Japan’s leading institute Riken and Fujitsu have announced that they are joining forces to develop quantum computers based on superconducting qubits and related algorithms. To do this, the partners are creating a profile center that will operate from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2025. The main goal of cooperation should be the development of a 1000-qubit system.

An example of a quantum computer element based on superconducting qubits

It is important to note that until October 2020, when Fujitsu first announced plans to develop quantum computers based on superconducting qubits, it had a different strategy for quantum computing. For many years in a row, the company has been promoting the implementation of the so-called quantum annealing (Digital Annealer) – a hardware-software technique for finding optimal indicators from huge amounts of data. It released the first generation of Digital Annealer processors and systems in 2018, and the second in 2019. And these were not experimental solutions, but a very specific tool for solving business problems to optimize processes.

Recently, Fujitsu has decided to either change direction in the development of quantum computing, or supplement existing developments. In any case, the company has enough experience in the practical implementation of near-quantum algorithms and clearly knows what customers are interested in in this area. The Riken Institute, in turn, will provide Fujitsu with developments in the field of superconducting quantum systems. Together, they expect to create quantum computers and algorithms that would be useful for business not someday, but in the foreseeable future.