Japan Activates World First Practical Quantum Computer at 100,000...

Japan RIKEN research institute and Fujitsu jointly activated what they describe as the world first practical-scale quantum computer reaching 100,000 physical qubits, a milestone that surpasses all previously announced quantum systems by an order of magnitude. The machine uses error-corrected superconducting qubits and demonstrated solving a 2,000-variable pharmaceutical molecular simulation problem 40,000 times faster than any classical supercomputer. Japanese Minister of Science Keiko Nagaoka called the activation a Sputnik moment for computing. The system is hosted at RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research in Wako, Saitama, and will be made accessible to international researchers through a cloud-based quantum computing portal. India Department of Science and Technology has formally applied for research access under the bilateral science and technology agreement with Japan.