Selected for the Defense Innovation Cluster Creation Project... Synergy expected in leveraging quantum technology and industries in Chungnam's defense sector

The Chungnam Institute (President Won Sung-soo), together with Chungcheongnam-do, held the "3rd Chungnam Quantum Science and Technology Promotion Forum" at Konyang University on the 16th to discuss trends in quantum technology within the defense sector and ways to link Chungnam's defense with the quantum industry.

This forum was organized to respond to national quantum policies and the trend of advancing defense technology, examine the applicability of quantum technology to the defense sector, and explore directions for linking and fostering Chungnam's defense and quantum industries.

The forum was attended by numerous experts and figures in the quantum and defense sectors, including Chungnam Institute President Won Sung-soo, Chungcheongnam-do AI Industry Innovation Bureau Director Kim Young-kwan, Nonsan City Deputy Mayor Kim Jong-soo, Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Council Members Kim Jong-wook and Gi Ho-yeop, and Future Quantum Convergence Forum Co-Chairperson Kim Jae-wan, alongside representatives from the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), LIG Nex1, Ajou University, and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI).

In his keynote presentation, Lee Gyu-hwan, Head of the Quantum Technology and Industry Team at IITP, suggested, "Recent quantum technology policies are shifting from a focus on R&D to industrialization and practical utilization. Chungnam also needs to prepare strategies to connect quantum technology with local industries and public demand."

During the thematic presentations, the applicability of quantum technology in the defense sector and its strategic value in responding to future warfare were highlighted.

Lim Young-hoon, a senior researcher at the Agency for Defense Development, explained, "Atomic sensors are technologies with immense application potential in the defense sector, such as precision detection and navigation, and can be applied to various defense fields in the future, including GPS-denied environments and landmine detection."

Lee Sung-heon, principal researcher at LIG Nex1, emphasized, "Amid changes in the patterns of future warfare, the strategic value of quantum technology is growing. In particular, quantum sensing, quantum communication, and quantum computing are core technologies that can contribute to the advancement of defense technology, such as precision detection and enhanced security."

In the subsequent panel discussion moderated by Future Quantum Convergence Forum Co-Chairperson Kim Jae-wan, panelists including Ajou University Associate Professor Oh Sang-won and Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute Director Choi Byung-seok engaged in an intensive discussion on discovering follow-up tasks and cooperation measures linking Chungnam's defense industry with quantum technology.

Won Sung-soo, President of the Chungnam Institute, stated, "Chungnam has established excellent defense-related infrastructure centered around the Nonsan and Gyeryong regions, and with its recent final selection for the defense innovation cluster creation project this year, expectations are growing for the utilization of advanced technology linked to the defense industry. Building upon this forum, the Chungnam Institute will materialize the linkage between Chungnam's defense industry and quantum technology, and continue policy research and cooperation network building to discover new growth engines for Chungnam."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]