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Quantum computing is now moving from the laboratory toward a new phase of engineering development and industrialization. At today’s (26) Academia Sinica Lecture, Academia Sinica welcomed the 2025 Nobel Laureate in Physics, Dr. John Martinis, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, to deliver a keynote address titled “Quantum Computing’s Industrial Revolution: From Lab to Fab”. In his lecture, Professor Martinis analyzed the critical challenges facing quantum computing as it advances toward engineering scalability and real-world industrial applications. The event drew a capacity audience of more than 400 distinguished representatives from academia, research institutions, and the technology industry, sparking dynamic and wide-ranging discussion throughout.

This morning, Academia Sinica President James C. Liao accompanied Professor Martinis on a courtesy call to President Ching-Te Lai. During the meeting, President Liao emphasized that Taiwan should proactively invest in the research and manufacturing of next-generation quantum computers, leveraging the nation’s well-established strengths in semiconductor fabrication and scientific innovation. President Lai expressed strong support for this vision and affirmed the strategic importance of quantum technology to Taiwan’s long-term development. Professor Martinis also noted that his collaboration with Academia Sinica over the past several years has been both productive and rewarding. He expressed his hope to further broaden and deepen this partnership, working together toward the ambitious goal of developing the world’s first prototype of a general-purpose quantum computer and advancing the frontier of global science and technology.

Focusing on Qubit Fabrication and Systems Engineering to Advance Indigenous Quantum Hardware Development

In his remarks, Academia Sinica President James C. Liao described Professor Martinis as a leading pioneer in quantum physics and engineering. His groundbreaking work in superconducting qubits and quantum information science, President Liao noted, has established the physical foundations for the development of critical components and architectures in modern quantum computers. His contributions have also accelerated progress in a range of quantum technologies, including superconducting qubits, superconducting parametric amplifiers, and low-temperature filtering circuits. President Liao further highlighted that since 2022, Professor Martinis has served as an advisor to Academia Sinica’s Superconducting Quantum Computer Project, working in close collaboration with the quantum research team. Beyond his profound theoretical expertise, he brings practical insight into engineering implementation and systems integration, providing strategic guidance on research planning and technological roadmaps. His counsel has played a significant role in advancing Academia Sinica’s quantum chip fabrication capabilities and strengthening its long-term development in quantum technology.

Established in 2009, the Academia Sinica Lecture series has consistently brought Nobel laureates and world-renowned scholars to Taiwan for academic exchange. Professor Martinis previously delivered a lecture at Academia Sinica in 2023. His return visit the year following his Nobel Prize in Physics not only underscores the strong and enduring ties between him and Academia Sinica, but also offers Taiwan’s quantum science and engineering community invaluable first-hand international experience and forward-looking insights at a pivotal stage of the field’s advancement.

Professor Martinis has long championed the integration of systems engineering principles into the development of superconducting qubit platforms. Since the 1980s, he has been at the forefront of superconducting qubit research, culminating in the landmark 2019 demonstration of “quantum supremacy,” a milestone that drew global attention. In practical collaboration, Professor Martinis has contributed his decades of research and development experience to support Academia Sinica’s Superconducting Quantum Computer Project, with particular emphasis on the integration of qubit fabrication and systems engineering. Notably, an innovative qubit fabrication approach he proposed was implemented and tested under Academia Sinica’s leadership, in collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and international partners. In 2024, the joint effort successfully realized a superconducting qubit device, demonstrating Taiwan’s growing technical strength and increasing self-reliance in quantum hardware development.

Envisioning the Future of Quantum Computing: Charting a Path Toward Engineering Maturity and Industrialization

In his lecture, Professor Martinis emphasized that the decisive step in moving quantum computing from research to practical application is no longer a single experimental breakthrough, but rather the ability to build scalable and reproducible engineering systems. The central challenge, he noted, lies in whether quantum platforms can be manufactured reliably and consistently at scale. He underscored that quantum chip fabrication, systems integration, and low-temperature circuit architecture will form the technological core of next-generation quantum computers. This perspective closely aligns with Academia Sinica’s own research trajectory. In January 2026, Academia Sinica independently developed a 20-qubit superconducting quantum computer, marking significant progress in quantum chip fabrication, qubit uniformity, and system integration. The platform will be made available to Taiwan’s academic and research community as a testbed for hardware–software co-design and algorithm development.

Looking ahead, Professor Martinis observed that quantum technology is entering a new phase defined by engineering capability and manufacturing precision. The realization of larger-scale quantum systems, he argued, will depend on mature fabrication processes, robust system architectures, and interdisciplinary integration across physics, engineering, and materials science. He expressed confidence in Taiwan’s strong foundation in semiconductor manufacturing and precision engineering, noting that these capabilities position the country exceptionally well for advancing quantum technologies. By tightly integrating academic research with practical engineering implementation, quantum computing can progressively transition from the laboratory to broader research and application domains.