A consortium of research partners, including Osaka University, RIKEN, Amazon Web Services, Fujitsu, and NTT Corporation, have successfully developed Japan’s third superconducting quantum computer. The computer, installed at Osaka University, uses a 64-qubit chip provided by RIKEN. The majority of the components were sourced domestically. From December 22, 2023, users in Japan will have cloud access to the computer, enabling remote execution of quantum algorithms and software testing. The team anticipates the computer will advance machine learning, quantum algorithms, material development, drug discovery, and environmental impact mitigation.
Launch of Japan’s Third Quantum Computer
A consortium of research partners, including the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology at Osaka University, RIKEN, the Advanced Semiconductor Research Center at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the Superconducting ICT Laboratory at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Amazon Web Services, e-trees.Japan, Inc., Fujitsu Limited, NTT Corporation (NTT), QuEL, Inc., QunaSys Inc., and Systems Engineering Consultants Co.,LTD. (SEC), have announced the successful development of Japan’s third superconducting quantum computer installed at Osaka University. The computer will be accessible to users in Japan via the cloud from December 22, 2023, enabling researchers to execute quantum algorithms, improve and verify the operation of software, and explore use cases remotely.
Quantum Computer’s Design and Components
The new quantum computer uses a 64 qubit chip provided by RIKEN, which is based on the same design as the chip in RIKEN’s first superconducting quantum computer. This computer was unveiled to users in Japan as a cloud service for non-commercial use on March 27, 2023. The research team sourced more domestically manufactured components for the new quantum computer, excluding the refrigerator. The team confirmed that the new quantum computer, including its components, provides sufficient performance and will be used as a test bed for components made in Japan.
The research group plans to operate the new computer while improving its software and other systems for usage, including the processing of heavy workloads on the cloud. The team anticipates that the computer will drive further progress in the fields of machine learning and the development of practical quantum algorithms. It is also expected to enable the exploration of new use cases in material development and drug discovery, and contribute to the solution of optimization problems to mitigate environmental impact.
The joint research group includes Dr. Masahiro Kitagawa, Dr. Makoto Negoro, Dr. Yasunobu Nakamura, Dr. Katsuya Kikuchi, Dr. Hirotaka Terai, Dr. Yoshitaka Haribara, Dr. Takefumi Miyoshi, Dr. Shintaro Sato, Dr. Yuuki Tokunaga, Yosuke Ito, Keita Kanno, and Ryo Uchida. These individuals hold key positions in the aforementioned organizations and have contributed significantly to the development of the new quantum computer.
The research was supported by grants from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Quantum Leap Flagship Program (MEXT Q-LEAP), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) ERATO, and the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI), Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP).
About the Consortium Members
The consortium members include renowned research institutions, technology companies, and startups. The Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology at Osaka University consists of six research groups promoting research in various fields of quantum science. RIKEN is Japan’s largest research institute for basic and applied research. NICT is Japan’s only public research institution specializing in the field of information and communications technology. e-trees.Japan, Inc., Fujitsu, NTT, QuEL, Inc., QunaSys Inc., and SEC are companies that provide various technology solutions and services.
Summary
A consortium of research partners has successfully developed Japan’s third superconducting quantum computer, which will be accessible to users in Japan via the cloud from December 22, 2023. The new quantum computer, which uses a 64 qubit chip, is expected to drive progress in machine learning, the development of practical quantum algorithms, material development, drug discovery, and help solve optimization problems to mitigate environmental impact.
- A consortium of research partners, including the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology at Osaka University, RIKEN, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Amazon Web Services, e-trees.Japan, Inc., Fujitsu Limited, NTT Corporation, QuEL, Inc., QunaSys Inc., and Systems Engineering Consultants Co.,LTD., have developed Japan’s third superconducting quantum computer.
- The quantum computer, installed at Osaka University, will be accessible to users in Japan via the cloud from December 22, 2023. This will allow researchers to execute quantum algorithms, improve software operation, and explore use cases remotely.
- The quantum computer uses a 64 qubit chip provided by RIKEN, similar to the chip in RIKEN’s first superconducting quantum computer.
- The research team sourced most components domestically, excluding the refrigerator, and confirmed that the new quantum computer provides sufficient performance.
- The research group plans to operate the new computer while improving its software and other systems for processing heavy workloads on the cloud. They anticipate that the computer will drive progress in machine learning, development of practical quantum algorithms, material development, drug discovery, and environmental impact mitigation.
- The research was supported by grants from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Quantum Leap Flagship Program, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation.