Quantum in Singapore: Opportunities for collaboration

Singapore is investing to position itself as an important hub in the global ecosystem and supply chain for quantum technologies. Both the UK and Singapore have recognised the potential of quantum technologies to revolutionise computing, communications, and sensing. Since 2002, Singapore has invested heavily in quantum research and development relative to the nation's size, committing around S$700m (~£400m) to date.

The FCDO is seeking to assess whether Singapore represents a valuable partner for collaboration in quantum technology research and development, and to identify the specific areas where such collaboration would be most impactful.

Our analysis of Singapore's quantum ecosystem reveals three potential opportunities for collaboration that align with the UK's Quantum Missions and offer good prospects for mutual growth: quantum middleware, quantum sensing for defence, and quantum networking.

Quantum middleware

Development progress in the software to integrate quantum and classical computers ("quantum middleware") is lagging and could be a bottleneck to realising the value of quantum computers in the near term. The UK and Singapore have both announced early-stage investment plans to accelerate the development of quantum middleware.

Recommendations:

• Form institutional partnerships between the UK's NQCC and Singapore's NQCH to identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Establish innovation acceleration initiatives to leverage Singapore's HQCC programme to advance UK quantum development.
• Arrange middleware-focused trade delegation to support high-value commercial opportunity.
• Potential benefit to the UK: accelerate the UK's public and commercial R&D programmes to deliver Quantum Mission 1 and grow exports from the UK to Singapore for UK businesses developing quantum middleware.

Quantum sensing for defence

Singapore's National Quantum Programme includes an ambition to identify and adapt quantum sensors for defence. The development of new quantum sensors has the potential to provide new operational capability for defence and security, particularly in Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT). Despite its ambitions, it is an area of relative weakness for Singapore, whereas the UK's Quantum Mission for PNT is a world-leading initiative supported by academic and commercial institutions. Due to the sensitive nature of this technology, care will need to be taken to ensure that partnerships account for security concerns and potential export controls.

Recommendations:

• Strengthen bilateral research and security ties on quantum sensing technologies.
• Promote companies within the UK developing quantum sensors for defence applications, particularly for PNT Potential benefit to the UK: accelerate the UK's defence R&D programmes to deliver Quantum Mission 4 and 5, diversify customer base for UK companies developing quantum sensing technology through the identification of new application areas in Singapore, and attract investment into UK Quantum start-ups from Singaporean VCs.

Quantum networking

Singapore is a global leader in quantum networking (especially space-based QKD) and has established links with UK institutions. This capability and local infrastructure may be invaluable to the UK, which seeks to deploy "the world's most advanced quantum network at scale, pioneering the future quantum internet" as part of Quantum Mission 2.

Recommendations:

• Identify partnerships which support the quantum networking mission.
• Potential benefit to the UK: accelerate the UK's R&D programmes and access infrastructure to deliver Quantum Mission 2.