Nvidia Helps Japan Build a Hybrid Quantum Supercomputer

A technology research institute supported by the Japanese government is collaborating with Nvidia to construct a hybrid supercomputer that will provide quantum computing capabilities to researchers and companies.

As part of the national quantum computing initiative, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan is developing a system known as ABCI-Q, which stands for Advanced Quantum Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hybrid Cloud System.

Nvidia has already supplied ABCI-Q with Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), but will also provide quantum computing software through cloud services.

The system is set to begin fee-based services starting in the fiscal year 2025. The institute envisions applications such as pharmaceutical research and logistics optimization.

Nvidia collaborates with research labs in Germany and the UK on quantum computing, but broader collaborations involving software are rare.

Although quantum computers can solve problems too complex for traditional computers, they are prone to errors even with minor environmental changes. Integrating them with supercomputers addresses this issue, making the systems more practical for complex processing.

Researchers can input queries and receive responses from the computer via the cloud system. By opening this system to the private sector, the institute aims to help advance quantum computing technology.

For example, the program could assist a logistics company in determining the optimal transport routes. It could provide the shortest routes with the least carbon emissions for trucks making multiple stops at maximum load.