IBM and the University of Tokyo collaborated on quantum computer - one to be set up in Japan

Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

IBMと東大、量子コンピューターで連携　日本に設置へ

科学&新技術

2019/12/19 11:47

米IBMと東京大学は19日、次世代の超高速計算機「量子コンピューター」の研究開発で協力すると発表した。新薬や素材の探索から物流、金融サービスなどの幅広い分野で革新をもたらすとみられ、世界で開発競争が激しい。

IBMは開発中の機種を日本に設置し、ハードとソフトの両面から実用的な機能を高めていく考えだ。

IBMは2016年から量子コンピューターをクラウド経由で開放し、世界で利用者は20万人にのぼる。提携する機関は90を数え、日本では慶応義塾大学に拠点がある。東大との協力ではクラウド経由ではなく、量子コンピューターの実機を持ち込む。20年に東大本郷キャンパス（東京・文京）と日本のIBMの拠点に設置する計画だ。

IBMは応用分野の広い「ゲート方式」の量子コンピューターを開発中だ。米国外ではドイツに設置を予定しており、日本は3カ国目、アジアで初になる。

量子コンピューターの性能は最近急速に向上し、米グーグルが10月にスーパーコンピューターをしのぐ性能を実証したと発表した。しかし実用化に向けてハードとソフトとも課題は山積している。IBMは東大と協力して解決策を探り、人材の育成などにも取り組む。

IBMと東大は産業界や他の大学にも連携を広げる計画だ。この分野に力を入れているグーグルや中国のアリババ集団などとの競争で優位に立てるようにするねらいだ。東大も量子コンピューターに関連する多くの分野の研究を底上げできると期待している。

Translation

IBM and the University of Tokyo announced yesterday that they would cooperate in research and development of the next-generation ultra-high-speed computer "quantum computer". The  expectation was to bring about innovation in a wide range of fields from the search for new drugs and materials, to logistics and financial services in a world with intense development competition.

IBM planned to install a developing model in Japan, and to enhance practical functions in both hardware and software.

IBM opened up its quantum computers via the Cloud since 2016, reaching 200,000 users worldwide. There were 90 affiliated institutions and there was a base in Japan at Keio University. In cooperation with the University of Tokyo not only via the Cloud, it would bring in an actual quantum computer. The plan was that in 2020 an IBM base would be set up in Japan at the University of Tokyo Hongo Campus (Bunkyo, Tokyo).

IBM was developing a "Gate-based" quantum computer with a wide range of applications. Outside the United States, it was planning to install one in Germany, and Japan would be the third country, but the first in Asia.

The performance of quantum computers had improved rapidly recently, with Google announcing in October that it had outperformed supercomputers. However, there were many issues for both hardware and software towards practical use. IBM would work with the University of Tokyo to find solutions to these issues, and also to work on the development human resources.

IBM and the University of Tokyo planned to extend collaborations towards the industrial world and other universities. The aim was to be ahead of the competition with Google and Alibaba groups in China who were focusing on this area. The University of Tokyo hoped to improve research in many fields related to quantum computers.

           So, there is a competition between China (teaming with Google) and Japan (teaming up with IBM) in the research on quantum computers applications.