Japan integrates quantum computer with world's second fastest supercomputer

The RIKEN Institute aims to bring quantum computing technology to the real world around 2025 through integration with the "Tomigatake" supercomputer, a move that could help Japanese companies better compete in cutting-edge drugs, materials and other fields.

Kobe, Japan-based Tomodake was the world's fastest supercomputer until it lost to the U.S.'s Frontier in 2022

Quantum computers can be more than 100 million times faster than traditional supercomputers and help with complex quantum and digital simulations. But existing quantum machines need to be kept in extremely cold environments, and they can be unstable and error-prone.

RIKEN will establish a communication link between the quantum computer and Tomigatake (the second fastest supercomputer in the world) to overcome this weakness. Tomigatake was developed by a government-backed research institute and Fujitsu.

Only the core computation will be transferred to the quantum machine, while Tomigatake organizes and enhances the various outputs to approach the correct solution.

Global competition in quantum computing has grown fierce in recent years. in 2019, a Google quantum computer performed in three minutes a calculation that would take a supercomputer 10,000 years to complete. riken will build Japan's first prototype quantum computer at the end of March this year in Wako, near Tokyo.

Google aims to build an error-free quantum computer ready for real-world applications by 2029, and RIKEN hopes to beat Google using a hybrid approach (quantum computing + supercomputing).

RIKEN will work with an alliance of companies including Toyota Motor, Hitachi and Sony Group to team up the use of computing infrastructure that combines quantum technology with supercomputers.RIKEN will also establish a team in fiscal 2023 to research different computing methods and tools to facilitate data transfer between quantum computers and Tomodake.

RIKEN to build quantum computer by end of fiscal year in March

Quantum computing promises to boost the competitiveness of industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy and finance. By developing revolutionary batteries or advancing research into artificial photosynthesis, this technology could be used to find ways to mitigate climate change.

Supercomputers and quantum computers are also becoming an economic security issue given their potential contribution to new semiconductor materials and artificial intelligence. IBM has installed a quantum computer in Kawasaki, Japan. But Japanese companies are already lagging behind overseas rivals in the field, and Fujitsu plans to be the first Japanese company to build a prototype in fiscal 2023.

This hybrid approach is developing outside Japan. The European Union said in October 2022 that it had selected six sites, including Germany, France and Italy, to host quantum computers with integrated supercomputing power. These systems are seen to accelerate drug development through the use of "digital twins" or reduce fuel costs by optimizing supply chains.

Amazon AWS and Nvidia are also looking to commercialize hybrid quantum-classical computing services, and BCG predicts that quantum computing will create up to $850 billion in annual value by about 2040.

Reference link:

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Japan-s-Riken-plans-quantum-link-to-supercomputer-Fugaku