September 14, 2026 -- The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture) and "OptQC" (Toshima City, Tokyo Prefecture), a startup originating from the University of Tokyo, announced on July 21 that they completed construction of the first optical quantum computer unit "MoQuren," which is expected to be a next-generation computer. AIST has installed MoQuren in its own premises and commenced operation. Quantum computers utilizing light are characterized by operating at room temperature and enabling miniaturization. The actual operation of a domestic optical quantum computer aiming for commercialization at a research and development hub is said to be the world's first case.

According to AIST and partners, the optical method does not require the cryogenic cooling environment deemed essential in superconducting methods or the high-vacuum environment required in ion methods. The optical method allows the computer to operate without having to place its main unit in a specialized environment. Furthermore, by combining this with optical communication technologies, it is said that scaling up is possible in the future while suppressing heat generation and reducing power consumption.

AIST has now installed MoQuren, completed as hardware, at the "Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI technology" located on its premises. It is incorporated and operated as part of the "Quantum-Classical Hybrid Computing Platform" (ABCI-Q), a common platform combining non-optical quantum computers and supercomputers. The aim is to construct a mechanism for "hybrid computing" that utilizes established supercomputers and optical quantum computers under development, simultaneously developing various elemental technologies while leveraging their respective fields of expertise.

This time, a demonstration environment necessary for developing software and industrial applications required for practical application and commercialization has been established. OptQC and partners will build a system by the end of the year to allow companies and research institutions to use it via the cloud using the internet. First, they will accelerate the development of a "Software Development Kit (SDK)," which can be called a "toolbox" for creating software.

The goal is the realization of a next-generation computing platform capable of addressing various challenges facing society. Specifically, future application across a wide range of fields including new drug development, new material creation, finance, and AI development fields is envisaged. Going forward, they will also advance condition preparation for actually providing computing services to pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions, and others.

Quantum computers utilize properties of quantum entities such as light, atoms, and electrons, calculating on principles entirely different from conventional computers. While conventional computers represent the minimum unit of information, "bits," as "0 or 1," quantum computers utilize "qubits" based on entirely new concepts.

Utilizing unique properties of quantum mechanics, these qubits can hold a "state where both 0 and 1 are overlaid simultaneously." Because it can calculate by overlaying multiple states, it is said that depending on the problem, calculations that would take immense time on conventional computers can be tremendously accelerated.

RIKEN issued a report titled "Optical Quantum Computers Finally Realized" in August last year. In the report, Team Director Hidehiro Yonezawa of the Optical Quantum Control Research Team at RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing, explained: "By leveraging quantum properties, it is expected that specific problems can be solved extremely quickly. There is even the potential to shorten a problem that takes 10,000 years on conventional computers to one second."

For this next-generation computer, there are non-optical methods utilizing superconductivity, neutral atoms, ions, semiconductors, and others, with intense international competition unfolding toward practical application and commercialization. Regarding the optical method, Yonezawa, a leading authority on research in this field, points out many merits, such as being able to pack a lot of information into optical signals using optical communication technology.

OptQC was launched in September 2024, originating from Professor Akira Furusawa's laboratory in the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo. Currently, Furusawa and Yonezawa also serve as directors of the company.

Representative Director and CEO Kan Takase of OptQC commented: "We are convinced that the optical method, which is our core technology, can advance next-generation computing platforms to the practical phase fastest. Through collaboration with AIST's ABCI-Q, we are fully committed to establishing commercial quantum computing services that companies can truly utilize at business sites beyond the framework of basic research."