UNIST Opens Quantum Nano-Fab in Ulsan to Accelerate Korea's Quantum Ambitions
A new national core research facility in Ulsan aims to accelerate Korea’s quantum technology ambitions. UNIST, the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, unveiled the Quantum Nano-Fab and announced a total investment of 30 billion won to support the full lifecycle of quantum devices—from design to fabrication, analysis, verification and demonstration.
The Quantum Nano-Fab is funded through two government programs led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP). Its key feature is a one-stop environment that integrates advanced processing equipment and analysis systems so researchers can complete the entire quantum device development cycle in a single space.
This facility builds on UNIST’s nearly two-decade open nano-fabrication infrastructure. The university’s existing nano-fab serves more than 60 national institutions, handling about 33,000 research processes annually and producing roughly 800 autonomous users each year. About 30 skilled staff support equipment operation and technical guidance.
With the quantum-focused expansion, UNIST aims to broaden its role from nano- to quantum-device processing and position Ulsan as a regional hub that links quantum and semiconductor industries in the southeast of Korea. Officials say the project will help transform the city into a high-tech research and industrial center capable of shaping future standards.
Ulsan, long known for automobiles, shipbuilding and petrochemicals, has historically lagged in advanced semiconductors. The new facility follows prior steps, including establishing a semiconductor-focused graduate program and expanding nano-fab capabilities, to support a broader industrial shift toward high-tech sectors.
UNIST outlined three operating principles for the Quantum Nano-Fab: One-Stop, Open and Vision. The One-Stop approach emphasizes a researcher-centric workflow that runs from design to analysis in one facility; Open denotes broad shared use by more than 60 institutions; Vision refers to shifting the regional economy from heavy industry toward quantum and semiconductor-based advanced technologies.
At the opening ceremony, UNIST President Park Jong-rae described the 30 billion won investment as a meaningful milestone for Korea’s quantum capabilities, adding that the nanofab would become a core platform for building a quantum ecosystem in Ulsan and driving a virtuous cycle of research and industrial advancement. Jeong Il-seok, a professor overseeing the Open Quantum Infrastructure project, said the facility could serve as a global model for mid-sized open fabs, fostering collaboration among industry, academia and government and strengthening domestic quantum R&D networks.
The development matters beyond Korea because it signals a growing global push to expand quantum and advanced semiconductor research infrastructure. For the United States, it highlights potential opportunities for collaboration in quantum hardware, supply-chain resilience and cross-border research partnerships, while contributing to the global competition to set standards and accelerate commercialization in next-generation electronics.