Yang Geum-hee, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do, is embarking on a 7-night, 9-day trip to the United States and Canada from September 20 to 28. During this visit, she will participate in the "Quantum World Congress (QWC) 2026," sign two business agreements in the quantum industry sector, and engage with Canadian AI research institutes and the business community to expand global cooperation in future advanced industries. 

This visit holds great significance as a step to connect Gyeongsangbuk-do's manufacturing and semiconductor industrial base with global quantum and AI technologies, while uncovering practical opportunities for cooperation with North American state governments, corporations, and research institutions. 

■ Participating in QWC 2026, Solidifying Quantum Industry Cooperation with Maryland and Global Enterprises

The delegation will first attend Quantum World Congress (QWC) 2026 held in Maryland, USA, to examine the latest technological and policy trends in the global quantum industry and network with representatives from global corporations and research institutions. 

QWC is a premier global quantum industry event covering quantum computing, communications, and sensing, as well as industrial applications, commercialization, policy, investment, and international cooperation. Through this participation, the delegation plans to discover cooperative areas where Gyeongsangbuk-do's manufacturing and semiconductor foundation can be integrated with global quantum technologies. 

An Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed with the State Government of Maryland to build a cooperative framework in quantum science, technology, and industry. The agreement includes strengthening cooperation in the quantum industry and global supply chains by linking the industrial and research competencies of both regions. 

At IonQ’s headquarters, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gumi City, IonQ, and SDT will sign a four-way MOU for quantum technology and supply chain cooperation. Based on Gumi’s manufacturing industry and industry-academia-research infrastructure, the signatories will materialize directions for cooperation to foster a quantum industry ecosystem and participate in global supply chains. 

■ Discovering Future Industry Cooperation Agendas with Quebec’s AI Research Institutes, State Government, and Business Community

Following the U.S. itinerary, the delegation will move to Quebec, Canada, to meet sequentially with AI research institutions, the provincial government, and local business figures to discuss cooperative measures in advanced industries.

The delegation will visit Mila (Quebec AI Institute), a world-renowned artificial intelligence research institute, to observe research trends and industry-academia cooperation cases in machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, and AI safety and applications. 

Mila is a core research institution of Canada’s AI ecosystem that grew out of the collaboration between researchers at the University of Montreal and McGill University. It boasts an AI research community of about 1,400 members and over 120 industry partners. 

The delegation will meet with the Assistant Deputy Minister of International Relations of Quebec to share industrial conditions and cooperative demands between the two regions, discussing ways to expand practical cooperation in future industries such as AI. 

A roundtable meeting will be held with members of the Quebec-Korea Business Association (QKBA) to receive briefings on Quebec's aerospace industry status and the association's major activities, and to discuss business exchanges and industrial cooperation. Representatives from aerospace, finance, and quantum cluster fields will also attend to explore potential collaboration with provincial enterprises and related organizations.

They will also meet with the Toronto Korean Canadian Association and Gyeongsangbuk-do overseas advisory members to discuss ways to vitalize exchanges between Gyeongbuk and Canada utilizing private networks.

Leveraging this visit to Canada, Gyeongsangbuk-do plans to strengthen a cooperative network encompassing research institutes, state governments, economic circles, and local communities to support future technology and research exchanges as well as the entry of provincial companies into the North American market.

Yang Geum-hee, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do, stated, "Quantum and artificial intelligence are core fields that will determine future industrial competitiveness, making cooperation with world-class companies and research institutes vital." She added, "Through this North American visit, we will connect Gyeongbuk’s manufacturing and semiconductor industries with global advanced technologies to support the overseas expansion of provincial enterprises and accelerate the cultivation of new future industries".

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