A research team from Pusan National University (PNU) has claimed the top prize at a global quantum technology competition, demonstrating Busan's competitiveness in future strategic industries. The achievement is particularly notable as it stems from a global research network built by a local government with overseas innovation institutions, paving the way for regional researchers to compete on the world stage.
According to the Busan Metropolitan Government on Tuesday, "Team PNU," led by Professor Hwang Won-joo of the Department of Information and Computer Engineering at Pusan National University, recently won the Global Quantum Innovation Challenge held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The competition, hosted by global pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and other organizers, was designed to discover innovative ideas for solving challenges in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries using quantum technology. Competing against research teams from around the world, Team PNU received high marks for its "Quantum AI Hybrid Model," which predicts the optimal drug dosage for individual patients during the early stages of clinical trials.
The team was first selected as one of the world's top five teams and presented its research at the European Quantum Technologies Conference (EQTC 2025), Europe's largest academic event in quantum technology. After competing against world-renowned institutions including UCLA in the United States and Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, Team PNU secured the championship with the highest scores in research completeness and feasibility for practical application.
This achievement is being evaluated as more than just an international competition win, but rather as the fruit of Busan's global research collaboration strategy. Since 2024, the city has supported joint research in smart city fields in cooperation with Danish innovation institutions, and used this as a springboard to expand collaboration into quantum technology. Through close cooperation with the Danish side, the city secured advance information about the international competition and provided it to local researchers, laying the groundwork for their challenge on the global stage.
In effect, the network built by the local government with overseas governments and research institutions has translated into stronger international competitiveness for local university researchers. The case is being recognized as a new R&D support model in which a local government goes beyond simple budget support to serve as a connector in the global research ecosystem.
With this victory, Team PNU has secured opportunities for joint research with global pharmaceutical companies and European research institutions, along with access rights to world-class supercomputer infrastructure. The prospects for commercializing research outcomes and expanding international joint research have also significantly improved, analysts say.
As countries around the world race to nurture quantum computing and quantum artificial intelligence (AI) as core technologies that will determine future industrial supremacy, the international recognition of Busan's research capabilities carries significant meaning. Industry observers expect the achievement to have a positive impact on Busan's ongoing strategy to nurture new digital industries and develop into an advanced research city.
"This victory is a representative example proving that Busan's quantum AI research competitiveness is at a world-class level," said Acting Mayor Kim Kyung-deok. "We will continue to support international joint research and expansion opportunities with leading overseas institutions so that talented local researchers can carry out world-class research and grow."
