SGInnovate Collaborates with Centre for Quantum Technologies at NUS to Catalyse The Formation of Quantum Startups

Collaboration to build on SGInnovate’s investment into spinoffs from CQT; Targets to reach more than 2,000 individuals from the deep tech ecosystem

7 June 2019, Singapore: SGInnovate and the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), a Research Centre of Excellence hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), today signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to promote quantum technologies and facilitate the commercialisation of quantum innovations in Singapore.

Through this two-year collaboration, the two organisations will encourage and help local researchers working on quantum technologies and innovations to commercialise their research in the field, translating quantum science into scalable industry solutions.

This builds upon the momentum of SGInnovate’s recent investment into three quantum spinoffs from CQT. They are:

• Atomionics: The latest quantum startup investment by SGInnovate, Atomionics builds atom-interferometry based sensing systems for navigation and exploration that will work reliably and accurately everywhere – including underwater, underground and other GPS-denied areas.
• Horizon Quantum Computing: Singapore’s first quantum computing startup, the company is developing a new generation of software development tools to simplify and expedite the process of developing quantum-enhanced applications, without the need for prior experience in the area.
• SpeQtral: Building space-based, quantum communication systems rooted in advanced technologies developed at CQT, which offers unprecedented security from eavesdropping and will enable the next generation of secure communication networks.

In addition, to promote quantum technologies and increase readiness in the field, SGInnovate and CQT will also host joint events, workshops and drive outreach activities, especially among potential industry partners and investors. The two parties target to reach over 2,000 individuals from the deep tech ecosystem in Singapore to raise awareness of quantum technologies.

“The mission of the SGInnovate team is to work with entrepreneurial scientists to build deep tech startups. One of the most complex and exciting areas for our work is the field of quantum technologies. Through our partnership with the Centre for Quantum Technologies, we are going straight to the source of remarkable quantum research conducted in Singapore. We want to help entrepreneurial scientists working with quantum technologies to build commercially successful startups,” said Steve Leonard, Founding CEO, SGInnovate.

“The best partnerships bring together teams with complementary expertise. At the Centre for Quantum Technologies, we push the frontiers of human knowledge and build cutting-edge technologies. SGInnovate, meanwhile, has established itself as a driver of deep tech business and know-how in Singapore. Together, we aim to catalyse the translation of our scientific advances into technologies that will benefit the economy and society,” said Professor Artur Ekert, Founding Director, CQT at NUS.

Building quantum startups with global impact and strengthening quantum awareness

Under the MOI, CQT will introduce to SGInnovate, researchers and research project teams who are interested in exploring the formation of a startup to bring their potential product to market.

SGInnovate will serve as a commercial advisor to these aspiring entrepreneurial scientists, providing coaching and active support to these CQT teams to help them at all stages of forming, launching and scaling their startups. The support from SGInnovate also includes the raising of investment funds from the VC community.

To drive further interest and knowledge-exchange in quantum technologies, CQT will provide expertise and technical advice to SGInnovate and its industry or government partners. SGInnovate and CQT will also share their respective industry and academic networks to create commercialisation opportunities for various quantum innovations.

SGInnovate, with support from CQT, will host frequent quantum-focused workshops, thought-leadership and community events. This will help to build up a strong and entrepreneurial quantum ecosystem in Singapore.

The activities are in line with the SGInnovate Deep Tech Nexus Strategy, which represents the organisation’s commitment to add tangible value to Singapore’s deep tech ecosystem in two key areas – Human Capital and Investment Capital. Under the Human Capital pillar, SGInnovate seeks to enhance individual talent capabilities through deep tech-related learning opportunities, expand the deep tech talent network and build deep tech communities.

About SGInnovate

At SGInnovate, we believe that Singapore has all the resources and capabilities needed to tackle ‘hard problems' that matter to people around the world. As part of our Deep Tech Nexus Strategy, we are focused on adding tangible value to the Singapore deep tech startup ecosystem in two key areas – development of Human Capital and deployment of Investment Capital. With the support of our partners and co-investors, we back deeply technical founders through equity-based investments, access to talent, and support in building customer traction. Our efforts are prioritised around transformational technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and MedTech, which represent impactful and scalable answers to global challenges.

SGInnovate is a private-limited company wholly owned by the Singapore Government. For more information, please visit www.sginnovate.com 

About Centre for Quantum Technologies

The Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) is a National Research Centre of Excellence in Singapore. It brings together physicists, computer scientists and engineers to do basic research on quantum physics and to build devices based on quantum phenomena. Experts in this new discipline of quantum technologies are applying their discoveries in computing, communications and sensing. The Centre was established in December 2007 with support from Singapore’s National Research Foundation and Ministry of Education.

CQT is hosted by the National University of Singapore and also has staff at Nanyang Technological University. Learn more at www.quantumlah.org.

Media contacts

Grace Chiang
SGInnovate 
[email protected] 

Sylvia Lim
IN.FOM (Partnering agency of SGInnovate) 
[email protected] 

Jenny Hogan
Centre for Quantum Technologies, NUS
[email protected]