I attended a significant plenary session in Dewan Sultan Iskandar UTM, focusing on the innovation of quantum technology and regional policy within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). This event featured global experts, including Mr. Ling Keok Tong from Singapore’s National Quantum Office and Prof. Dr. Masahiro Kitagawa from Osaka University, who discussed the evolution of qubits and secure data infrastructure.
The session was officiated by YAB Dato' Onn Hafiz Ghazi, signaling Johor’s strategic intent to become a hub for high-value computation. Documenting this experience in my e-portfolio allows me to reflect on how large-scale infrastructure and global R&D will shape my future career in the digital era. Multiple public universities also joined the officiation ceremony, namely Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM) and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP)
I learnt that the powerful ecosystem forming between Singapore’s quantum R&D and Johor’s scalable infrastructure, particularly how this synergy supports Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for companies like Nvidia and Singtel. I learned that as the JS-SEZ takes shape, the integration of high-level quantum strategy with regional data centres will be vital for securing global financial and tech operations. Additionally, the insights into qubit evolution emphasized that mastering "deep tech" fundamentals is no longer optional but a necessity for staying competitive in the global technology race
I realized that I need to improve my technical knowledge of quantum computing architecture and qubit mechanics to better understand the "deep tech" fundamentals discussed by the speakers. I also need to work on analyzing the intersection of government policy and technical infrastructure to better predict the future needs of the data engineering industry in Johor. Moving forward, I will dedicate more time to researching quantum-safe security protocols to ensure my skills align with the high-value computational standards being set by the state.
Amazed the state's commitment to transforming Johor into a high-value computational hub was incredibly motivating and sparks a new level of interest in my studies. It is exciting to see Johor positioning itself as a strategic partner in the quantum era rather than just a host for traditional data centres. I feel that attending this officiation ceremony helped me better understand the future landscape of the IT industry and the upcoming opportunity to work in these professional settings.