IBS Center for Quantum Nanoscience Receives Second Consecutive “Outstanding” Rating from International Review Panel

Seoul, South Korea – The Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS) at Ewha Womans University and part of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has been awarded an “Outstanding” rating from an international review panel of notable leaders in the field. The center’s research focuses on quantum behavior at the atomic scale, which will enable future breakthroughs across the entire spectrum of quantum science and technology.

The rigorous review process determines the future of IBS research centers. The “Outstanding” rating is an exceptional achievement ensuring QNS will continue its groundbreaking research for at least another six years. This marks QNS’s second “Outstanding” rating, with the first received during their five-year review, demonstrating consistent excellence in research quality and global impact.

QNS pushes the boundaries of quantum science by harnessing spins on surfaces at the atomic scale—a platform that offers reproducible, atomically precise quantum systems. In the eight years since its inception, QNS has emerged as a leading contributor in the global quantum research ecosystem, starting from scratch to develop at an unprecedented pace.

Among QNS’s transformative achievements are two landmark breakthroughs: the introduction of surface atomic spins as a novel qubit platform, in what became known as the “First Korean Qubit” – with a breakthrough publication in Science that garnered global attention and even impacted the Korean stock market. The center also developed a mobile quantum sensor with unprecedented spatial resolution, about one thousand times better than conventional NV sensors, opening new frontiers in quantum metrology.

In their review, the  panel noted that QNS has designed and built a collection of instruments that are available nowhere else in the world and commended the center for sharing their instrumentation advances broadly and coaching other laboratories in how to build and operate them.

“Receiving this second consecutive Outstanding rating validates our vision of building quantum science from the ground up, one atom at a time,” said Andreas Heinrich, Director of the Center for Quantum Nanoscience. “This recognition from the international community confirms that our unique approach to spins on surfaces is opening entirely new pathways in quantum research. We’re not just advancing science – we’re building the foundation for Korea’s quantum future.”

Beyond QNS’s scientific achievements, the committee praised the center’s public engagement efforts. These initiatives include a well-respected art contest that partners with professional artists and the innovative Nanokomik middle school program, which has reached over 48,000 Korean students across half of the country’s middle schools to date, making quantum science accessible to the next generation. The panel emphasized that QNS’s impact in this regard is far greater than one would expect based on their size and funding level.

The review panel concluded that QNS is highly deserving of strong, continued support and recommended that IBS should do everything possible to protect and grow this international treasure.