Insider Brief
- Universal Quantum is establishing its first dedicated R&D centre outside Europe in Singapore, backed by an investment of more than SGD 30 million and an initial team of 25.
- The Singapore centre will focus on ion trap chip development, advanced packaging and integration to support the company’s trapped-ion quantum computing roadmap.
- EDBI is investing in Universal Quantum, while the company is working with Singapore’s National Quantum Office and Economic Development Board to develop its Asia-Pacific operations.
PRESS RELEASE — Universal Quantum , the pioneering UK company building large-scale quantum computing systems for real-world use, today announced a major expansion of its presence in Singapore. The move builds on Universal Quantum ’s close partnership with Singapore’s National Quantum Office (NQO), the body responsible for implementing the nation’s quantum strategy. The collaboration is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and EDBI, the investment arm of SG Growth Capital, the investment platform jointly managed by EDB and Enterprise Singapore. As part of the announcement, EDBI has been unveiled as a strategic investor in Universal Quantum.
- Universal Quantum ‘s new Singapore centre will anchor the company’s Asia-Pacific R&D activities, drawing on the country’s outstanding capabilities from chip development to quantum algorithms
- Universal Quantum is making a significant long-term investment in people, facilities and services in Singapore, supported by EDB and backed by investment from EDBI
- The centre establishes a strategic base from which to draw on the region’s unique technology capabilities and strengthen Universal Quantum ‘s global ecosystem
- The Centre will launch with an initial team of 25, backed by an investment of over SGD 30 million, and with plans to grow as work in Singapore expands.
The announcement marks Singapore’s emergence as a thriving quantum ecosystem and its role as Universal Quantum ‘s hub for Asia-Pacific. It will see the establishment of a Universal Quantum R&D Competency Centre in the country, the Sussex-based company’s first dedicated R&D presence outside Europe.
“Singapore brings together world-class research infrastructure, advanced manufacturing expertise and a highly collaborative Government,” said Dr 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 that can deliver real-world benefits in multiple sectors.”
Advancing Quantum Hardware through Singapore’s Semiconductor and Engineering Capabilities
At the centre of the announcement is a programme of advanced ion trap chip process development and integration, bringing together Universal Quantum ‘s chip design expertise with Singapore’s fabrication and packaging capabilities. The work will establish a world-class facility for microchip development, advancing progress towards fault-tolerant, scalable trapped-ion quantum computers.
The advance of ion trap chip technology is a critical step towards harnessing stable qubits at the scale requiredto deliver reliable quantum computing and to transform fields such as medicine, materials design and climate modelling. It forms part of Universal Quantum ’s long-term roadmap to work with Singapore’s local quantum ecosystem to explore fault tolerant quantum computing (FTQC), including advanced quantum microchip development to the development of FTQC algorithms for strategic industries in Singapore.
The development of new capabilities in advanced packaging design is central to Universal Quantum ‘s long-term technical plans in Singapore, and will draw on collaboration with local research institutes whose capabilities in this field are unmatched. Together, this work will build the chip architectures required to support a fully scaled, million-qubit integrated quantum processing unit.
Singapore Becomes Universal Quantum’s Regional Hub
Boosted by this partnership, Universal Quantum will develop its Singapore office as the company’s inaugural hub for Asia-Pacific. Supported by the EDB, the move builds on the company’s existing momentum in the region, connecting research, talent, industry and ecosystem development through a long-term presence in the country.
The Centre will launch with an initial team of 25, backed by an investment of over SGD 30 million, with plans to grow significantly as its work in Singapore expands.
Universal Quantum intends to explore applications of its technology in sectors where Singapore has establishedindustrial strength, and have become critical for the Singaporean competitiveness, allowing them to keep their advantage over the long term. In doing so, the company expects to become a significant contributor to the region’s quantum ecosystem, and to build partnerships with the organisations leading its development.
Universal Quantum also recognises the support of the British High Commission Singapore to date in helping the company build its presence in the region, and looks forward to continuing this relationship as it deepens its long-term commitment to Singapore and the wider Asia-Pacific ecosystem.
“ Universal Quantum ‘s decision to establish its first R&D Competency Centre outside Europe in Singapore is a powerful example of the innovation partnership between the UK and Singapore in action,” said Nik Mehta, British High Commissioner to Singapore. “As two countries committed to advancing emerging technologies, we are delighted to see a pioneering British company deepen its presence here in Singapore. This investment strengthens the links between our innovation ecosystems and reinforces Singapore’s growing role in the global quantum sector.”
Universal Quantum ‘s expansion aligns with Singapore’s broader efforts to strengthen its quantum ecosystem and build capabilities across research, talent and industry development. The National Quantum Strategy is developed and implemented by NQO, which is hosted in the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
“ Universal Quantum ’s move reflects confidence in Singapore as a trusted base for developing and scaling frontier technologies like quantum,” said Ling Keok Tong, Executive Director of the National Quantum Office. “This Centre will help to anchor partnerships with Singapore’s growing quantum ecosystem of researchers and industry partners.”
“ Universal Quantum ’s decision to establish its Asia-Pacific R&D hub locally underscores Singapore’s strengths in quantum innovation and advanced manufacturing,” said Soo Haw Yun, Vice President, Global Enterprises, EDB. “This investment will deepen Singapore’s quantum R&D capabilities and create highly skilled jobs. We look forward to seeing Universal Quantum develop and advance cutting-edge quantum solutions from Singapore”.
“Singapore is the best place for Universal Quantum to continue to grow in Asia-Pacific,” said Luc Gerardin, Global Head of Business Development at Universal Quantum. “The strength of the ecosystem, the ambition of the Government’s quantum strategy, and the quality of the industrial and research partners on the ground are unmatched in the region. We are here to build, and to build for the long term.”