KIST Positions Korean Quantum Startups for U.S. Market Entry

The delegation, representing the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Deeptech Incubator Project, utilized the Global Bridge Program to connect firms like OptiQ-Labs, Bright Quantum, and xDots with global heavyweights. Key discussions included direct access to D-Wave’s quantum computing infrastructure and collaborative frameworks with Microsoft. Japan’s Q-STAR and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) also joined the dialogue, signaling a broader effort to integrate Korean innovation into the existing East Asian and Western quantum ecosystems.

Dr. Kang Sunjoon, director of KIST’s Technology Commercialization Office, stated that the goal is to transform event-based networking into long-term commercial viability. The strategy is already yielding tangible results: OptiQ-Labs confirmed it will open a U.S. East Coast office this November, becoming the first startup from the program to plant a physical stake in the region. Other participants are similarly focused on practical applications, ranging from xDots’ diamond-based industrial sensors to SQK’s quantum-enhanced medical imaging platform.