# Quantum Leap: How Japan and China Are Building the Next Frontier of Computing

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/china/251347-quantum-leap-how-japan-and-china-are-building-the-next-frontier-of-computing
- Published: 2025-10-16T07:50:00+07:00
- Author: J. Allan

As classical computing approaches its physical limits, quantum technology has become
the next great frontier,  and Japan and China are leading Asia’s charge toward this
new computing era. 

## Key takeaways

 * China is rapidly scaling its quantum ecosystem through state-backed funding, 
   research hubs like Hefei, and breakthroughs such as the 105-qubit _Zuchongzhi
   3.0_ processor.
 * Japan is advancing with precision and reliability, led by institutions like RIKEN
   and NICT, emphasizing domestic sourcing and long-term stability.
 * Both nations view quantum computing as strategic to technological sovereignty,
   setting the stage for Asia to lead the next global computing revolution.

Both countries are combining public investment, academic research, and private innovation
to secure a foothold in a field expected to reshape industries from finance to defense.

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## How China Is Preparing for the Next Frontier of Computing?

In China, the government’s long-term vision is to dominate what it calls “hard tech,”
including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. 

The city of Hefei in Anhui Province has emerged as the heart of this effort. It 
hosts the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), QuantumCTek, and
more than 70 related enterprises, forming a full quantum industry chain that covers
computation, communication, and measurement.

In 2025, Chinese scientists unveiled Zuchongzhi 3.0, a 105-qubit superconducting
quantum computer that demonstrated advantages over traditional supercomputers in
select tasks. Meanwhile, companies like SpinQ and Boson Quantum Technology are developing
commercial hardware and photonic computing platforms. 

To sustain momentum, Beijing launched a ¥1 trillion (US$138 billion) national venture
fund this year to back deep-tech startups and reinforce China’s self-reliance in
strategic technologies.

## Japan and the RIKEN Initiative

Japan, in contrast, is pursuing a more measured but highly coordinated approach,
focused on precision, reliability, and domestic sourcing. 

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The RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (RQC) and the National Institute of Information
and Communications Technology (NICT) anchor its ecosystem, with collaborations spanning
superconducting, photonic, and cold-atom research. Industry partners like Fujitsu
and NTT have already introduced cloud-based quantum computers built largely from
Japanese-made components.

Tokyo’s Quantum Technology Innovation Strategy seeks to link academia, industry,
and government while maintaining tight export controls on sensitive quantum hardware.
Japan’s approach mirrors its broader industrial philosophy: incremental progress
with a focus on quality, error correction, and long-term reliability.

Both nations see quantum computing as essential to technological sovereignty and
future competitiveness. While China’s model emphasizes rapid scaling and integration
with real-world applications, such as quantum communication networks and encrypted
finance , Japan’s model prizes controlled innovation and precision engineering.

The stakes are high. Mastering quantum computing could transform global power dynamics,
enabling breakthroughs in materials science, drug discovery, and cybersecurity. 
Whether through China’s scale or Japan’s meticulous engineering, Asia’s two technological
giants are now defining what the quantum age will look like, and who will lead it.