Researchers at the University of Osaka’s D3 Center and Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology (QIQB) will launch SEAFOOD in December 2026, a new platform integrating the university’s OCTOPUS supercomputer with domestically developed superconducting quantum computers, a first for Japan. The system connects the two through the OQTOPUS API, allowing jobs running on the supercomputer to send quantum circuits and receive results. This collaboration, driven by joint research from Professor Susumu Date and Associate Professor Hiroshi Ueda, demonstrates a full quantum chemistry calculation and, as Professor Date explains.
SEAFOOD Platform Integrates OCTOPUS Supercomputer and QIQB Quantum Computers
This hybrid system is a fundamentally new research infrastructure designed to unify supercomputing and quantum computing resources for scientists, according to Professor Susumu Date of the D3 Center. The core of SEAFOOD’s functionality relies on the OQTOPUS API, open-source software developed by QIQB and its partners, which facilitates communication between the two distinct computing architectures. Jobs initiated on the OCTOPUS compute nodes can directly dispatch quantum circuits to QIQB’s quantum computers and subsequently receive measurement results, enabling a hybrid workflow where each system handles tasks best suited to its strengths.
This approach was demonstrated through a quantum chemistry calculation using a method called quantum-selected configuration interaction (QSCI), which uses the strengths of both classical and quantum computation. In a test case involving four hydrogen atoms, the integrated OCTOPUS and Urchin quantum computer system successfully ran a full calculation, matching results from conventional methods.
The development of SEAFOOD was supported by multiple funding sources, including the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Moonshot Research and Development Program, specifically Moonshot Goal 6, which aims for “Realization of a fault-tolerant universal quantum computer that will revolutionize economy, industry, and security by 2050.” Grant No. JPMJMS2067 funded “Development of Integration Technologies for Superconducting Quantum Circuits,” while the MEXT Quantum Leap Flagship Program (Grant No. JPMXS0118068682) supported “Research and development of superconducting quantum computers.” Additional funding came from the JST Program on Open Innovation Platforms for Industry-academia Co-creation (COI-NEXT) and the Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI). Researchers anticipate that SEAFOOD will provide scientists with a streamlined environment for hybrid computing, allowing them to concentrate on algorithm development and application creation rather than infrastructure management.
In fiscal year 2027, selected research teams at The University of Osaka will gain trial access to the platform through the D3 Center’s research proposal-based use program, in conjunction with joint research efforts at QIQB. The insights gleaned from these initial trials will be important for refining job scheduling, disseminating technical expertise and exploring avenues for broader access through nationwide initiatives. The platform’s architecture allows the quantum computer to identify important electron configurations, a computationally intensive task, while the supercomputer handles the subsequent matrix calculations needed to determine the system’s energy.
This division is particularly relevant for problems in materials science and drug discovery, where understanding electron interactions is paramount but often limited by computational resources. “SEAFOOD is not simply a connection between a quantum computer and a supercomputer. It is a new kind of research computing infrastructure built through the collaboration of the D3 Center and QIQB, that brings supercomputing and quantum computing together as an integrated research resource for scientists,” Professor Date reiterated, emphasizing the platform’s unique design. The creation of SEAFOOD also builds upon expertise gained through two prior research projects.
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) commissioned a project, “Research and Development of Quantum-Supercomputers Hybrid Platform for Exploration of Uncharted Computable Capabilities” (Project Leader: Mitsuhisa Sato), as part of the “Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems” (JPNP20017).
“Study on Quantum Hybrid Operating Environments” (Project Leader: Kazuhiko Komatsu) was conducted under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)’s “Feasibility Study on the future HPCI.” These earlier efforts provided valuable experience in quantum-HPC hybrid system development and operation, directly informing the design and implementation of SEAFOOD. The researchers published their findings in Physical Review Research in 2026, detailing the QSCI method and the successful demonstration on the SEAFOOD platform. The paper is titled “Quantum-selected configuration interaction: Classical diagonalization of Hamiltonians in subspaces selected by quantum computers” (KANNO, Keita, et al.).
The platform’s success hinges on the ability to smoothly integrate these disparate computing paradigms, offering researchers a powerful new tool for tackling complex scientific challenges and potentially accelerating discoveries in fields ranging from materials science to pharmaceutical development.
SEAFOOD is not simply a connection between a quantum computer and a supercomputer. It is a new kind of research computing infrastructure, built through the collaboration of the D3 Center and QIQB, that brings supercomputing and quantum computing together as an integrated research resource for scientists.
Professor Susumu Date, D3 Center
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