College Park, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Gyeongsangbuk-do Province to strengthen cooperation in quantum technology, research, industrial development and innovation, bringing together Maryland’s research capabilities and South Korea’s manufacturing expertise.
The agreement was signed by Miller and Gyeongsangbuk-do Vice Governor Geum-hee Yang at the 2026 Quantum World Congress (QWC), hosted at the University of Maryland in College Park. The initiative aims to accelerate the development and commercialisation of quantum technologies while creating opportunities for businesses, research institutions and young professionals in both regions.
The Maryland Department of Commerce also participated in the agreement, which establishes a framework for joint research, student and professional exchanges, technology sharing and strategic cooperation in quantum computing, innovation and economic development.
The partnership will connect Maryland’s established quantum technology ecosystem with Gyeongsangbuk-do’s manufacturing and semiconductor capabilities, particularly in the city of Gumi. The collaboration is expected to support the development of quantum infrastructure, strengthen industrial linkages and encourage the growth of quantum-focused companies.
Miller said the agreement would expand bilateral cooperation and open new avenues for innovation in Maryland and South Korea. She highlighted College Park’s role in Maryland’s quantum ecosystem and described the Quantum World Congress as an appropriate platform for advancing international collaboration in the sector.
Yang said the partnership would help accelerate the commercialisation of quantum technologies by combining Maryland’s research strengths with Gyeongsangbuk-do’s manufacturing base. She said the initiative would extend cooperation to universities, research institutions and supply-chain companies, with the objective of generating business opportunities and employment for young people.
Maryland Commerce Secretary Harry Coker Jr. said the agreement would build on the state’s longstanding relationship with South Korea, which has already produced cooperation in biotechnology and aerospace, and extend it into the emerging quantum technology sector.
Maryland’s engagement with South Korea gained further momentum following a 2025 trade mission by the Moore-Miller Administration. Korean companies, including Samsung Biologics and Nature Cell, subsequently announced new facilities in Maryland, bringing investments and supporting hundreds of jobs.
The agreement also builds on Maryland’s Capital of Quantum initiative, a public-private programme launched in 2025 to strengthen the state’s position in quantum research and technology. The ecosystem includes the University of Maryland’s quantum programmes, the National Quantum Lab (QLab) and the Quantum Startup Foundry, alongside federal laboratories, national security agencies, research institutions, investors and industry partners.
Since the initiative’s launch, Maryland has secured more than $500 million in quantum investments, according to the state government.
The latest agreement is intended to deepen international research and industrial cooperation while supporting technological advancement, commercialisation and economic growth in Maryland and Gyeongsangbuk-do.
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