The Outreach Portfolio organised its second visit to SpeQtral. Even as a smaller company, SpeQtral has major achievements working with organisations and governments around the globe to implement secure communication networks via Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). SpeQtral also continuously innovates to improve its products to make them functioning satellites. This industry visit aimed to provide scholars with an opportunity to explore quantum research facilities and the advancements that shape the field. It also bridged the gap between theoretical learning and real-world applications by exploring the intersection of quantum science and other disciplines. Firstly, the staff at SpeQtral shared the company’s terrestrial and satellite QKD projects. Scholars were given a brief introduction to the concept of QKD and its importance. Through this, scholars learned the shortcomings of current technologies and how they result in potential data leakages, thereby causing the need for a more secure communication method.
Scholars then toured the labs at SpeQtral. Here, lab scientists explained the various factors that were considered when developing the technology. For example, the size of the satellite had to be minimised to efficiently bring it into orbit as a satellite. Thus, the scientists worked on miniaturising existing technology to reduce the size of the payload. Lastly, scholars interacted with SpeQtral’s co-founder and CEO Chune Yang Lum. During this informal session, scholars gained insight into Singapore’s quantum science industry. Scholars learned about the different types of technology developed in Singapore and the various paths that could be taken after graduation.
