International Business Machines Corp, the U.S. tech firm has announced its partnership with Japanese industry to promote advancements in the field of quantum computing thereby creating a strong synergy between the two nations in such sensitive and emerging field.

Reportedly, participants of this new group which comprise Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp. will secure cloud access to IBM’s U.S. quantum computers. Moreover, IBM plans to facilitate the group with another quantum computer range IBM Q System One in Japan during the first half of next year.

For the record, the “Quantum Innovation Initiative Consortium” constitutes Toyota Motor Corp, chemical manufacturers and financial institutions and will be situated at University of Tokyo. It will aim to strengthen the quantum skill base of Japan and enable technological developments in the companies. Apparently, an agreement was signed last year between IBM and University of Tokyo to extend cooperation in the domain of quantum computing which stipulates superseding of present supercomputers by utilizing the properties of sub atomic particles.

Dario Gil, Director, IBM Research has stated that they have an intention to build a quantum industry which involves efforts on a large scale. He also adds that there is a need to recognize the significance of quantum computing as it is a sensitive and highly competitive technology.

Apparently, the partnership proceeds as competition prevails between China and the United States along with its allies to develop quantum technology which could lead to advancements in artificial intelligence, chemistry and material science.

IBM has stated last September that it would introduce a quantum computer in Germany and sign a partnership with an applied research institute there. Further, IBM aims at enhancing its quantum computer by doubling their power every year and hopes to see its system as an operation behind service powering corporations.

Quantum computers depend on superconductivity that can be procured only in temperatures close to absolute zero, making development of viable systems an intimidating technical challenge.

Source credits: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/ibm-partners-with-japanese-business-academia-in-quantum-computing