Quantinuum and RIKEN have announced an expanded partnership to advance quantum-AI hybrid supercomputing in Japan. Following the upgrade to Quantinuum’s Reimei quantum computer at RIKEN, the partners will pursue more advanced scientific and industrial applications, work with Japanese universities and suppliers toward the development of a “Made with Japan” fault-tolerant quantum computer, and collaborate with SoftBank Corp. to explore the possibility of connecting quantum computers with AI data centers in Japan.
Quantinuum’s quantum computer, Reimei, installed at RIKEN, is operated as part of the JHPC-quantum project funded by NEDO. The recent upgrade is meant to further enhance the capabilities of the project’s quantum–HPC hybrid computing platform, which wil combine quantum computing, supercomputing and AI in support of use case development across electronics, energy and life sciences. The partners will also draw on their experience integrating and operating Reimei to inform the development of a fault-tolerant “Made with Japan” quantum computer.
“Japan’s quantum ambitions require advanced capabilities today and a sustained commitment to developing what comes next,” said Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, Quantinuum CEO. “The upgrade to Reimei expands what we can explore with RIKEN across electronics, energy and life sciences. Together, we are building on this work to develop a fault-tolerant quantum computer with Japanese universities and suppliers, while exploring with SoftBank how these capabilities can become accessible to industry through Japan’s AI data centers.”
The announcement also highlighted two research projects that began operations on Reimei before the public launch of its services:
- Quantum-AI for materials simulation: The partners are using RIKEN’s JHPC-quantum GPU supercomputer, ROQUO, to train an AI model on Reimei-generated quantum data for magnetism simulations. Preliminary results suggest the model can make more accurate predictions than AI models trained on classical simulations alone and more precise predictions than the quantum computer itself. Understanding magnetism at the atomic level could inform the development of materials for next-generation technologies such as ultra-high-field MRI and smart power grids.
- Quantum-AI for biomolecular simulation: The partners are combining Reimei, RIKEN’s Fugaku supercomputer, and NVIDIA’s evolutionary AI agent running on ROQUO to simulate a complex photoactive biomolecule, targeting unprecedented scale and detail. Better understanding of how biomolecules respond to light could inform the design of more efficient solar cells among other industrial opportunities that could arise from advances in biomolecular engineering.
This research supports RIKEN’s AI for Science initiative and aligns with U.S.-Japan efforts to advance AI-driven discovery, including a planned $1 billion partnership under the U.S. Genesis Mission.
“With the upgraded Reimei quantum computer, we will be able to tackle more complex and larger-scale scientific problems that were difficult to address with the previous H1 system, further advancing quantum–HPC hybrid computing through our ongoing JHPC-quantum project,” said Dr. Mitsuhisa Sato, Division Director, Quantum-HPC Hybrid Platform Division, RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS). “Furthermore, the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding will pave the way for expanding our research into the use of quantum computing for AI for Science, a key initiative being promoted by RIKEN.”
The partners’ joint research and development toward a “Made with Japan” fault-tolerant quantum computer will involve Japanese universities and domestic components suppliers. This “Made with Japan” effort will combine Quantinuum’s quantum technology with domestic research and manufacturing expertise, drawing on lessons from integrating and operating Reimei at RIKEN.
Under a separate agreement, Quantinuum, RIKEN and SoftBank will explore how quantum computing can be connected directly with AI data centers in Japan. The partners will assess infrastructure readiness and examine how connected systems could support commercial quantum-AI hybrid computing services, broadening access beyond the research community.
“Japan has established a strong foundation for hybrid quantum-HPC computing through the NEDO-supported JHPC-quantum project,” said Takenori Kobayashi, Vice President, Head of Product Research & Development Division at SoftBank Corp. “Our responsibility is to turn these achievements into industrial value. Together with RIKEN and Quantinuum, we aim to advance a Quantum AI Datacenter that connects quantum computing with AI and HPC, making these capabilities accessible to businesses across Japan.”
