Deep Tech, Quantum Ecosystem

VTT Technical Research Centre partners with Q-STAR on quantum

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October 19, 2026 by Ivy Delaney

On October 7, 2026, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Q-STAR, Japan’s leading industry alliance for quantum technologies, formalized a collaboration designed to connect their respective quantum ecosystems. The partnership establishes a framework for information sharing and aims to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies across both nations. “This partnership with VTT represents an important milestone in connecting the Japanese and Finnish quantum ecosystems,” said Taro Shimada, Chairman of Q-STAR. By supporting innovation and collaboration, VTT and Q-STAR intend to strengthen the industrial exploitation of quantum technologies and drive new business growth.

Q-STAR and VTT Formalize Collaboration for Quantum Technology Advancement

The Memorandum of Understanding between Q-STAR and VTT was formalized with signatures on October 7, 2026, initiating a specific timeline for collaborative quantum technology development. Beyond a general partnership, the structure integrates VTT’s BusinessQ, an industrial ecosystem nested within Finland’s larger InstituteQ, as a key component for encouraging commercial applications, the company says. This layered approach aims to translate research into tangible industrial benefits within both nations.

The collaboration acknowledges the necessity of international cooperation to accelerate the transition of quantum breakthroughs into practical applications and widespread societal impact. Kalle Härkki, VTT’s President and CEO, emphasized this point, stating, “Quantum technologies are developing rapidly. International collaboration is essential for translating scientific breakthroughs into industrial and societal impact.” The partnership will focus on connecting companies, researchers, investors and public-sector leaders through joint activities designed to generate new opportunities for cooperation and innovation in the quantum realm.

This coordinated effort recognizes that technological advancement alone is insufficient for building a sustainable quantum industry. Both Finland and Japan have demonstrated substantial commitment to quantum science and technology, earning international recognition for their leadership in the field, according to VTT. The organizations anticipate that a robust quantum industry will require the development of standardized frameworks, supportive regulatory policies and sustained investment from both public and private sources.

The scope of this collaboration extends beyond simply sharing information; it aims to create a globally connected quantum ecosystem. VTT and Q-STAR are actively inviting other organizations to participate in this initiative, seeking to strengthen international collaboration in quantum technologies. This open invitation signals a commitment to building a broader network of expertise and resources to address the complex challenges and opportunities presented by quantum computing, sensing and communication. The organizations believe that a collective approach is necessary to realize the full potential of quantum technologies across sectors like healthcare, finance and energy.

This partnership with VTT represents a milestone in connecting the Japanese and Finnish quantum ecosystems.

Taro Shimada, Chairman of Q-STAR
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Ivy Delaney

Ivy Delaney has been working with neural networks and machine learning since the mid-nineties, back when a couple of hidden layers and a long afternoon of training counted as ambitious. She has watched the field go from academic curiosity to the thing quietly running underneath everything, and she brings that long view to quantum computing. For Quantum Zeitgeist she covers the ground where the two fields meet. That means quantum machine learning and the variational algorithms it leans on, and it also means the less glamorous but more interesting story of classical machine learning already doing real work inside quantum machines, decoding error-correcting codes, calibrating noisy hardware and learning the error models that simulators depend on. She writes about the hardware those algorithms have to run on too, and about the post-quantum cryptography scramble that the same hardware has set off. Her stories typically start with the paper, whether that is peer-reviewed work, conference proceedings or an arXiv preprint, with the source linked so you can hold a claim up against the research it came from. She is unimpressed by benchmarks that will not say what they beat, and by demonstrations that only work in the press release.

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