than a simulation. “A simulation often fails to reflect the real environment, precisely because it’s a simulation,” he says.

Why now?

For Kiwoong, timing is central to the decision. “I think the risk of entering the quantum industry is actually quite low right now, and I felt that if we don’t start now, we may actually end up being too late,” he says. “Korea is already somewhat behind when it comes to quantum computing hardware compared to advanced countries, but by bringing in an already-built quantum computer, we can quickly use it as a foundation for building our own capabilities.”

He sees a rare opening in the software and hybrid computing layers of the field. “For future quantum technologies like software or hybrid computing, advanced countries and we ourselves are starting from roughly the same point,” he says. “Depending on how much effort we put in, we have a real chance to grow together, and I think this is a good moment for us to potentially take the lead.”

Own, operate, build on

Every part of this story traces back to one decision: buying the hardware outright instead of renting time on it. Owning the machine is what let Chungbuk’s team see the real data flow behind qubit errors, not just the error rates. Operating it directly is what lets research run without waiting in a cloud queue and lets local companies test their own electronics against a live chip. And building on it is what’s turning one research center into a regional network of students, collaborators, and future suppliers for Korea’s quantum industry.

That’s Production Quantum: quantum systems institutions own, operate, and build on. Chungbuk National University isn’t waiting for someone else’s roadmap. It’s writing its own.