Why the US, Japan and South Korea should take the quantum leap together 

Emerging technology cooperation is a key component of the budding trilateral partnership between the United States, Japan and South Korea. One area particularly ripe for meaningful collaboration is quantum information science and technology (QIST).  

QIST harnesses the laws of physics to improve the acquisition, transmission and processing of information. It encompasses three primary subfields — computing, communications and sensing — and has many potential applications.  

Quantum systems could unlock new discoveries in areas like drug design, fertilizer production and supply chain management. They could also expedite scientific breakthroughs in fields like bioimaging and environmental monitoring and improve data security across multiple sectors.  

Beyond boosting business and driving innovation, quantum may also power the next generation of defense technologies. Quantum systems could help countries improve their position, navigation and timing capabilities; bolster intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tactics; enhance counter-stealth capabilities; and crack adversaries’ encryption methods.  

The United States, Japan and South Korea have closely aligned national quantum strategies, maintain complementary quantum capabilities, and have existing bilateral quantum agreements from which to expand. To demonstrate a tangible commitment to the spirit of the recent Camp David summit and build momentum for cooperation in other areas, the three partners should prioritize QIST. 

Given its transformative potential, QIST carries consequential first-mover advantages. The first country to scale quantum technologies will gain an upper hand in securing a favorable market position, setting standards and exploring profitable new ways to employ the technology. All three countries must ensure the development of a quantum technology landscape that reflects their values, and are well-positioned to cooperate on QIST for several reasons.  

First, the United States, Japan and South Korea are three of just a handful of countries that have national quantum technology strategies. They are primed for productive QIST engagement because they have already individually undergone the difficult process of identifying strengths and weaknesses, determining priorities and aligning resources with national objectives.  

Further, their QIST strategies indicate that the countries aim to adopt QIST leadership positions, expand the quantum industry, develop quantum-relevant talent and build the infrastructure required to embed quantum technologies throughout social and economic systems. Unlike other areas, the United States, Japan and South Korea share significant common ground in QIST.   

In addition, the United States, Japan and South Korea have complementary quantum capabilities, which presents opportunities to maximize their comparative advantages.  

The United States is the global leader in quantum sensing, has high-quality research output across every subfield, and maintains a diverse quantum industry. It is also ahead on research security efforts. While other countries have yet to weigh the potential benefits and consequences associated with quantum restrictions, the United States has already implemented export controls on certain quantum systems and unveiled an outbound investment regime.  

Despite its edge in quantum sensing, industry development and technology protection, the United States lags in quantum communications. Japan, however, is a front-runner in this area. Japan already commercially deployed quantum key distribution (QKD), a specific type of quantum communications technology, and is a producer of quantum encryption equipment, such as photon detectors. Japan is a critical source of other quantum components and materials as well, including blue gallium nitride diodes, nonlinear optics, and electron beam lithography tools. 

Japan is also particularly good at accelerating basic research. It was the first country to develop superconducting qubits and the concept of quantum annealing, a process that leverages quantum fluctuations to solve problems. The country’s research ecosystem is also exploring industrial uses of quantum technologies and the development of a quantum internet.  

South Korea has also commercially deployed QKD and established several well-funded quantum computing research laboratories focused on algorithm development, error correction and quantum simulation. Further, South Korean companies lead the investigation of several application domains, such as financial portfolio optimization, pharmaceutical discovery and identity security.  

In every QIST subfield, the United States, Japan and South Korea possess unique capabilities. The three countries can easily forge a mutually beneficial QIST partnership by harnessing individual strengths and leaning on one another to offset weaknesses. 

Finally, QIST is conducive to U.S.-Japan-ROK cooperation because the partners have existing bilateral agreements from which to build. The United States and Japan signed the Tokyo Statement on Quantum Cooperation in December 2019. The United States and South Korea signed a Joint Statement on QIST cooperation in April 2023. Both agreements recognize the importance of QIST and promote bilateral cooperation on a range of priorities. 

In addition to government-to-government initiatives, the United States has academic and industry partnerships with Japan and South Korea. In May 2023, the University of Chicago and the University of Tokyo announced a partnership to advance quantum computing and workforce development. IBM and Google pledged $150 million in support to the universities and agreed to provide university researchers with access to some proprietary technology.  

The University of Chicago also launched a partnership with Japan’s Tohoku University in June 2023 focused on “research in quantum sensing, quantum communication, and new materials development,” as well as student exchanges and industry partnerships. Likewise, IBM and U.S. quantum computing firm IonQ signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean government in June 2023 to “educate quantum science and technology professionals and promote the creation of a local quantum ecosystem.”  

The United States, Japan and South Korea should develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of these existing initiatives. Those that are successful could be scaled into trilateral frameworks. Prioritizing areas of common interest between South Korea and Japan, such as workforce development and applications research, is particularly important to build trust between the two.  

The Camp David summit could mark a critical turning point in the U.S.-Japan-ROK relationship. But the trilateral partnership remains fragile. QIST is an area in which the three countries have common goals and complementary capabilities. Prioritizing QIST thus presents an excellent opportunity to institutionalize recent progress and make it more difficult for future leaders to reverse course.  

Sam Howell is a researcher with the Technology and National Security program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). You can find her on Twitter @Sam_Howell15.