Japan has officially launched the most advanced quantum-classical hybrid computing system in the world, marking a groundbreaking step in the integration of quantum computing with traditional supercomputing.
The system, installed in Kobe, merges IBM’s Quantum System Two, featuring the cutting-edge Heron 156-qubit processor, with Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer, one of the most powerful classical systems globally.
Developed jointly by IBM and Japan’s national research lab RIKEN, this is the first such hybrid system of its kind to be deployed outside of the United States.
The Heron processor, IBM’s most advanced quantum chip to date, delivers ten times higher speed and quality than its predecessor, the 127-qubit Eagle. It operates with significantly lower error rates and can execute quantum circuits that are impossible to simulate with classical machines.
A direct, low-latency connection between the quantum and classical systems allows for unprecedented computational coordination, paving the way for practical hybrid algorithms and real-world quantum applications.
Researchers at RIKEN will initially use the system to explore complex challenges in chemistry and materials science, areas where quantum computing is expected to unlock transformative breakthroughs.
“By combining Fugaku and IBM Quantum System Two, RIKEN aims to lead Japan into a new era of high-performance computing,” said Dr. Mitsuhisa Sato, head of RIKEN’s Quantum-HPC hybrid platform division.
This strategic initiative underscores Japan’s ambition to become a global leader in next-generation computing, enhancing innovation across science, industry, and national infrastructure.
