OptQC and NTT Strengthen Collaboration on Large-Scale Optical Quantum Computing

Insider BriefPress release – OptQC Corp. (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Kan Takase; hereinafter “OptQC“) and NTT, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akira Shimada; hereinafter “NTT”) have signed a capital and business alliance agreement toward the practical application of a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer.Under the alliance, NTT plans to invest in OptQC. The two companies will strengthen a medium- to long-term collaboration framework that covers not only research and development, but also commercialization, use case development with prospective users and industry partners, supply chain development, and real-world implementation. Through this framework, the companies will enhance their talent base and research and development environments, and accelerate system design and the development of key component technologies needed to realize a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer.Through the real-world deployment of optical quantum computers as a next-generation computing platform, the two companies aim to contribute to solving social challenges in areas including finance, manufacturing, medicine development, new materials development, energy optimization, and the advancement of AI technologies.In recent years, expectations for quantum computers have been growing worldwide as a means of addressing complex challenges that would require enormous amounts of time to solve using conventional computers. Such challenges include risk analysis in the financial sector, advanced production planning and logistics optimization in the manufacturing sector, medicine development, new materials development, and the optimization of energy use.Among the various approaches to quantum computing, optical quantum computers are attracting attention as a next-generation computing platform because of their high affinity with optical communications technologies, as well as their potential for future scalability and energy efficiency.In November 2025, OptQC and NTT entered into a collaboration agreement toward the realization of scalable, reliable, and practical optical quantum computers, and have since been conducting studies toward the realization of a one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer. Following the agreement, NTT established a research and development hub for optical quantum computers at the Atsugi R&D Center. OptQC has also begun operating “MoQuren,” its first optical quantum computer, at The Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QuAT) of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).In addition, a research team in which OptQC and NTT participate has succeeded in realizing the world’s highest-quality quantum light source, which is essential for improving the performance of optical quantum computers. This achievement represents one of the key foundational technologies toward the realization of reliable and practical optical quantum computers.At the same time, in order to put quantum computers capable of contributing to solving social challenges into practical use, the following technical challenges must be overcome:OptQC and NTT have entered into a new capital and business alliance agreement and have commenced joint research that further develops the joint studies conducted under their previous collaboration agreement. Through these efforts, the two companies will accelerate integrated initiatives spanning research and development, commercialization, and real-world implementation of optical quantum computers.OptQC has entered into a capital and business alliance agreement with NTT. Going forward, NTT plans to invest in OptQC. Through this alliance, the two companies will strengthen their collaboration framework that covers not only research and development, but also commercialization, use case development together with prospective users and industry partners, supply chain development, and real-world implementation.‍By combining OptQC’s optical quantum computing technologies with NTT’s expertise in optical communications technologies, networks, data centers, quantum information processing technologies, and IOWN-related technologies, the two companies aim to accelerate the practical application and commercialization of optical quantum computers.In addition, OptQC and NTT will promote collaboration with prospective users, research institutions, and other partners in Japan and overseas, and will advance initiatives toward the development of use cases for optical quantum computers, future market development, and real-world implementation.‍NTT’s planned investment is positioned as a strategic investment to connect research outcomes in optical quantum computing to real-world implementation, and will further strengthen the medium- to long-term collaboration between the two companies.As the first phase, the two companies have entered into a joint research agreement running through fiscal year 2027(Note) and have begun research and development toward the realization of a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer. This joint research aims to complete the design of the architecture and key component technologies required for the one-million-qubit-class system.‍Specifically, the joint research will address the following themes:‍– Scaling the number of qubits by using wavelength-division multiplexing technologies– Designing a fault-tolerant optical quantum computer– Designing the system architecture for a one-million-qubit-class system‍After the completion of the joint research, the companies plan to pursue new joint research toward the next phase of actual system implementation based on the design outcomes.(Note) In this release, “fiscal year” refers to the period from April to March of the following year.OptQC and NTT will promote initiatives toward research and development as well as real-world implementation, with the aim of realizing a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer by fiscal year 2030.As part of the business roadmap, beginning in fiscal year 2026, the two companies will start co-creation activities with prospective users, industry partners, and research institutions that share an interest in developing use cases for optical quantum computers. In fiscal year 2027, they will begin building a supply chain with a view toward future practical application. In fiscal year 2028, they will start Proof-of-Concept (PoC) projects with users based on a 10,000-qubit-class optical quantum computer system. In fiscal year 2029, they will further expand application development and verification activities, and advance initiatives toward real-world implementation.As part of the technology roadmap, by fiscal year 2027, the two companies aim to complete the design of the system architecture and key component technologies required to realize a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer. In parallel, by fiscal year 2027, they aim to realize a practical 10,000-qubit-class optical quantum computer system and begin verification using the system in fiscal year 2028. In fiscal year 2029, they will develop a software platform for the integrated use of optical quantum computers and classical computers, and advance verification using real-world applications. Through this phased approach, the companies will advance research and development toward the realization of a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer.Through these initiatives, OptQC and NTT aim to realize a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer by fiscal year 2030. At the same time, the two companies will promote the real-world implementation of representative use cases across a wide range of fields, including risk analysis and optimization in the financial sector, advanced production planning and logistics optimization in the manufacturing sector, medicine development, new materials development, and the optimization of energy use.Representative Member of the Board, President and CEO of NTT, Inc., Akira Shimada“Quantum computers are a next-generation computing platform with the potential to contribute to solving a wide range of social challenges, including finance, manufacturing, medicine development, new materials development, and the optimization of energy use.Building on the expertise NTT has cultivated in optical communications technologies, networks, data centers, and IOWN, we will work with OptQC through this capital and business alliance and joint research to advance optical quantum computers in an integrated manner, from research and development to commercialization and further to real-world implementation.Through this initiative, we aim to bring optical quantum computing technologies originating in Japan to the global stage and contribute to the creation of new value.”Representative Director and CEO of OptQC Corp., Kan Takase“Since the conclusion of our collaboration agreement in November 2025, the research, development, and business teams of both companies have engaged in extensive discussions not only on technical matters, but also on commercialization, use case development, and approaches to real-world implementation.We are very pleased that this has led to the conclusion of a capital and business alliance agreement and the commencement of joint research, further strengthening the collaboration between our two companies.By combining the optical quantum computing technologies that OptQC has developed based on 25 years of research at the University of Tokyo with NTT’s expertise in optical amplification, optical multiplexing, and other technologies cultivated in the field of optical communications, we are confident that we can make significant progress toward the realization of a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer.Toward our fiscal year 2030 target, we will move steadily forward together with NTT and pursue the early practical application of optical quantum computers that contribute to solving social challenges.”TopicsShare Get the latest research, company news, and market intelligence every week. MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLEOptQC Corp. is focused on developing optical quantum computers using proprietary photonic technology. Its systems operate at room temperature and pressure, offering a distinct architecture designed for scalable, high-speed, and energy-efficient computation without the need for complex parallelization.The NTT Group is a world leader in providing technology and business solutions to people, clients and communities.More in Research