Apr 22, 2024 13:00:00

What is the quantum supercomputer 'ABCI-Q' that NVIDIA and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology are building together?

Japan's

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) is partnering with NVIDIA on a project called ABCI-Q to build a hybrid supercomputer that will provide quantum computing capabilities. ABCI-Q will be available as early as fiscal year 2025, and is expected to develop applications such as pharmaceutical research and logistics optimization.

Nvidia to help Japan build hybrid quantum-supercomputer - Nikkei Asia
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Nvidia-to-help-Japan-build-hybrid-quantum-supercomputer

NVIDIA to Collaborate With Japan on Their Cutting-Edge ABCI-Q Quantum Supercomputer

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-japan-abci-q-quantum-supercomputer/

ABCI-Q is a supercomputer built by Fujitsu at AIST's Global Research Center for Business Development of Quantum and AI Fusion Technologies (G-QuAT), and is expected to be integrated with quantum hardware in the future.

ABCI-Q will also feature more than 2,000 H100 data center GPUs on more than 500 nodes interconnected with the Quantum-2 InfiniBand architecture, and will integrate CUDA-Q , a hybrid quantum computing platform, to enable hybrid programming using two systems: quantum and classical computing.

While quantum computers can solve calculations that are too complex for conventional computers, they also have the drawback of being prone to errors even when the environment changes slightly. It is hoped that combining quantum computing technology with supercomputers will solve this problem and make it possible to apply quantum computing technology to more complex processes than ever before.

'Researchers need high-performance simulations to tackle the toughest challenges in quantum computing,' said Tim Costa, director of HPC and Quantum Computing at NVIDIA. 'The adoption of CUDA-Q and the NVIDIA H100 at pioneering research institutions like AIST will enable quantum computing to make critical advances and accelerate its development.'

'Through ABCI-Q, Japanese researchers will be able to learn more about quantum computing and accelerate the testing and development of practical applications,' said Masahiro Horibe, deputy director of G-QuAT. 'NVIDIA's CUDA-Q platform and the NVIDIA H100 will empower scientists to explore new frontiers in quantum computing research.'

ABCI-Q is scheduled to be available for a fee from fiscal year 2025 at the earliest, and according to AIST, a system will be introduced that will allow researchers from private companies to input questions into ABCI-Q via a cloud system and receive responses. By opening this system to the private sector, the aim is to further develop quantum computing technology.

Nikkei Asia states that as one example of the use of ABCI-Q, 'it will be possible to create the shortest route with the lowest carbon dioxide emissions for trucks with maximum loads that make multiple stops, which will be useful for logistics companies trying to determine the optimal transportation route.'

In December 2023, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss strengthening cooperation across multiple fields and ensuring a stable supply of AI products that meet Japan's needs. The development of ABCI-Q by G-QuAT is also seen as part of Japan's technological innovation phase, in which the country aims to take the lead in the civilian industry by leveraging the latest technologies such as quantum computing and AI.

NVIDIA and AIST also report that they will collaborate on industrial application development using ABCI-Q.