For the first time in South Korea, a hands-on hackathon utilizing actual quantum computers is scheduled to take place, marking a significant milestone in the country’s quantum computing ecosystem. Organized by quantum computing specialist company Norma, led by CEO Jung Hyun-cheol, the “1st Quantum AI Competition Finals” is set to be held at Jeonju University on August 18 and 19.
The event aims to expand user experience with quantum cloud services and foster the development of the next-generation quantum AI experts. It is expected to serve as a solid foundation for academia-industry international collaboration, featuring joint efforts by leading domestic and global organizations. The competition will be co-hosted and co-organized by AI Factory, Kakao Enterprise, and Jeonju University, with sponsorship support from Regetti Computing, the Jeollabuk-do Province Government, and ATO Research.
The competition will involve implementing and experimentally verifying quantum AI algorithms within a quantum cloud environment. Preliminary rounds are already scheduled to be held, with approximately a month of qualifying competitions. Many teams are expected to participate in the preliminaries, with the top 10 teams advancing to the finals to compete for the championship. Norma will be responsible for question design, judging, evaluation, and awards, providing a platform to experiment with advanced quantum AI technologies and ideas.
The finals will notably utilize Regetti’s quantum computer via a quantum cloud platform provided by Kakao Cloud and Norma for real-time processing. This will represent South Korea’s first-ever real-time, practical quantum AI hackathon, offering participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of quantum computing and gain practical experience. Participants will be provided with tutorials and datasets familiar to AI developers to facilitate their engagement in the competition.
Additionally, there will be a series of global keynote speeches themed “The Future of Quantum Cloud Services.” Speakers will include Regetti Vice President Mike Pitch, who will discuss “Quantum Computer Technologies and Products”; Norma’s CEO Jung Hyun-cheol, who will address “The Necessity of Multi-Quantum Cloud Environments”; and Professor Joo Seong Eo of Korea University’s Bioengineering Department, who will speak on “Quantum Computing in Drug Development: Present and Future.” These sessions will explore the broad spectrum of applications that quantum technology could enable.
Jung Hyun-cheol, CEO of Norma, expressed optimism about the event, stating, “This hackathon will be a meaningful initiative to integrate real quantum computers with cloud technology in Korea, creating an immersive environment for practical quantum AI experimentation.” He further emphasized that the event aims to accelerate the commercialization and advancement of quantum technology through collaboration among academia, industry, and government.
This pioneering hackathon is expected to be a critical turning point for strengthening Korea’s competitiveness in the quantum industry and nurturing highly skilled talent in the field. It also symbolizes a significant step toward bringing quantum computing closer to real-world industrial applications in the future.
You can find the Korean version of this article here.
