Quantinuum and RIKEN upgrade Reimei for Japan’s quantum-AI push

Reimei upgrade expands hybrid research

Reimei is operated as part of the NEDO-funded JHPC-quantum project. According to Quantinuum and RIKEN, its upgrade enhances the project's quantum-HPC hybrid computing platform and allows researchers to investigate more complex quantum systems that are increasingly difficult to simulate using classical computing alone.

The partners plan to combine quantum computing, supercomputing and AI for use-case development in electronics, energy and life sciences. The announcement describes RIKEN's upgraded hybrid quantum-supercomputing platform as the most capable of its kind in the world, a claim made by the companies in the announcement.

RIKEN said the H2 system will support larger and more complex scientific problems than the previous H1 system. The institution will also expand research into quantum computing for AI for Science, an initiative it is promoting through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding.

Early projects target materials and biomolecules

Two research projects have begun operations on Reimei ahead of the public launch of its services. In one, the partners are using RIKEN's JHPC-quantum GPU supercomputer, ROQUO, to train an AI model on quantum data generated by Reimei for magnetism simulations.

Preliminary results suggest the model produces more accurate predictions than AI models trained only on classical simulations, and more precise predictions than the quantum computer itself, according to the announcement. Understanding magnetism at the atomic level could support materials development for technologies such as ultra-high-field MRI and smart power grids.

A second project combines Reimei, RIKEN's Fugaku supercomputer and NVIDIA's evolutionary AI agent running on ROQUO to simulate a complex photoactive biomolecule. The work aims to provide greater scale and detail for studying how biomolecules respond to light, with possible applications including more efficient solar cells.

Partners plan a fault-tolerant Japanese system

Quantinuum and RIKEN will use their experience integrating and operating Reimei to inform development of a fault-tolerant quantum computer described as “Made with Japan.” The effort will involve Japanese universities and domestic components suppliers, combining Quantinuum's quantum technology with Japanese research and manufacturing expertise.

Quantinuum CEO Dr. Rajeeb Hazra said the Reimei upgrade expands what the partners can explore across electronics, energy and life sciences. He also said the collaboration would examine how quantum capabilities could become accessible to industry through Japan's AI data centers.

The announcement aligns the research with RIKEN's AI for Science initiative and U.S.-Japan efforts to advance AI-driven discovery, including a planned $1 billion partnership under the U.S. Genesis Mission.

SoftBank explores links to AI data centers

Under a separate agreement, Quantinuum, RIKEN and SoftBank Corp. will explore connecting quantum computers directly with AI data centers in Japan. The partners will assess infrastructure readiness and examine whether connected systems could support commercial quantum-AI hybrid computing services.

The goal is to broaden access beyond the research community. SoftBank Vice President Takenori Kobayashi said the company aims to advance a “Quantum AI Datacenter” connecting quantum computing with AI and HPC, with the intention of making these capabilities accessible to businesses across Japan.

The announcement does not set out a launch date for such services. It says the partners will first explore the infrastructure and potential commercial applications, extending the existing NEDO-supported JHPC-quantum work toward industrial use.