Industry-academia collaboration hub Fujitsu Advanced Computing Lab Delft at Delft University of Technology to drive development of advanced quantum computing technologies
Today, Fujitsu and Delft University of Technology announced the formation of the Fujitsu Advanced Computing Lab Delft at Delft University of Technology. This hub, an industry-academic collaboration, is dedicated to advancing quantum computing technologies. As a part of the Fujitsu Small Research Lab (1) initiative, this new hub will place Fujitsu’s researchers in technology breeding grounds at top universities worldwide. Here, they will engage in collaborative research with leading experts, including esteemed professors and emerging innovators in their respective fields.
The Advanced Computing Lab is set to be located at QuTech (2), a preeminent institute for quantum technology research, formed through a collaboration between Delft University of Technology and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Its aim is to accelerate the research and development of diamond-spin quantum computing, an area where Fujitsu and Delft University of Technology have been collaboratively researching since October 2020.
Moreover, the partnership will focus on advancing the development of application of quantum technologies in practical scenarios, with a goal to innovate the fluid simulation technologies. This effort includes applying quantum computing to computational fluid dynamics, a field characterized by its need for extensive and complex computations.
Vivek Mahajan, SEVP, CTO and CPO, Fujitsu Limited, comments:
“Strengthening our collaboration with Delft University of Technology offers a chance to unlock new possibilities in quantum. With Fujitsu’s top-class technologies and talented researchers from one of world’s leading institutions in this exciting field, we can further work toward potential breakthroughs in quantum hardware development, while nurturing a new generation of innovators.”
Prof. Tim van der Hagen, Rector Magnificus/President of the Executive Board at Delft University of Technology, comments:
“At Delft University of Technology, we develop and deliver technology-driven, innovative solutions to societal problems and explore potential applications of quantum computers in a broad range of fields. TU Delft is the ideal place for industry and science to collaborate on advancing this key technology. We are very proud that Fujitsu, building on their already successful collaboration with QuTech, has chosen the Netherlands and Delft to establish their Advanced Computing Lab.”
Dr. Shintaro Sato, Fellow SVP & Head of Quantum Laboratory at Fujitsu Research, Fujitsu Limited, comments:
“We have been working closely with Delft University of Technology on diamond spin qubit technology for the past three years—I am proud of what we have achieved together so far, and I am confident that this new lab will form the foundation for fruitful future collaboration. We are excited to extend this collaboration deeper into the field of quantum applications, and hopefully produce results that surprise the world.”
Kees Eijkel, Director of Business Development at QuTech, Delft University of Technology, comments:
“At QuTech we build scalable technologies for Quantum Computing and a Quantum Internet. We value our strategic partnership with Fujitsu in Quantum Computing. It is a partnership that is founded on our complementary strengths and a shared vision for economic impact. We are very proud that Fujitsu has chosen Delft, with its exceptional concentration of quantum talent, as the location for the Advanced Computing Lab. We are excited about the prospect of extending our already deep and significant collaboration to additional opportunities that Delft presents.”
Collaboration to focus on diamond-spin quantum technology
In its commitment to strengthen partnerships with leading research institutions via global open innovation, Fujitsu has been engaging in basic research and development activities in quantum computing, focusing on diamond-based spin qubits, in collaboration with TU Delft.
Up until now, Fujitsu and Delft University of Technology have been jointly working on R&D for quantum computers using diamond-based spin qubits. Their objective is to develop a blueprint for future modular quantum computers that can exceed beyond 1,000 qubits. In their quest to make quantum computing a reality, the partners have explored various technology layers, ranging from device level to control systems, architecture, and algorithm development. This collaboration led to a significant achievement – the first-ever fault-tolerant operation of spin qubits in a diamond quantum processor (3), employing the diamond NV center (4) technique.
Fujitsu and Delft University of Technology are also collaborating to enhance qubit performance by incorporating SnV centers (5). These centers are increasingly recognized for their high-performance capabilities in diamond spins, in scalable nanophotonic devices showing efficient single-photon coupling (arXiv: 2311.12927).
Fujitsu and Delft University of Technology have inaugurated the Fujitsu Advanced Computing Lab Delft to deepen their partnership and enhance the collaborative research structure for advancing computing technologies rooted in quantum science. Looking ahead, both entities aim to establish this new center as a foremost hub for industry-academic research and development in Japan and the Netherlands. They intend to promote greater cooperation, including nurturing talent capable of spearheading the creation of solutions for societal challenges through advanced computing technologies.
