The RIKEN Center for Computational Science has officially adopted QunaSys QURI SDK Enterprise as the primary software layer for Japan’s national JHPC-quantum project. This move links the Fugaku supercomputer and the recently deployed ROQUO GPU cluster with various quantum processing units to create a unified hybrid computing environment.
Funding for this initiative comes from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The integration aims to overcome significant operational hurdles that currently exist when connecting classical supercomputing hardware with quantum backends. It provides researchers with a way to manage multi-node job dispatch and parallel simulation.
Technical Infrastructure and Middleware Capabilities
The QURI SDK Enterprise stack functions as the glue between RIKEN's disparate computing resources. It supports the execution of hybrid algorithms across both superconducting and trapped-ion quantum architectures without requiring researchers to rewrite code for each specific hardware backend. This capability is vital for maintaining consistent workflows in a research setting where different machines are in constant use.
One of the core features involves the use of mpiQulacs for distributed classical circuit simulation. By using the Message Passing Interface across Fugaku's A64FX compute nodes, the system handles heavy computational loads that would otherwise crash less capable software. Simultaneously, it uses cuQuantum acceleration across the ROQUO cluster’s 540 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs. This combination allows for rapid state-vector and tensor-network simulations.
Algorithmic Focus and Industry Application
QunaSys included proprietary algorithm libraries within the SDK to assist with complex tasks in materials science and quantum chemistry. The suite features Quantum Selected Configuration Interaction and ADAPT-QSCI algorithms. These tools focus on active space electronic structure calculations which are essential for breakthroughs in computer-aided engineering and chemical research.
Researchers participating in the JHPC-quantum Test User Program now have access to these libraries. The goal is to build scalable workflows that move beyond theoretical models into practical hybrid supercomputing applications. This infrastructure supports a range of industrial research groups working on advanced materials and complex system modeling.
Broader Strategic Objectives in Computing
The integration forms a central part of Japan’s broader Society 5.0 roadmap. Since the launch of the ROQUO GPU cluster in June 2026, the RIKEN team has worked to bridge the gap between classical HPC environments and experimental quantum hardware. The software deployment marks a shift toward operational readiness for quantum-classical hybrid systems.
Moving forward, the focus remains on the stability of the hybrid loops that connect Fugaku with hardware like the IBM Quantum System Two and the Quantinuum System Model H2. As industrial users begin to apply these tools to real-world problems, the performance metrics from the JHPC-quantum platform will likely dictate the next phase of national infrastructure investment. The success of this platform depends on how well the software can hide the underlying complexity of these heterogeneous systems from the end user.