Performance quadrupled in just two years
Goal set for 1,000 qubits by next year
Result of collaboration between private sector and national research institutes under government support
South Korea has only demonstrated 20 qubits... Aiming for 50 qubits next year
Japan has completed the development of a 256-qubit quantum computer and has set a goal of reaching 1,000 qubits by next year. As companies and national research institutes are achieving results through collaboration, concerns are growing that the gap with South Korea?which has only recently succeeded in demonstrating a 20-qubit quantum computer?is widening further.
According to industry sources on April 23, Japanese electronics company Fujitsu and the national research institute RIKEN announced the previous day that they had developed a 256-qubit quantum computer based on superconducting technology. A qubit is the basic unit of information in a quantum computer.
This quantum computer offers four times the performance of the previous 64-qubit model developed in 2023. It is estimated to deliver about twice the performance of the 128-qubit IBM quantum computer installed at Yonsei University in South Korea.
The two parties explained that they applied key technologies such as a scalable three-dimensional interconnection structure, high-density mounting technology, and advanced thermal design, enabling them to implement four times as many qubits within a cryostat of the same size as the existing 64-qubit system. They claim that by maintaining an ultra-high vacuum and ultra-low temperature environment while increasing integration density fourfold, they have made significant progress in overcoming the technical challenges of commercializing quantum computers.
This quantum computer is scheduled to be made available as a cloud-based service for companies and research institutions within the first half of the year. Fujitsu and RIKEN also revealed that they are working on developing a 1,000-qubit quantum computer by April next year. Their collaboration has been extended until March 2029 to continue research efforts.
Shintaro Sato, head of the Fujitsu Quantum Laboratory, stated in an interview with NHK, "The development of the 256-qubit quantum computer is an important milestone in creating a quantum computer that can be used for practical purposes."
This achievement is significant for South Korea as it was made possible through close cooperation between companies and national research institutes under the support of the Japanese government. In South Korea, domestic technology has only reached the point where the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science succeeded in demonstrating a 20-qubit quantum computer last year. The Ministry of Science and ICT is aiming to build a 50-qubit quantum computer by next year. Although the government has announced plans to foster quantum technology as one of three major game-changing technologies, there is still a long way to go.
Han Sanguk, president of the Korean Quantum Information Society, emphasized, "Domestic technology is now moving toward 50 qubits, but Japan is leading the world except for the United States and China. Active investment from both the government and the private sector is necessary."
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