Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre and IBM Malaysia Sdn. The collaboration responds to a growing urgency; 73 percent of organizations report aligning business and technology leaders on quantum-safe strategy, yet only 19 percent have defined near-term goals. Dickson Woo, Country General Manager and Technology Leader at IBM Malaysia, explains that “the post-quantum era is approaching faster than many organizations realize,” necessitating public-private partnerships to secure critical systems. The initiative aims to position Sarawak as a leader in quantum-safe innovation and digital sovereignty.
Sarawak Quantum Safe Centre to Advance Regional Quantum-Safe Readiness
Sarawak is investing in the technologies that will define the future. A representative stated that working with IBM will accelerate innovation, build quantum-safe readiness and strengthen the capabilities needed to drive long-term competitiveness, outlining the intent behind the newly planned Sarawak Quantum Safe Centre. The centre will focus on supporting research and talent development specifically within East Malaysia, establishing a sovereign innovation hub dedicated to practical quantum-safe technology adoption.
This initiative directly addresses the growing need for cybersecurity preparedness as quantum computing capabilities advance. The establishment responds to a disconnect between awareness and action regarding quantum-safe strategies, suggesting a widespread understanding of the looming threat coupled with a lack of concrete steps toward mitigation. The Sarawak Quantum Safe Centre aims to bridge this gap by providing a dedicated space for research, customer engagement and the development of practical solutions.
Post-quantum readiness is a critical component of economic resilience. A spokesperson explained that post-quantum readiness is essential to safeguarding the systems, data and critical infrastructure that power the digital economy, emphasizing the broader implications of this collaboration. By strengthening Malaysia’s quantum-safe capabilities, the project seeks to build cyber resilience and prepare critical infrastructure for the evolving cybersecurity landscape. The centre’s focus on digital sovereignty and trusted data governance further emphasises its commitment to long-term security and economic growth, positioning Sarawak as a leading innovation hub for the post-quantum era.
Sarawak is investing boldly in the technologies that will define the future. Together with IBM, we are accelerating innovation, building quantum-safe readiness, and strengthening the capabilities needed to drive long-term competitiveness.
Patrick Then, CEO, SAIC
IBM Guardium Cryptography Manager Supports Post-Quantum Cryptographic Transition
IBM Guardium Cryptography Manager will underpin a new initiative designed to inventory and remediate cryptographic vulnerabilities as organizations prepare for the quantum computing era. This proactive approach aims to address the growing threat of “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, where data is intercepted and stored for future decryption using quantum computers. The centre’s establishment positions Sarawak as a regional leader in quantum-safe preparedness, with a focus on cultivating both talent and a robust ecosystem.
Strong public-private collaboration is essential to securing critical data and systems from ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ attacks and future cryptographically relevant quantum computers. The collaboration will also explore joint value propositions and scalable service offerings tailored to organizations of all sizes, from small and medium-sized enterprises to large public sector agencies. Beyond technical implementation, the partnership will focus on driving industry awareness and establishing Sarawak as a thought leader in quantum-safe security.
The post-quantum era is approaching faster than many organizations realize. At this pivotal moment, strong public-private collaboration is essential to securing critical data and systems from ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ attacks, and future cryptographically relevant quantum computers.
Dickson Woo, Country General Manager and Technology Leader, IBM Malaysia
See today’s quantum computing news on Quantum Zeitgeist for the latest breakthroughs in qubits, hardware, algorithms, and industry deals.
