Thailand Launches Quantum Tech Hub to Build Future AI and Data Infrastructure

Thailand has taken a significant step towards the quantum technology era with the launch of Quantum Club Thailand, a national collaboration platform designed to position the country as a contributor to the global quantum technology landscape. The club is physically located at True Digital Park on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. The platform initiative brings together the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI); Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group; True Corporation; True major shareholder Arise Ventures Group; the Quantum Technology Research Initiative Consortium (QTRic); and qBraid, a US-based quantum software and cloud platform provider. FOUR KEY MISSIONS Quantum Club Thailand will pursue four strategic missions: developing human capital, promoting research, driving industrial adoption, and fostering innovation that can be commercialised. The initiative will initially be implemented through three flagship programmes -- Quantum Academy Thailand, Quantum Industry Lab, and Quantum Innovation Challenge -- to lay the foundations for Thailand's quantum ecosystem. MHESI Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat, who presided over the launch ceremony on Monday, said Quantum Club Thailand represents a collaborative effort to build an innovation ecosystem capable of delivering practical applications, stimulating economic growth, and positioning Thailand as a future quantum innovator. Mr Yodchanan said that quantum technology forms a critical triad alongside nuclear energy and space exploration -- all converging to fuel next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) and data infrastructure. To make AI truly intelligent, Mr Yodchanan said it needs vast data streams spanning terrestrial biosensors, genomic profiles and space-based remote sensing. However, processing such massive volumes of multi-domain data exceeds the capabilities of standard high-performance computing (HPC) systems. Integrating quantum high-performance computing and photonics is imperative to maintain the country's national technological sovereignty and ensure that Thailand can stand firmly on its own feet. He said the strategic convergence of small modular reactors, nuclear power and renewable energy will be required to power the computing platforms of tomorrow. GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE Mr Yodchanan said Thailand is building cross-border alliances with established quantum leaders in Europe, North America and Asia. Its partnership with qBraid will ensure that Thai researchers, startups and enterprises gain cloud-based access to more than 26 world-class quantum computing hardware systems. Key highlights of the country's national strategy include the existing specialised Quantum Policy Committee, which streamlines policy alignment across 10 key government ministries. Meanwhile, photonics and semiconductor research is capitalising on Thailand's fundamental academic strengths in physics and chemistry to pioneer optical quantum computing architecture. Suphachai Chearavanont, senior chairman of CP Group, chairman of True Corp and chief executive of Arise Ventures Group, said True Digital Park is home to a network of more than 5,800 global partners -- ranging from multinational Big Tech firms and government agencies to venture funds and academic labs. "By integrating quantum computing into existing technological clusters -- including biotechnology, food technology, AI and space economy hubs -- Thailand is building a complete, highly interconnected ecosystem. This structure ensures local innovators can test solutions domestically before scaling them across international markets," Mr Suphachai added. He said the transition to the quantum era will shape national competitiveness for decades to come. Worawat Meevasana, chairman of QTRic, said QTRic currently manages more than 80 quantum technology prototypes and a network of over 120 researchers from 19 partner organisations. "Our long-term objective is to position Thailand as Asean's quantum hub," he said. Ricky Young, chief operating officer at qBraid, said qBraid will support Thailand in developing quantum talent, helping enterprises build prototype solutions and connecting the country's quantum community with international networks. Source: Bangkok Post