QuantWare announced its expansion into South Korea, powering the quantum computer at Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) as of October 2025. Currently the largest supplier of quantum processors in Korea, QuantWare is building on several years of service to the Korean quantum ecosystem with this new operation in Seoul. Furthermore, semiconductor and technology veteran Jean-Pierre Pennacino joins QuantWare as CFO, and former Graphcore VP Tom Wilson joins as VP of Business Development.
QuantWare Drives Quantum Growth with Korean Expansion
QuantWare has significantly expanded its presence into the Korean quantum computing market, opening operations in Seoul as part of a broader international growth strategy, the company announced. Currently, QuantWare is the largest supplier of quantum processors in Korea, having supported the nation’s quantum ecosystem for several years. This expansion underlines QuantWare’s commitment to providing cutting-edge quantum hardware and fostering talent development within the region, according to Matt Rijlaarsdam.
The company’s open architecture quantum processors already power multiple quantum computers within Korea, including a key system at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). QuantWare’s expansion aims to directly address Korea’s ambitious goal of establishing a world-class quantum industry, backed by a 3 trillion KRW (over 2 billion USD) investment. Building on this, QuantWare intends to deliver the compute platform necessary to support this rapid growth and help Korea become a global hub for the quantum economy, as stated by Matt Rijlaarsdam.
This move is particularly significant given Korea’s demonstrated ability to quickly build leading-edge industries, as evidenced by its success in the semiconductor sector. QuantWare, founded in 2021 by Alessandro Bruno and Matt Rijlaarsdam as a spin-out from QuTech, is positioned to power this new industry with its unique VIO 3D scaling architecture. This technology unlocks the potential for mega-qubit scale, ultra-high-speed quantum processors, and will help deliver exponentially more performance per watt per dollar invested, according to the company.
Powering Korea’s Quantum Future: QuantWare’s Strategic Investment
QuantWare’s investment extends beyond simply establishing a physical presence in Seoul, according to company representatives. This commitment aligns with the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT’s national strategy, positioning QuantWare as a key enabler of Korea’s quantum ecosystem development. Matt Rijlaarsdam emphasized the strategic importance of this investment, highlighting Korea’s demonstrated ability to rapidly build world-leading industries when a clear goal is set.
Building on this, QuantWare’s unique VIO 3D scaling architecture is expected to play a significant role in powering advanced quantum computing research within Korea. The company announced that its open architecture quantum processors are already powering multiple quantum computers across the country, including a key system at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). This technology, delivering exponentially more performance per Watt per dollar invested, is designed to unlock MegaQubit-scale, ultra-high-speed quantum processors. Alessandro Bruno, a founder of QuantWare, originally developed the foundational technology as a spin-out from QuTech at TU Delft, further solidifying its roots in cutting-edge quantum research.
Meanwhile, QuantWare’s expansion represents a substantial vote of confidence in the Korean quantum industry’s potential. The company’s decision to invest heavily in the region, backed by a commitment of over 2 billion USD from the Korean government towards quantum development, signals a long-term commitment. This investment is not merely about supplying hardware; it’s about fostering a collaborative environment where Korean researchers and engineers can access and build upon the latest quantum technologies. Jean-Pierre Pennacino noted that this collaboration will be instrumental in accelerating the development of practical quantum applications and establishing Korea as a global hub for the quantum economy.
QuantWare’s expansion into Korea signals a commitment to bolstering a rapidly developing quantum ecosystem, poised for significant growth with over 3 trillion KRW invested. This development could enable Korean researchers and industries to build upon a robust, locally-sourced quantum compute platform, accelerating innovation in areas like materials science and advanced computation. The implications extend beyond quantum computing itself, potentially driving advancements in Korea’s established semiconductor industry and solidifying its position as a global technology leader.
