Universal Quantum is establishing its first dedicated research and development (R&D) centre outside Europe in Singapore.
The Universal Quantum R&D Competency Centre will be supported by Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB), with investment from EDBI. It will build on Universal Quantum’s partnership with Singapore’s National Quantum Office (NQO), which is responsible for implementing the country’s quantum strategy.
“Singapore brings together world-class research infrastructure, advanced manufacturing expertise and a highly collaborative Government,” said Sebastian Weidt, CEO and Co-founder of Universal Quantum. “Combined with Universal Quantum’s chip design expertise, the partnership creates a unique and complementary mix of capabilities that will accelerate our journey towards building scalable, error-corrected quantum computing.”
The centre’s focus will be on advanced ion-trap chip process development and integration. It will combine Universal Quantum’s chip design capabilities with Singapore’s semiconductor fabrication, packaging and engineering expertise.
The work will establish a facility for microchip development aimed at advancing fault-tolerant, scalable trapped-ion quantum computers. Also under exploration is the development of quantum microchips and fault-tolerant quantum-computing algorithms for strategic industries in Singapore. Advanced packaging design will be another core area of activity.
Universal Quantum plans to work with local research institutes to develop chip architectures capable of supporting a fully scaled, million-qubit integrated quantum processing unit. Stable, high-quality qubits at scale could eventually support applications including drug discovery, battery design, materials science, and climate modelling.
The Singapore centre will serve as Universal Quantum’s inaugural Asia-Pacific hub, connecting research, talent, industry, and ecosystem development across the region.
Initially employing 25 people, it plans to expand significantly as its operations grow. Universal Quantum also intends to explore applications in sectors where Singapore has established industrial strengths.
“Universal Quantum’s move reflects confidence in Singapore as a trusted base for developing and scaling frontier technologies like quantum. This Centre will help to anchor partnerships with Singapore’s growing quantum ecosystem of researchers and industry partners,” said Ling Keok Tong, Executive Director of NQO.
Entelechy Asia 