More Super than Supercomputers: Japan's Fujitsu, Riken develop second quantum computer

In a remarkable feat that is bound to push Japan far ahead of its neighbours in Asia, Fujitsu and research institute Riken have successfully developed Japan's second quantum computer, as part of research efforts around the world to make the nascent technology practical.

The 64-qubit quantum computer from Fujitsu and state-backed Riken will be integrated with a 40-qubit quantum computer simulator, as researchers work to eliminate the errors which prevent such systems from providing accurate results.

"It's kind of a first or second step, we still have a long way to go," Shintaro Sato, head of Fujitsu's quantum laboratory, told reporters.

Governments and companies including IBM and Alphabet are pouring funds into research for quantum computers, which hold the promise of becoming millions of times faster than the fastest supercomputers.

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IBM last year launched a 433-qubit quantum computer. Qubits, or quantum bits, are a measure of the power of quantum computers, which use quantum mechanics.

China, the US and allied industrial democracies are in a race to take a lead in advanced technology including quantum computing, with President Joe Biden moving to hamper some U.S. investment in Chinese efforts to develop the technology.