Gumi City Targets Asian Hub for Quantum Foundry

Interaction with IBM, Microsoft, and D-WAVE at QWC
Full-Scale Launch of the Competition to Attract Global Quantum Industry

Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province has taken steps to establish itself as the Asian hub for the quantum industry, which is considered a next-generation sector, following semiconductors and AI.

From the front row, left to right: Jeonghee Lee, Chair of the Culture and Environment Committee of Gumi City Council; Soonbum Park, Vice Chairman of Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Council; Seonghyeon Jeong, Deputy Mayor of Gumi; Geumhee Yang, Deputy Governor for Economy of Gyeongsangbuk-do; Nicolodi Masih, CEO of IonQ; Jiwon Yoon, CEO of SDT Co., Ltd.; Scott Millard, Chief Business Officer of IonQ; and Philip Parry, Vice President of IonQ.

From September 21 to 24, Gumi City dispatched an investment promotion delegation, led by Deputy Mayor Jeong Sunghyun, to the "2026 Quantum World Conference (QWC)" held in Maryland, USA, where they discussed cooperation plans with global companies.

In particular, IonQ, a U.S.-based quantum computing company; SDT Co., Ltd., a Korean quantum technology company; Gyeongsangbuk-do Province; and Gumi City signed a four-party business agreement to establish a "Quantum Foundry"—a facility for the manufacture and packaging of quantum components—within the Gumi National Industrial Complex.

Under the agreement, IonQ and SDT will utilize Gumi’s local supply chain to promote the creation of a manufacturing and packaging base for quantum components. The specific investment scale and business plan will be further detailed in future stages.

At QWC, the delegation visited the booths of global quantum companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and D-WAVE, reviewed the latest technological trends, networked with company representatives, and promoted Gumi's industrial infrastructure and investment support system.

Deputy Mayor Jeong Sunghyun stated, "It is highly significant that a production base for the global quantum company IonQ is starting in Gumi. We will steadily lay the foundation for fostering the quantum industry based on our regional industrial capabilities."

With this agreement, Gumi City plans to expand its future growth industry portfolio from semiconductors and AI to include the quantum industry, and it intends to accelerate the creation of a quantum industry ecosystem through the attraction of relevant companies and the training of talent.

The city of Gumi, already known as a 'semiconductor city,' has begun its push to expand into the quantum industry as its next engine for future growth.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.