SoftBank and Partners Launch NEDO Quantum Materials Platform
Key Takeaways
NEDO Selection: Joint proposal chosen for post-5G quantum materials platform.
Project Timeline: Research and development runs fiscal 2026 through fiscal 2028.
Hybrid Method: Integrates quantum-computing calculations with AI across industrial materials.
On October 28, 2026, TOPPAN Holdings Inc., AISIN CORPORATION, Asahi Kasei Corporation, SoftBank Corp., AGC Inc., and DIC Corporation announced selection by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of their joint proposal for Research and Development of Innovative Materials Development Platforms Using Quantum Technology. The six companies signed a joint agreement to conduct research from fiscal 2026 through fiscal 2028. The work builds a materials development platform by combining quantum-computing calculations with AI methods such as machine learning. It targets practical application for materials used in next-generation batteries, optical devices, sensors, and superconductors.
Quantum-AI Methods for Materials Simulation
Japanese materials firms need faster discovery of new compounds while controlling computational cost. Classical simulation and data-driven AI face limits in data quality and scaling. Quantum computers can model molecular and electronic properties more efficiently in principle, yet current qubit counts and error rates restrict standalone use. The project develops hybrid methods that pair quantum calculations with AI to reduce precision and scale constraints. SoftBank contributes a platform linking quantum computers to supercomputers for high-value data generation and AI utilization, extending its existing JHPC-quantum work with RIKEN.
The effort covers three tracks:
- Verification of quantum methods for battery materials, optical functional materials, and superconducting materials.
- Development of integrated quantum-AI techniques to expand calculation scope and lower cost versus classical methods.
- Synthesis and experimental evaluation of materials based on simulation results, with feedback to improve prediction accuracy.
Partner Verification Roles and Applications
Each company verifies the platform in its core domain to support industrial adoption.
| Company | Focus |
|---|---|
| TOPPAN Holdings | Hybrid quantum-classical algorithms for additive materials plus experiment feedback |
| AISIN | Superconducting materials comparison against conventional methods and timeline assessment |
| Asahi Kasei | Organic electrolytes, polymers, and inorganic electrodes with experimental validation |
| SoftBank Corp. | Quantum-supercomputer data generation and AI utilization for energy materials including batteries |
| AGC | Optical glass and electronic materials using quantum plus existing computational science and AI |
| DIC | Property prediction for colorants and semiconductor materials before synthesis |
By combining quantum, AI, and experimental data, the partners aim to create a platform that evolves across multiple industrial material systems.
Bottom Line
The six-company NEDO project advances hybrid quantum-AI methods for industrial materials development through fiscal 2028.
Find out more here.
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Further articles, reports, and the latest quantum computing news may be found at The Qubit Report.
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