Quantum Technology, Deep Tech

Chula and AIST join forces on quantum tech research

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September 11, 2026 by Ivy Delaney

Chulalongkorn University is expanding its research into quantum technology through a new memorandum of understanding with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. The collaboration arrives alongside a listing of options for addressing corruption and misconduct through multiple channels on Chula’s website. Funding options extend beyond advanced technology to include both the “CU Centennial Park Project” and the “CU Cancer Immunotherapy Fund,” signaling a broad appeal to potential donors.

Chula and AIST Formalize Quantum Technology Collaboration via MOU

Faculty of Science representatives confirmed they are actively developing quantum-related curricula, intending to use the partnership with AIST to accelerate the training of skilled professionals and support the growth of the technology within the country. This focus on workforce development underscores a pragmatic approach to realizing the potential of quantum computing beyond theoretical advancements.

Masahiro Horibe, Deputy Director of AIST’s Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QuAT), emphasized the importance of international partnerships in translating quantum research into practical applications; “Cross-border collaboration plays a vital role in accelerating the application of quantum technology in industry and society.” AIST anticipates this collaboration will contribute to establishing a robust quantum ecosystem, fostering new industries and markets, and creating networks connecting academic, research, and business sectors in both Thailand and Japan.

The institute views Thailand’s existing industrial strength and established supply chains as key assets in its potential to become a regional hub for quantum technology. Beyond the scientific exchange, the partnership acknowledges the long-standing economic ties between Thailand and Japan, with numerous Japanese companies already operating within the Thai economy. AIST expects this collaboration to drive the practical adoption of quantum technology and generate economic impact in the future, building upon existing investment and manufacturing bases.

Chulalongkorn University’s website lists Report Corruption & Misconduct (Chula) alongside details of the MOU and avenues to donate, signaling a commitment to transparency and accountability that extends to its international partnerships. “We are confident that the collaboration between AIST and Chulalongkorn University will help generate tangible outcomes and expand opportunities for innovation in both countries,” Horibe said.

Thailand has long been an important partner to Japan in terms of the economy, investment, and industry, with numerous Japanese companies operating businesses and manufacturing bases in Thailand. At the same time, the role of quantum technology will be more important in the development of industries and businesses in the future.

Masahiro Horibe, Deputy Director of G-QuAT, AIST

Siam Quantum Square Coordinates Research with AIST’s G-QuAT

Siam Quantum Square (SQ²) will coordinate joint activities with the Corporate Planning and Management Headquarters of AIST, formalizing a five-year research partnership detailed in a recently signed memorandum of understanding. This collaboration extends beyond typical academic exchange to include joint research projects focused on areas of mutual interest, signaling a commitment to practical application alongside fundamental science. The partnership’s structure prioritizes coordinated efforts, with SQ² acting as the central hub for Chulalongkorn University’s involvement and AIST using its G-QuAT division for its contributions.

Pranut Potiyaraj, Dean at Chulalongkorn University, described the MOU as “an important milestone in the development of quantum science and technology in Thailand,” acknowledging the rapidly evolving global landscape of quantum research. A key focus of the collaboration will be workforce development, addressing a critical shortage of qualified personnel within Thailand’s research and industrial sectors.

Funding options listed on the website include the CU Centennial Park Project and the CU Cancer Immunotherapy Fund. This broad support suggests a coordinated national strategy to use the partnership for wider economic and scientific benefits, extending beyond the immediate research objectives of Chulalongkorn University and AIST.

The next five years will be a crucial period for building the global quantum technology market and industrial ecosystem. Thailand has the potential to become a hub for quantum technology in Southeast Asia, with the strength of its industrial sector and supply chains.

Masahiro Horibe, Deputy Director of G-QuAT, AIST
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Ivy Delaney

Ivy Delaney has been working with neural networks and machine learning since the mid-nineties, back when a couple of hidden layers and a long afternoon of training counted as ambitious. She has watched the field go from academic curiosity to the thing quietly running underneath everything, and she brings that long view to quantum computing. For Quantum Zeitgeist she covers the ground where the two fields meet. That means quantum machine learning and the variational algorithms it leans on, and it also means the less glamorous but more interesting story of classical machine learning already doing real work inside quantum machines, decoding error-correcting codes, calibrating noisy hardware and learning the error models that simulators depend on. She writes about the hardware those algorithms have to run on too, and about the post-quantum cryptography scramble that the same hardware has set off. Her stories typically start with the paper, whether that is peer-reviewed work, conference proceedings or an arXiv preprint, with the source linked so you can hold a claim up against the research it came from. She is unimpressed by benchmarks that will not say what they beat, and by demonstrations that only work in the press release.

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