Faculty of Science UTM Leads ASEAN Quantum Summit 2025, Marking a Milestone for Regional Scientific Advancement

The ASEAN Quantum Summit 2025, spearheaded by the Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), was successfully officiated on 11 December 2025 at Dewan Sultan Iskandar, UTM, marking a defining step forward for Southeast Asia’s scientific and technological advancement in the emerging field of quantum technologies.

The historic ceremony was officiated by the Chief Minister of Johor, YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz bin Ghazi, and brought together more than 200 regional delegates from all 10 ASEAN Member States and Japan, alongside leading researchers, policymakers, industry partners, and 2,632 students from across the region.

Also in attendance were distinguished dignitaries including H.E. Tetsuya Watanabe, President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA); YBrs. Tuan Shakib Ahmad Shakir Jamaludin, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital; YB Tuan Aznan Tamin, Johor State Executive Councillor and Chairman of the Johor State Committee for Education and Information; and Dr. Zurina Mokhtar, Head of the Science and Technology Division, ASEAN Secretariat.

Organised by the Faculty of Science, UTM, with implementation support from UTMSPACE, and in collaboration with Malaysian universities and the Malaysia Quantum Information Initiative (MyQI), the Summit represents the first ASEAN-level platform dedicated exclusively to quantum technologies. The programme aligns strategically with ASEAN Malaysia 2025: Inclusivity and Sustainability and coincides with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ2025).

In his officiating address, YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz underscored Johor’s commitment to accelerating deep-technology development as Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. He highlighted quantum technology as a transformative force that will reshape industries, strengthen digital security, and address complex societal challenges.

Describing quantum technology as “the beginning of a paradigm shift in how technology works,” he emphasised its potential to redefine high-value industries and transform the digital economy. He further noted that Johor is strategically positioned to lead this transformation through the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), envisioned as a shared innovation corridor for quantum development. He also highlighted Malaysia’s ongoing efforts toward formulating a National Quantum Policy, supported under Budget 2026, to strengthen the nation’s role in the global quantum ecosystem.

Welcoming delegates, UTM Vice-Chancellor, YBrs. Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, reaffirmed the University’s and the Faculty of Science’s commitment to advancing frontier science for societal benefit. He emphasised the importance of ASEAN building collective strength in scientific capability and research leadership, in line with UTM’s philosophy of “In the Name of God for Mankind.”

Prof. Shafry also announced a significant technological milestone achieved through collaboration involving UTM, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), TM, MIMOS, and ID Quantique, namely the successful implementation of secure quantum communication between UTM and the JS-SEZ Iskandar Puteri Data Centre. Plans are underway to extend this connectivity to the financial sector in Forest City and subsequently to Singapore.

The Summit supports the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026–2035, which identifies quantum science as a strategic emerging frontier for long-term regional development. A technical visit to the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), Singapore, will follow the Summit to further strengthen cross-border collaboration and deepen research partnerships.

The officiation ceremony also witnessed the exchange of several significant collaboration agreements. The first exchange involved UTM and the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology (QIQB), University of Osaka, represented by Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim and Prof. Dr. Masahiro Kitagawa, Director of QIQB. This was followed by an exchange between UTM and AQSLOTOL Pte. Ltd., represented by Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rainer Dumke, Co-Founder of the company. The final exchange saw Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), represented by its Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sufian Jusoh, formalising cooperation with the Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QUAT) of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), represented by Prof. Dr. Masu Kazuya.

The successful hosting of the ASEAN Quantum Summit 2025 by the Faculty of Science, UTM, reflects the Faculty’s growing leadership in advancing quantum science, fostering regional collaboration, and translating frontier research into societal impact. It reinforces UTM’s mission of “Innovating Sustainable Solutions” and its continued commitment to serving humanity through knowledge, discovery, and responsible innovation.