Big Blue was therefore able to introduce its brand new quantum computer in Japan, thousands of kilometers from the company’s quantum computing center in Poughkeepsie, New York. This is another step towards delivering quantum technologies directly from its laboratories to partners around the world.
Quantum System One, IBM’s flagship integrated superconducting quantum computer, is now available at Kawasaki Business Incubation Center in Kawasaki. it is also available locally for Japanese researchers to conduct quantum experiments in fields ranging from chemistry to finance. Most customers have so far only had access to IBM System One through the cloud.
The company recently unveiled the very first quantum computer physically built outside of data center data centers when Fraunhofer in Germany Institute purchased a System One. The system now installed in Japan is therefore IBM’s second quantum computer to be located outside the U.S.
In 2019, IBM and the University of Tokyo opened the Japan-IBM Quantum Partnership, a nationwide agreement , which invites universities and businesses across the country to do quantum research. It was then agreed that a Quantum System One would eventually be installed at one of IBM’s Japanese facilities. Building on the partnership, Big Blue and the University of Tokyo launched the Quantum Innovation Initiative Consortium last year to bring organizations working in the field of quantum even closer. In doing so, the Japanese government has made it clear that it intends to lead the promising developments expected from quantum technologies.
Taking advantage of some of the physical properties of quantum mechanics, quantum computers may one day
This may be of great importance in some industries, and some Japanese companies, together with IBM researchers, have already identified promising uses as part of the consortium. For example, Mitsubishi Chemical’s research team has developed quantum algorithms that can understand the complex behavior of industrial chemical compounds with the goal of improving OLED displays. Quantum research may eventually lead to the design of more efficient, low-energy displays
Technology may also enter the investment market. Researchers at Mizuho Financial Group and Mitsubishi Financial Group have developed quantum algorithms that can accelerate financial operations such as Monte Carlo simulations that allow for optimized portfolio management through better risk analysis and option pricing.
Access to IBM Quantum System One is expected to accelerate research in these areas. But as part of the partnership, a number of other industry-leading companies exploring quantum technologies range from Sony through Toyota, Hitachi and JSR to Toshiba.
Quantum computing is still at a very early stage and is still in its infancy. it is not possible to use quantum computers to perform calculations that represent value to an enterprise. Scientists are now doing more conceptual proofs, trying to identify promising applications and testing them on a very small scale to prepare for the moment when the hardware is fully ready for scientific, technological and business use.
This it is still a long way off because building and inspecting components for quantum computers is a huge challenge that has so far been limited to specialized laboratories such as IBM’s computing center in Poughkeepsie. Therefore, it is significant that the IBM Quantum System One is mature enough to be deployed outside the company’s laboratory. “Thousands of meticulously designed components have to work flawlessly at extreme temperatures, with amazing tolerances,” ZDNet quoted IBM’s blog post as saying.
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