The world’s first commercial quantum computer has begun operating in Japan.

The University of Tokyo and International Business Machines Corp. have launched Japan’s first commercial quantum computer, marking a step into a highly competitive field dominated by the US and China.

The next-generation system was installed at the Kawasaki Business Incubation Center in Kanagawa Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, by a US technology company with exclusive access rights to use it.

The computer is available for joint study through an industry-academic collaboration that was formed in 2020 and includes Toyota Motor Corp., Sony Group Corp., and Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. as members. It will research quantum computing’s practical uses and develop human resources.

The IBM Quantum System One computer system is the company’s second of its sort outside of the United States, after one in Germany.

“The fields in which quantum computers are being used in practical applications are rapidly expanding. I’d like to share my accomplishments with the rest of the world “At a ceremony marking the commencement of the computer’s operations on Tuesday, university President Teruo Fujii stated.

Quantum computers use quanta, such as light particles, which have properties of both waves and particles, and can calculate scores of combinations at once rather than one at a time, as traditional computers can.

It is projected to be utilised for discovering novel pharmaceuticals and materials, constructing financial models, optimising logistics, and encryption, which has become vital for the internet and digital money, due to its ability to tackle complicated problems at quicker speeds than supercomputers.

“The establishment of a base (for a quantum computer) in Japan is highly crucial because it will help develop employees who will be capable of really operating it,” said Hideyuki Mase, a senior researcher at the Japan Research Institute.

Many technical obstacles remain for full-fledged quantum computer functioning, he said, and the competition to develop them has intensified globally, with the United States and China leading the way.

“(The base) will aid in the deepening of exchanges with professionals from throughout the world, especially those from Asia. As Japan fosters research and development, it is expected to be a significant benefit “Mase stated that he was in the field.

Keio University, Hitachi Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., and Yokogawa Electric Corp. are among the Quantum Innovation Initiative Consortium members who have access to the system.

News source: Kyodo