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Formation of ASEAN Quantum Network and the workshop “Strategizing Quantum Science & Technology in the ASEAN Context”

writerChoong Pak Shen, Worawat Meevasana

Vol.35 (Aug) 2025 | Article no.26 2025

In preparation for the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025, a closed-door meeting was convened at Avani Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, on 25–26 April 2024 to discuss strategies for establishing regional cooperation and collaboration on quantum science and technologies. Organized by Quantum Technology Research Initiative Consortium (QTRic), this event was sponsored by Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research, and Innovation (PMU-B). Twenty-three quantum physicists from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines were invited to this meeting.

It is important to take note that the progress in quantum research is different in each respective country. The table below summarizes parts of the quantum initiatives and strategies in each country.

Country Quantum initiatives
Singapore The first research center of excellence, Center for Quantum Technologies (CQT) was established in 2007 [42]. Recently [43], a new National Quantum Strategy (NQS) was launched to strengthen Singapore’s position as a quantum technology leading hub
Indonesia BRIN Research Center for Quantum Physics (BRIN-Q) [44] and Research Collaboration Center for Quantum Technology 2.0, which also involves Institut Teknologi Bandung and Telkom University, were established in 2022
Thailand As a result of the roadmap for Quantum Technology Research 2020–2029, National Research Grant for Quantum Technology was established to fund Thailand’s quantum technologies network, with Quantum Technology Research Initiative Consortium (QTRic) [45] being initiated in 2023
Malaysia Malaysia Quantum Information Initiative (MyQI) [46] derives from local community efforts to educate and bring quantum science awareness to the public and policy makers. A bulletin [447] was published to mark the historical background and future perspective of MyQI
Philippines A government-supported quantum initiative, OneQuantum Philippines, [48] was established to achieve quantum-enabled economy in 2030 through their technological roadmap [49]

In the midst of the second quantum revolution [50], where everyone is trying to harness various properties of quantum physics into useful near-term quantum technologies [51], there is a continuous global effort to develop the quantum ecosystem. This effort aims to not only encourage more scientific discoveries of quantum advantage but also drive industries into adopting quantum technologies and educate the public about quantum physics. In 2018, the European Union launched the European Quantum Flagship [52, 53], a ten-year quantum initiative that strives to consolidate European’s position in quantum science research, innovations, and ecosystem development. With a similar geopolitical context in mind, a workshop titled “Strategizing Quantum Science & Technology in the ASEAN Context” aimed to explore the possibilities and challenges of forming an ASEAN coalition in quantum science and technology.

This workshop used bottom-up participatory methods to guide physicists in developing quantum technological strategies that go beyond research. Referring to a roadmap provided by the Quantum Economic Blueprint [54], the discussion revolved around the following six topics to summarize the main obstacles for a quantum initiative in the ASEAN context. Four major problems were concluded from this exercise, i.e.

  1. Upscaling and rescaling of quantum workforces in academia and industries.

  2. Developing immediate and demonstrable quantum use case to effectively illustrate the importance of quantum technologies and information to policymakers, investors, and the public.

  3. Promoting advocacy for quantum technological policies and agendas within the government.

  4. Collaborating in research, industrial partnerships, and scientific communication among all stakeholders needs enhancement.

With reference to the current quantum initiatives from respective countries, the discussion explored possible short-, mid-, and long-term solutions. Participants concluded the following strategies.

  1. Creating student mobility and postdoctoral attachment opportunities. Besides job opportunities in academia, it is vital to bring in quantum-based companies and start-ups to enrich the regional quantum workforces with different backgrounds and working experience.

  2. Establishing an ASEAN Quantum consortium to share resources, such as funding, research equipment, database, and talent exchange. Moving forward, when the ASEAN Quantum initiative gains enough momentum, an ASEAN Quantum Foundation may be established to ensure a stable revenue of quantum research funding.

  3. Introducing and reinforcing quantum sciences in high schools/universities curriculum. Besides education, one should engage quantum science through podcasts, magazines, or other unconventional approaches, such as combining gaming, arts, and cultural aspects with quantum science.

  4. Advancing quantum technologies, particularly focusing on quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution. Besides improving cybersecurity in respective countries, one should focus on developing more quantum use cases and demonstrations to showcase the importance of quantum science and technologies.

Besides quantum strategy planning, Zeki C. Seskir from Institute for Technology Assessment and System Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) gave a talk on Responsible Quantum Technologies (ResQT). He noted that the current stage of quantum technological development is a suitable timeline to define ResQT in the ASEAN context, mainly because there is enough evidence to understand the impact of quantum technologies and steer their development to maximize benefits while minimizing risks before technological lock-in occurs. Additionally, it is critical to educate the en masse to prevent the misappropriation of the quantum terminologies for personal gain at the current stage of quantum technological development in ASEAN.

Later, the Director of Sectoral Development, ASEAN Economic Community, Dr. Kanchana Wanichkorn, was invited to briefly introduce the role of the ASEAN Committee of Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) [55]. Following her suggestions, an ad hoc ASEAN Quantum committee was formed to manage the ASEAN platform [56], intended to allow shared access to funding resources, a database, and talent exchange. The next ASEAN event was planned to be held in Malaysia in 2025, where a quantum exhibition will be organized concurrently with the ASEAN Quantum Summit to attract policymakers, industry leaders, scientists, and the public. The meeting in Thailand, now being called the Bangkok Manifesto, marked the first, but not the last, collaborative effort between ASEAN countries on quantum science and technological development.

This report is jointly prepared by Choong Pak Shen (UCSI College, Malaysia) and Worawat Meevasana (Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand). The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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[Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43673-025-00165-7]