NEC spent decades developing quantum hardware, but it's time to leave - TechRadar

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NEC has reportedly stopped building physical quantum computers after roughly three decades of research into superconducting circuits and solid-state qubit technology. The Japanese technology company is instead expected to concentrate on quantum applications while avoiding the costs associated with developing physical machines. Several engineers connected to the initiative, including a senior research figure, subsequently moved across to rival firm Fujitsu to continue their work. NEC once dominated the global chip industry, ranking first worldwide in semiconductor sales back in 1990, ahead of several rivals. Companies such as Hitachi, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Motorola and Intel all trailed well behind NEC's chip business throughout that period. Intel eventually surpassed NEC as personal computer processors grew into a massive and highly profitable segment of the global electronics market. NEC's 1999 breakthrough in superconducting qubits emerged from a firm that possessed vast internal expertise in solid-state device engineering and manufacturing. Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Its researchers produced the earliest known solid-state qubit, a milestone still referenced widely across the quantum computing field. Variants of that early breakthrough now quietly underpin quantum processors currently built separately by both technology giants Google and IBM. Unlike NEC, IBM remained committed to quantum hardware and grew into a leading global developer of quantum computing systems overall. That contrast makes NEC's exit relatively rare among the original corporate pioneers of quantum computing hardware development. NEC did not exit the semiconductor business overnight; the retreat instead unfolded gradually across roughly a full decade of restructuring. The company effectively abandoned its DRAM memory operations in 1999, folding them into a joint venture that was later renamed Elpida. In November 2002, NEC spun off its remaining chip units, covering microcontrollers and system-on-chip devices, into an entirely new firm. That entity was subsequently renamed NEC Electronics, eventually becoming the major chipmaker now known globally as Renesas Electronics. NEC's current business portfolio now centers on IT services, enterprise systems, aerospace, defense, telecom infrastructure, AI and security work. Quantum hardware development apparently did not fit naturally alongside that existing and increasingly diversified corporate business focus of the company today. NEC has not formally described the move as a complete withdrawal from quantum computing research. The company says it will keep assessing real-world uses and commercialization paths connected to quantum technology. Quantum computing hardware remains a notably costly pursuit, and returns on investment can take many additional years to materialize fully. Meanwhile, Fujitsu, working alongside research partner Riken, already launched a quantum computer built around 256 superconducting qubits last year. The firm aims to build a system exceeding 1,000 qubits sometime within 2026, according to earlier public statements from company officials. Longer term, Fujitsu has reportedly set a goal of building machines that carry over 10,000 superconducting qubits before fiscal 2030 arrives. NEC's departure suggests that even firms with decades of deep expertise increasingly view quantum hardware as commercially unviable in the short term. #st-af6d5694-2ecb-47b6-bc25-dff188a2b6e1 { all: revert; position: absolute; display: block; pointer-events: none; overflow: hidden; } Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Efosa has been writing about technology for over 7 years, initially driven by curiosity but now fueled by a strong passion for the field. He holds both a Master's and a PhD in sciences, which provided him with a solid foundation in analytical thinking. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.