The Korea Institute of Science and Technology has successfully led a delegation of South Korean quantum deep-tech startups at Quantum World Congress 2026 in College Park, Maryland.
KIST spearheaded the initiative through its Global Bridge Program, connecting Korean startups with overseas research institutions, enterprise partners, and investors to drive global commercialization.
The program operates under South Korea’s Deeptech Incubator Project for Startups, overseen by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and administered by the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development.
KIST jointly planned and implemented the Global Bridge Program with the U.S. Embassy in Korea, supporting Korean quantum technology startups in connecting with partners and investors abroad.
During the event, KIST and participating startups initiated strategic discussions to utilize D-Wave’s (QBTS) quantum computing systems, giving Korean startups direct access to advanced quantum infrastructure.
KIST also met with Japan’s Q-STAR and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology to explore strengthening bilateral connections between Korean and Japanese quantum technology ecosystems.
Microsoft (MSFT) exchanges were facilitated between the tech giant and startups in the Deeptech Incubator Project to build long-term enterprise collaboration opportunities across the quantum sector.
Participating startup OptiQ-Labs finalized plans to establish a U.S. East Coast office in November, becoming the first quantum startup from the program to establish a physical presence in the eastern United States.
Dr. Kang Sunjoon, Director of KIST’s Technology Commercialization Office and head of the Deeptech Incubator Project, stressed the need for sustained international engagement beyond individual conference events.
“International engagement needs to go beyond individual events and lead to continued collaboration with overseas research institutions, companies and investors,” Kang said.
“Building on the connections established through QWC 2026, KIST will continue to support Korean quantum startups in developing technology partnerships, expanding into global markets and creating concrete commercialization opportunities,” Kang added.
Other participating startups included xDots, which develops diamond quantum sensing solutions for industrial energy efficiency through its xEnergy platform combining room-temperature diamond NV-center sensors with AI and IoT.
Bright Quantum develops on-demand single-photon sources for photonic quantum computing and communication, including commercially available high-end quantum-dot sources and ultra-compact room-temperature systems.
SQK develops QMEDIC, a medical imaging platform combining quantum technologies and physics-guided AI to improve low-dose CT image quality while preserving critical anatomical structures.
KIST said it will continue building on follow-up partnerships from QWC 2026, systematically integrating Korean quantum technologies into global research, industrial, and investment networks going forward.
