The Institute for Basic Science has launched a new Global Partner Lab at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK. The plaque unveiling ceremony was held on July 25 (local time). This new joint initiative marks the beginning of an official collaboration between the two institutions to advance next-generation quantum technologies in the fields of quantum materials and devices.

The Global Partner Lab is a new international collaboration platform introduced by IBS in 2024. It allows IBS research groups to establish long-term cooperative labs within world-renowned basic science institutions, building a stable framework for sustained collaboration. By leveraging complementary strengths, both partners are encouraged to pursue joint research continuously. Earlier this year, IBS selected three such partner labs, including this one at Cambridge, which is led by the IBS Center for 2D Quantum Heterostructures (Director SHIN Hyeon Suk, Professor at Sungkyunkwan University).

This particular partner lab will focus on technologies for controlling spin qubits and exploring magnetic quantum crystalline structures based on 2D quantum heterostructures. The goal is to develop highly precise and integrated quantum control technologies. IBS's strength in 2D material and heterostructure growth will be combined with Cambridge's capabilities in precise qubit measurement, control, and quantum sensing to pursue joint research toward realizing next-generation quantum information technology. Collaborating institutions include the Cavendish Laboratory, the Cambridge Graphene Centre, and the Henry Royce Institute.

The newly launched partner lab will serve as a forward base for ongoing collaboration between Korean and UK researchers. It is expected to promote the adoption and internalization of world-class quantum measurement and control technologies, strengthening leadership in quantum computing and sensor development.

The plaque unveiling ceremony on July 25 was attended by local research leaders including Director Mete ATATÜRE (Cavendish Laboratory), Director Andrea FERRARI (Cambridge Graphene Centre), and Director Manish CHHOWALLA (Henry Royce Institute), along with Director SHIN Hyeon Suk (IBS Center for 2D Quantum Heterostructures) Senior Policy Researcher KANG Dongwoo (IBS Global Communications Office), and Science Attaché PARK Byung Hyun (Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UK).

Prof. Mete ATATÜRE of the Cavendish Laboratory said, “This collaboration with IBS presents an excellent opportunity to maximize the strengths of both institutions in the quantum field. We look forward to the results of this partnership.”

IBS President NOH Do Young added, “The Global Partner Lab represents a new IBS collaboration model aimed at realizing long-term international joint research beyond one-off exchanges. We hope this synergy with Cambridge, a world-leading research institution, will contribute to advancing basic science and nurturing future research leaders.”

In addition to the Cambridge initiative, IBS is also operating Global Partner Labs with The Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School (USA), led by the Center for Genomic Integrity (Director MYUNG Kyungjae) and The Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland), led by the Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics (Director IHEE Hyotcherl)

[Photo 1] On July 25, IBS held a plaque unveiling ceremony to mark the official launch of its Global Partner Lab at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. (From left) PARK Byung Hyun, Science Attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UK; SHIN Hyeon Suk, Director of the IBS Center for 2D Quantum Heterostructures; Mete ATATÜRE, Director of the Cavendish Laboratory; and KANG Dongwoo, Senior Policy Researcher at the IBS Global Communications Office.

[Photo 2] Following the plaque unveiling ceremony at the Cavendish Laboratory on July 25, IBS staff and collaborators gathered in front of the Cambridge Graphene Centre for a commemorative group photo. (From sixth left in the front row) KANG Dongwoo, Senior Policy Researcher at the IBS Global Communications Office; Andrea FERRARI, Director of the Cambridge Graphene Centre; PARK Byung Hyun, Science Attaché at the Korean Embassy in the UK; SHIN Hyeon Suk, Director of the IBS Center for 2D Quantum Heterostructures.

[Photo 3] On July 25, researchers discuss future directions of the joint collaboration at the Cambridge Graphene Centre. (From left) Sohail ABBAS, PhD student; SHIN Hyeon Suk, Director of the IBS Center for 2D Quantum Heterostructures; SONG Seung Wook, IBS Associate Professor; HA Tae Woo, IBS Team Leader.

[Photo 4] At the Cavendish Laboratory on July 25, (left) Mete ATATÜRE, Director of the Cavendish Laboratory, and SHIN Hyeon Suk, Director of the IBS Center for 2D Quantum Heterostructures, discuss the direction of the joint research.