Unlocking Malaysia's Quantum Potential
Unlocking Malaysia's Quantum Potential
By Prof Raymond Ooi – Research grants and funding schemes, especially those given by government ministries, are increasingly focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, green energy, big data, health, and security. These are undoubtedly important fields, but we must also consider the potential of other emerging areas, such as quantum and optical science and technology, which hold tremendous promise for the future.
雷蒙德·傲伊教授表示，研究資助和政府部門頒發的資助計劃日益專注於人工智能，綠色能源，大數據，醫療和安防等領域。這些無疑是重要的領域，但我們也必須考慮其他新興領域的潛力，比如量子和光學科學技術等，這些領域對未來有巨大潛力。
The Newton-Ungku Omar Fund (NUOF) is a great initiative supporting themes such as Creative Economy and Cultural Heritage, Energy-Food-Water-Environment, and Mental Health. These are relevant to many current challenges. However, there is room for a broader focus, especially in areas that could significantly shape the future of our high-tech industries, such as technologies based on the science of light and quantum physics. Sir Isaac Newton's work in these fields has revolutionized our understanding of the physical world, and NUOF can aim to build on that legacy.
牛頓 - 烏姆阿馬基金（NUOF）是支持創意經濟和文化遺產，能源-食品-水-環境和心理健康等主題的重要舉措。這些與許多當前的挑戰相關。然而，有必要擴大關注範圍，特別是在那些可能對我們高科技產業的未來產生重大影響的領域，比如基於光學科學和量子物理學的技術。艾薩克·牛頓在這些領域的工作徹底改變了我們對物理世界的理解，NUOF可以繼續發揚這一遺產。
Conducting impactful research is similar to planting seeds for the future. It requires time, patience, and sustained support before bearing fruit, and when it does, the benefits are substantial and potentially revolutionary—improving quality, fostering innovation, and driving technological advancements. This long-term view is crucial for fostering disruptive technologies and enhancing Malaysia's global standing in scientific research. Programs like the High Impact Research (HIR) project in Universiti Malaya, which have brought international recognition and thus collaborations to local research, are examples of this.
進行有影響力的研究就像爲未來播種。這需要時間，耐心和持續的支持才能結果，一旦結出果實，收益將是可觀的，有可能是革命性的——提高質量，培育創新，推動技術進步。這種長期視角對於培育顛覆性技術和提升馬來西亞在科學研究方面的全球地位至關重要。馬來亞大學的高 impact research（HIR）項目等項目爲本地研究帶來國際認可，並因此獲得合作伙伴關係的例證。
For Malaysia to become an industrialized and developed nation, our industries must evolve from assembly-based operations to high-technology design and fabrication, supported by strong R&D and fundamentals. This shift is not only vital for economic competitiveness but also for the survival of industries. As noted by Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai, CEO of Top Glove, businesses that invest in research and development are better positioned to lead globally.
爲了使馬來西亞成爲工業化和發達國家，我們的工業必須從組裝型作業演變爲高科技設計和製造，得到強有力的研發支持和基本原理。這種轉變不僅對經濟競爭力至關重要，而且也對工業的生存至關重要。正如頂級手套的首席執行官丹斯里林瑞才所言，投資研究和開發的企業更有可能在全球處於領先地位。
A key area of focus should be industries based on optical technologies. Products such as solar panels, flexible phones, high-resolution cameras, medical optical probes, and optical sensors—transformative technologies in everyday life—are driven by advances in quantum and photon science. Countries around the world are recognizing this and investing heavily in research through centres of photonics and quantum technologies.
焦點領域應該是基於光學技術的行業。太陽能電池板、柔性手機、高分辨率攝像頭、醫療光學探針和光學傳感器等產品——這些在日常生活中是變革性技術，是由量子和光子科學的進步驅動的。世界各國都意識到這一點，並通過光子學和量子技術中心大舉投資進行研究。
Unfortunately, in Malaysia, quantum and photon science has yet to receive the same level of attention and support, despite its potential to shape future industries. A small number of dedicated scientists are working in this field, but they could benefit from more robust backing. Expanding our focus to include these emerging fields will position Malaysia to be at the forefront of global technological advancements.
不幸的是，在馬來西亞，儘管量子和光子科學有塑造未來產業的潛力，但仍未得到同等關注和支持。少數專注的科學家從事這一領域的研究，但他們可以受益於更強大的支持。將我們的關注擴大到包括這些新興領域將使馬來西亞處於全球科技發展的前沿。
The exciting breakthroughs in quantum and photon science—such as secure quantum communication networks, high resolution imaging, ultrasensitive sensing, high-precision time standards, nanolasers, ultrashort attosecond pulses, and optical coherence tomography—are solving previously insurmountable challenges and offering innovations that enhance security, defense, healthcare, and quality of life. However, for Malaysia to capitalize on these opportunities, we must embrace a forward-looking approach to research funding.
量子和光子科學方面的突破性成就，比如安全的量子通信網絡、高分辨率成像、超靈敏傳感、高精度時間標準、納米激光器、超短阿秒脈衝和光學相干斷層掃描，正在解決以前無法逾越的挑戰，並提供增強安全、國防、醫療保健和生活質量的創新。然而，要讓馬來西亞利用這些機會，我們必須採取前瞻性的研究資金投入。
While we have many Centres of Excellence, there is still room to incorporate cutting-edge topics such as quantum information science, and ultrafast, high-intensity laser research. These fields are central to the global research landscape, and Malaysia has the capability to make significant contributions.
雖然我們有許多卓越中心，但仍有必要涵蓋量子信息科學、超快、高強度激光研究等尖端話題。這些領域對全球研究格局至關重要，而馬來西亞有能力做出重大貢獻。
It is encouraging to see institutions like Universiti Malaya's Quantum and Laser Science, that has been doing fundamental quantum optics and laser-interaction research, and with increased and sustained support, we can cultivate a generation of researchers who will propel Malaysia into the future of optical and quantum technologies. We have the talent and the potential—what we need is a strategic and sustained investment to build our own research powerhouses in these fields.
看到馬來亞大學的量子與激光科學等機構進行基礎量子光學和激光相互作用研究，令人鼓舞。通過增加和持續的支持，我們可以培養一代研究人員，推動馬來西亞走向光學和量子技術的未來。我們有才華，有潛力，需要的是戰略而持續的投資來打造我們自己在這些領域的研究中心。
By investing on quantum and photon science, Malaysia can develop advanced optical industries and secure its place as a leader in future technologies. Let us seize this opportunity to prepare for a future that will be defined by breakthroughs in these cutting-edge fields.
通過投資量子光和光子科學，馬來西亞可以發展先進的光學產業，並在未來技術領域中確立領導者地位。讓我們抓住這個機會，爲這些前沿領域中的突破做好準備。
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The author is an elected Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and a professor of quantum physics at the Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya.
該作者是馬來西亞科學院的當選會員，也是馬來亞大學科學學院的量子物理學教授。
譯文內容由第三人軟體翻譯。