Japan fires up world’s biggest quantum research supercomputer to supercharge hybrid research

The world’s largest supercomputer dedicated to quantum computing research has officially gone live.

The machine, known as ABCI-Q, is housed at the G-QuAT (Global Research and Development Centre for Business by Quantum-AI Technology) research centre in the Japanese city of Tsukuba.

G-QuAT opened its doors earlier this month, as part of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).  G-QuAT will focus on developing hybrid technologies – a mix of ‘classical computing models’ like AI in concert with quantum computing –  for processing large datasets.

The research centre was announced in 2023, with the aim of furthering the development of hybrid technology through three strands of R&D.

First, creating use cases for hybrid technologies. Second, building a resilient quantum computing supply chain and supporting productization of quantum technologies. And third, large-scale integration of quantum bits.

G-QuAT hopes its work will help build a global ecosystem that will use quantum computing to solve economic and social issues as well as create new markets for quantum technologies.

G-QuAT will “boost Japan’s industrial competitiveness, enhance fundamental research capabilities, and develop human resources to sustain them”, according to AIST.

The centre will also house ABCI-Q, currently thought to be the largest machine for quantum computing research globally.

Not just Nvidia inside Japan’s quantum supercomputer

ABCI-Q runs on 2,020 Nvidia H100 GPUs connected up by the company’s Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking architecture. It’s also integrated with Nvidia’s CUDA-Q, its hybrid platform for orchestrating quantum systems.

“Nvidia’s collaboration with AIST will catalyse progress in areas like quantum error correction and applications development – crucial for building useful, accelerated quantum supercomputers,” said Tim Costa, Nvidia’s senior director of computer-aided engineering, quantum and CUDA-X.

According to Nvidia, ABCI-Q is integrated with a range of quantum processors. There’s a superconducting qubit processor from Fujitsu, a neutral atom quantum processor by QuEra and OptQC’s photonic processor. This opens up options for handling hybrid workloads using different qubit modalities.

ABCI-Q’s cooling technology was provided by Bluefors, in the form of 18 cryogenic systems. Bluefors’ KIDE cryogenic platform is built for large-scale quantum computers, operating with 1,000 or more qubits and 4,000 signal paths, the company said.

The centre has also been striking deals with other quantum companies. Last month, G-QuAT signed a memorandum of understanding with quantum networking provider IonQ, a deal which lays the foundation for the research centre to access IonQ’s quantum computers via the company’s cloud service.

The Japanese government has been investing heavily to support the development of quantum technologies in the country: according to Nikkei Asia, it’s invested 332.8 billion yen (£1.7 billion/$2.3 billion) for quantum-related initiatives between the 2020 and 2024 financial years.

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