Classiq and NTT DOCOMO Business team up to bring enterprise quantum applications to Japan

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Classiq has signed a memorandum of understanding with NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, the company formerly known as NTT Communications, HPCwire reports. The aim is to speed up enterprise use of quantum computing in Japan. NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS will propose and sell Classiq's quantum software platform, and the two companies will work with customers to find, build and test use cases. No financial terms were disclosed

The target areas are the usual favourites for early quantum work. Materials, drug discovery, financial risk analysis and logistics are all on the list. Classiq's platform combines agentic AI interfaces, its Qmod modelling language and a synthesis engine that turns high level models into optimised circuits. The idea is that developers describe what they want and the engine works out the circuit

One of Classiq's selling points is that the platform runs on many kinds of hardware. It supports superconducting, neutral atom, trapped ion and photonic machines. For enterprise customers that matters, because nobody wants to lock themselves into one hardware vendor when it is still unclear which approach will win. A hardware agnostic layer lets them experiment without making that bet

NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS brings its own quantum interests to the deal. It is building a wide area quantum key distribution network and working on post quantum cryptography. Yuichi Ikejiri, head of its Innovation Center, said enterprises are increasingly interested in quantum computing. Classiq's APAC head Akira Tanaka said Japan has a strong base of enterprises already exploring how quantum computing can contribute

This feels like a natural partnership. Large Japanese companies often prefer to work through trusted local partners, and NTT is about as trusted as it gets. Classiq gets a sales channel it could not build alone, and NTT gets a software story to go with its networking work. A memorandum is not a contract, of course, so the real test will be how many customers sign up

Is a hardware agnostic software layer the smart bet in quantum right now? And how do you see Japan's quantum scene compared with Europe and the US?

Classiq And Ntt Docomo Business Target Enterprise Quantum Applications In Japanwww.hpcwire.com