Overview of the newly developed Fujitsu Advanced Computing Lab Delft
1. Initial research period:
January 25, 2024 to September 30, 2028
2. Location:
Delft University of Technology – QuTech / Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft, The Netherlands
3. Research contents:
(1) Basic R&D of quantum computers using diamond-based spin qubits
– Development of a blueprint for scalable modular quantum computing using diamond-spin qubits with both high stability and optical connectivity.
– Verification of the effectiveness of the above approach by demonstrating operation of quantum algorithms using a small number of diamond spin qubits, and by establishing devices and integrated process technologies necessary for on-chip implementation
(2) Research on the application of quantum computing technology to the field of computational fluid dynamics
– Development of applications that enable large-scale, high-speed and complex computations in the fluid dynamics field
– Development of quantum algorithms for fluid dynamics simulations under various conditions and verification of their effectiveness through demonstrations using real-world problems including aerodynamic design for next-generation aircrafts
– Realization of an innovative fluid simulation technology for fault-tolerant quantum computation (FTQC) (6) that enables highly accurate prediction of particle motion over a wide spatial area required for solving real-world problems; expansion of scope of research to strengthen peripheral technologies necessary for practical applications
4. Roles and responsibilities:
(1) Basic R&D of quantum computers using diamond-based spin qubits
– Fujitsu: R&D of implementation technology required for the construction of quantum computing systems
– Delft University of Technology: Proof-of-principle tests of qubit devices and R&D of quantum control protocols
(2) Research on the application of quantum computing technology to the field of computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
– Fujitsu: Performance evaluation and demonstration trials for real-world problems on quantum computer simulators and early-FTQC systems
– Delft University of Technology: Development and implementation of a high-performance quantum-CFD solver; construction of a hybrid quantum-classical computational framework for aerodynamic design optimization
Overview of the initiatives of the Fujitsu Advanced Computing Lab Delft
5. Organization:Researchers from Fujitsu and Delft University of Technology will support activities at the new collaboration hub. Main members include:
– Dr. Shintaro Sato (Fellow SVP & Head of Quantum Laboratory at Fujitsu Research, Fujitsu Limited)
– Kenichi Kawaguchi (Research Director, Quantum Hardware Core Project, Quantum Laboratory at Fujitsu Research, Fujitsu Limited)
– Shinji Kikuchi (Senior Project Director, Quantum Application Core Project, Quantum Laboratory at Fujitsu Research, Fujitsu Limited)
– Matthias Möller (Associate Professor, Faculty of EEMCS, Delft University of Technology)
– Ronald Hanson (Professor, QuTech, Delft University of Technology)
– Tim Taminiau ( Group Leader, QuTech, Delft University of Technology)
– Ryoichi Ishihara (Associate Professor, QuTech, Faculty of EEMCS, Delft University of Technology)
[1] Fujitsu Small Research Lab: An initiative to achieve greater breakthroughs beyond the results of ordinary joint research. The initiative aims to contribute to the solution of social issues, while accelerating joint research, identifying new research themes, developing human resources, and building medium- to long-term relationships with universities. Fujitsu researchers are embedded at technology incubators at universities in Japan and internationally.
[2] QuTech: Formally established in 2015 by Delft University of Technology and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). QuTech’s mission is to develop a scalable prototype of a quantum computer and an inherently secure quantum Internet based on the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics.
[3] The world’s first fault-tolerant operation of spin qubits in a diamond quantum processor: “QuTech and Fujitsu realise the fault-tolerant operation of a qubit” (QuTech press release May 5, 2022): https://QuTech.nl/2022/05/05/QuTech-and-fujitsu-realise-fault-tolerant-operation-of-qubit/, Abobeih et al. (2022), “Fault-tolerant operation of a logical qubit in a diamond quantum processor,” Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04819-6
[4] Diamond NV Center: A defect consisting of a vacancy in the diamond lattice next to a nitrogen atom, where a carbon atom is typically found.
[5] SnV Center: A defect consisting of a vacancy in the diamond lattice next to a tin (Sn), where a carbon atom is typically found.
[6] FTQC: Abbreviation for fault-tolerant quantum computation; performance of quantum computation without errors while correcting quantum errors.
Read Next: AI integration with multiomics: Transformative leap in healthcare, says GlobalData
