Google

January 16, 2026, 5:10 AM EST. Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council has pushed a quantum computing mainframe project into an international tender, seeking to purchase a system for government research. The move surfaces a debate over whether the island should field a computer developed in-house by Academia Sinica or buy a turnkey device from overseas vendors. Officials say the tender underscores ambitions to build national capabilities in quantum computing, even as US export controls on quantum hardware looms large. The specifics of the bid, including eligible vendors and delivery timelines, have yet to be disclosed. Industry observers say Taiwan faces technical and policy hurdles, from cryogenic cooling needs to security reviews to export restrictions. The outcome will hinge on alignment with US policy and domestic funding allocations.