Australia and Japan are forging a powerful new alliance to accelerate the arrival of practical quantum computing. The Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre and Japan’s AIST have launched a four-year collaboration, formalised through AIST’s Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI technology (G-QuAT), to integrate quantum computers with the immense power of supercomputers. This partnership, running until March 4, 2027, coincides with the 50th anniversary of a key treaty between the two nations. “This partnership exemplifies the spirit of the Australia-Japan Basic Treaty, demonstrating how our nations can work together on cutting-edge technology that will benefit both countries and the world,” says Mark Stickells AM, Pawsey CEO, with the initiative poised to transform fields like drug discovery and national security.
Australia-Japan Partnership Advances Quantum-HPC Collaboration
A deepening collaboration between Australian and Japanese researchers is poised to accelerate the development of practical quantum computing, leveraging the power of high-performance computing (HPC). This isn’t simply about theoretical advancement; the goal is to create tangible applications spanning fields like drug discovery, materials development, and national security.
The Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre in Perth, Western Australia, is central to this initiative, building on its established role as a leader in quantum computing infrastructure and skills development. “By integrating quantum computing with supercomputing, we’re working towards a quantum-ready computational future, creating a national computational fabric spanning HPC, AI and quantum,” explains Mark Stickells AM, Pawsey CEO. Joint projects will focus on developing applications that harness both quantum and supercomputing capabilities, alongside knowledge exchange through seminars and collaborative discussions.
Kazuya Masu, Director of G-QuAT, emphasizes the impact of this synergy: “The partnership with Pawsey marks a significant step forward in our mission to make quantum–HPC hybrid computing truly accessible and impactful.” He adds, “By uniting our ABCI‑Q platform with Pawsey’s deep expertise in high‑performance computing, we are confident that this collaboration will lead to tangible breakthroughs that bring hybrid computation closer to real-world deployment.”
G-QuAT and Pawsey Integrate ABCI-Q Hybrid Computing
The partnership, formalised on December 1, 2025, seeks to combine the immense processing power of supercomputers with emerging quantum capabilities, moving beyond theoretical advancements towards tangible results. This agreement will facilitate joint projects focused on crafting quantum algorithms and technologies, building an international quantum ecosystem spanning both nations. Knowledge exchange will occur through seminars and collaborative discussions, identifying future opportunities as quantum technology evolves. This reflects a growing global trend towards international partnerships to expedite progress in quantum solutions.
By integrating quantum computing with supercomputing, we’re working towards a quantum-ready computational future, creating a national computational fabric spanning HPC, AI and quantum that will transform drug discovery, materials development, and national security.
Mark Stickells AM, Pawsey CEO
Pawsey’s Setonix Enables Quantum Infrastructure Development
The practical deployment of quantum-classical hybrid systems necessitates sophisticated resource management, particularly in the area of quantum circuit optimization. Algorithms such as the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) exemplify this interdependence, where the quantum processor handles complex exponential calculations while the classical supercomputer iteratively adjusts the gate parameters. The collaboration will therefore focus heavily on developing robust classical optimization loops capable of maintaining coherence and mitigating noise across varying hardware architectures.
Furthermore, the transition from noisy, intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices to fault-tolerant computation presents significant engineering challenges. These limitations require developing advanced error correction codes, such as surface codes, which dramatically increase the required qubit count and operational complexity. A key technical focus will be developing software stacks that abstract this complexity, allowing researchers to design quantum circuits without needing a deep understanding of the underlying physical qubit error mechanisms.
From an industrial perspective, quantum simulation offers immediate utility far beyond current computational chemistry models. For instance, simulating novel catalytic materials or optimizing complex fluid dynamics involves modeling electron correlation effects, which scale exponentially with the number of atoms. By providing access to combined quantum-HPC capabilities, this partnership accelerates the design cycle for high-efficiency catalysts and revolutionary materials essential for sustainable energy technologies.
Pawsey, a nationally funded NCRIS facility and joint venture between CSIRO and Western Australian universities, is actively integrating quantum capabilities into its existing high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem.
