Enhancing Quantum Computing Business through Collaboration with Jij

ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Tatsushi Shingu, President and CEO; hereinafter “CTC”) has started a collaboration with Jij Inc. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Yu Yamashiro, CEO; hereinafter “Jij”), a company developing software for quantum computers, to strengthen “Cubit X” (formerly “CUVIC for Quantum”), our service to support the use of quantum computing. By utilizing Jij’s quantum algorithm development platform “JijZept,” we will support application development using quantum computers to shorten development time. We will offer Cubit X mainly to companies working on adoption of quantum computers for their businesses, and aim to achieve sales of 3 billion yen over the next three years.

In addition, CTC has signed the first agency agreement for JijZept in Japan and will start offering the platform today.

Quantum computers are utilized for solving “combinatorial optimization problems” to derive the optimal combinations from a vast number of options. They are attracting attention for their use for tasks in many industries, including production planning in the manufacturing industry, and delivery route planning in the logistics industry, where the optimization leads to best solutions. However, to fully utilize their performance, programming suited to quantum computers is necessary, and advanced quantum computing expertise is also required.

Cubit X is CTC’s proprietary suite of services supporting the utilization of quantum computing. It includes a cloud-based platform that integrates multiple quantum computers, managed services, assessment services, and a quantum algorithm development environment.

JijZept is a quantum algorithm development platform featuring an intuitive interface based on mathematical equations. It converts mathematical equations related to combinatorial optimization problems into quantum-computer-specific equations, automatically generating efficient programs for various quantum computers, such as gate-based and annealing-based quantum computers. It has learned optimal parameter patterns based on extensive computation examples and data sets. This can eliminate the manual, complex mathematical modeling and parameter adjustment processes conventionally performed by experts, improving the efficiency of algorithm development that typically requires significant time.

Integrating JijZept into Cubit X enables comprehensive support for developing applications utilizing quantum computers. Users can shorten development periods by up to 70% without requiring advanced programming skills.

Since 2017, CTC has been engaged in R&D on the utilization of quantum computers and launched Cubit X in 2023 by leveraging the expertise gained through demonstration experiments for the use of quantum computing, including optimization computing for wind turbine placement in wind power generation.

Going forward, CTC will continue to collaborate with partners and further enhance the functionality of Cubit X to support the use of quantum computing in business.