Singapore’s push to build sovereign quantum capabilities is gaining momentum as homegrown deep-tech firm Aires Applied Quantum Technology advances what it says are Southeast Asia’s first internationally filed post-quantum cryptography and quantum technology patents.
While global attention remains fixed on headline developments such as Singapore hosting Quantinuum’s Helios quantum computer in 2026, much of the region’s quantum readiness conversation continues to centre on Quantum Key Distribution and hybrid network infrastructure. Less visible, but increasingly critical, are the software and business layers that underpin enterprise operations, including identity systems, application programming interfaces, digital signing, cloud platforms and data-at-rest security, many of which remain unprepared for post-quantum threats.
Founded by a mathematician and a former international banker, Aires Applied Quantum Technology has positioned itself as a software-first, practical post-quantum cryptography provider designed to integrate directly into existing enterprise environments. Rather than relying on hardware-heavy deployments, the Singapore-based company focuses on API-driven quantum-safe tools that can be embedded into payroll systems, human resource management platforms, cloud infrastructure and identity workflows. Its portfolio also includes a consumer encryption application and Institute of Banking and Finance-accredited training programmes aimed at workforce upskilling.
Developed entirely in Singapore, Aires’ intellectual property portfolio spans encryption, IoT security and quantum simulation algorithms. The company holds three in-house developed patents filed in Singapore, the United States and Japan, alongside two patents developed by the founding team. These have received recognition and grant support from agencies including Enterprise Singapore, Innovate UK, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Eureka and Türkiye’s Tubitak, underscoring growing international interest in independent quantum IP holders.
Aires traces its origins to the COVID-19 period, when co-founder and mathematician Lim Meng Liang revisited earlier research in Diophantine equations. That work formed the mathematical foundation for the company’s first patent and attracted early backing from Enterprise Singapore and NUS Enterprise. Since launching in 2023, Aires has been selected for international quantum showcases in Berlin, Tokyo and Korea, including the inaugural Berlin Quantum Pioneer programme, where it was the only Asian company chosen among more than 60 global entrants. Interest has since emerged from markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Canada, Norway and Japan, as well as from national research and intelligence communities.
As Singapore’s quantum ecosystem matures, Aires is positioning itself at the intersection of national strategy and commercial delivery. The company’s approach is deliberately focused on software-based solutions that avoid capital-intensive hardware, extending quantum-safe cryptography to small and medium-sized enterprises and, for the first time in the region, to individual users. Its quantum-resistant encryption APIs integrate into common enterprise systems, while its LionGuard consumer application delivers quantum-safe encryption across Windows, iOS and Android platforms.
Ken Lin, co-founder and managing director of Aires, said the quantum sector is increasingly shifting towards an IP-driven model, with proprietary algorithms and in-house research emerging as key determinants of long-term value. He said Aires’ end-to-end development in Singapore allows its patents, technology and research capabilities to contribute directly to both national and regional quantum resilience.
Unlike many quantum startups that face long research cycles, high capital expenditure and extended pre-revenue phases, Aires has pursued a lean, algorithm-centric development model designed to achieve commercial viability earlier. The company says this cost-efficient approach enables continued patent development and international collaboration while operating at significantly lower research overheads than is typical in the sector.
With Singapore strengthening its quantum ecosystem through partnerships across Europe and Asia, Aires has attracted investor interest and is exploring global expansion opportunities. Its progress reflects a broader recognition that national quantum strategies require not only public research institutions, but also private companies capable of translating advanced research into deployable, commercially sustainable technologies.
As quantum computing edges closer to practical deployment, companies like Aires are helping shift the regional conversation beyond networks and hardware towards the software layers that businesses rely on every day. For enterprises across ASEAN preparing for post-quantum risk, that shift may prove as consequential as the arrival of quantum machines themselves.
