Two students from Singapore universities took home prizes from the SEA Quantathon 2025 held in Bangkok, Thailand, 3-5 August.
The in-person quantum hackathon for students from the Southeast Asia region concluded a four-month process of selection, training and team-building.
Just 24 students qualified for the finale, including four students from Singapore. The National Quantum Computing Hub helped select the students and was represented by the Hub’s scientific project coordinator Suen Whei Yeap, who served as a mentor and judge.
SEA Quantathon 2025 was organised by the Quantum Technology Research Initiative Collaboration (QTRIC) of Thailand with collaborators including the Open Quantum Institute and Q-World. The programme had coordinators across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Student Kai Ze Tam from Singapore Management University (SMU) was a member of the team that claimed first prize. “I used to think my background in chemical engineering was wasted after transitioning into computer science in uni. That’s why I was so glad to find myself applying my old materials science knowledge during the hackathon, working on quantum bioinformatics for in silico drug discovery for dengue disease,” he says. He credits the pre-hackathon training programme, which included some 30 hours of lectures, for building his confidence in quantum computing.
Participants were split into six teams with members from different countries. Kwok Yun May from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore was in the second runner up team. That team worked on early detection of Alzheimer’s disease using hybrid quantum-classical algorithms.
The students earned cash prizes on top of new skills and experience. “From pulling all-nighters till 3-5 AM to pitching in front of a panel of quantum experts and VCs, it was a wild, unforgettable ride – one I’ll always be grateful for,” says Kai Ze.
To enhance quantum skills in Singapore’s workforce, the National Quantum Computing Hub also provides custom workshops, hosts facility visits and supports the Quantum Talent online learning platform.
Image: Four students were selected from Singapore to attend the regional quantum hackathon. They are pictured with the National Quantum Computing Hub’s Suen Whei Yeap (centre, red shirt). The students, from left to right, are Muhammd Haikel Bin Yasin, National University of Singapore, Tan Chun Loong, NTU, Kwok Yun May, NTU and Kai Ze Tam, SMU.
