The Japanese Ministry of Economy and Industry (METI) has provided funding to a consortium for quantum research at the University of Tokyo. The consortium, called QII, consists of a group of researchers and 17 Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi and Toyota. The 4.2 billion yen (28.3 million euros) funding will be paid out over five years, and an upgrade to a 127-qubit computer is planned for the fall, which will be covered by the subsidy.
The University of Tokyo partnered with IBM in quantum research in 2019, and the research group is currently utilizing an IBM quantum computer with a computing power of 27 qubits. Meanwhile, the Riken Center Quantum Computing (RCQ) in Wako, south of Tokyo, is running a 64-qubit quantum computer, which it made publicly available as a cloud computer in late March.
Japan’s GDP growth has stagnated since 1990, leading to missed opportunities for technical innovations such as the Internet. Consequently, the Japanese government is currently pursuing ambitious plans in quantum technology. The aim of the subsidy is to reduce costs, enabling more companies, including start-ups, to use quantum technology for themselves.
Using cloud computing, the participants in the consortium will work together to use the quantum computer. The domestic semiconductor industry is also being promoted as Japan builds a 2-nanometer chip production facility. Quantum technology, viewed as an economic opportunity, will enable Japan to catch up with lost years and create new industries for the future.
