Quantum-Photonics-Nano Innovation Mission to Japan – 10 to 14 October 2022

The combination of quantum-photonics-nanotech (QPN) promises to revolutionize the modern world with next-generation technologies. In the week of 10 October 2022, the Netherlands Embassy in Japan and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) are organizing an innovation mission to Japan, with the purpose to stimulate and realize bilateral partnerships in the areas of quantum technology, photonics and nanotechnology.

H.R.H. Prince Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy at Techleap.nl, is scheduled to partly join the Delegation.

This article highlights the purpose of the mission, introduces the delegation and program, and provides background information on QPN-related topics in Japan.

Purpose of Mission

During a series of digital events by NL and JP partners in the past year (see below under Background), it became clear that there is high demand to:

• Make the large and complex ecosystems in both countries more accessible for each other;
• Utilize the many crossovers between topics (quantum, photonics, nano) and sectors (government, industry, academia), and within organizations (many are active in all three areas);
• Connect and commit to bilateral follow-up activities.

This mission aims to capitalize on these insights and is considered an investment to engage strategically with Japanese counterparts for joint future-oriented solutions.

Delegation

The delegation consists about 25 people, including of (1) policy and decision makers from Government, QuantumDeltaNL, PhotonDeltaNL, PIB-Nano, and (2) professionals from industry and top researchers from knowledge institutes.

For more information on the delegates, their expertise, and ambitions in Japan, please click here. 

Concept program

The concept program as presented below is subject to change.

Sunday 9 October

• Evening: arrive in Tokyo, Japan

Monday 10 October

• Afternoon:
  Mission briefing & internal session to confirm joint goals and ambitions
• Evening: Traditional Japanese dinner
• Overnight stay in Tokyo

Tuesday 11 October

• Morning: Company visit to Hitachi Hightech
• Afternoon: QPN Public Event at Maple Room, Okura Hotel Tokyo
  (1) Presentations by NL delegates and JP research programs
  (2) Round table discussions
  (3) Panel discussion
  (4) Networking opportunities
• Evening: network reception and signing ceremony at ambassador’s residence
• Overnight stay in Tokyo

Wednesday 12 October

• Morning: Visit to RIKEN
• Afternoon (group 1): SIP International Symposium
• Afternoon (group 2): Startup Matchmaking Event at ambassador’s residence
• Overnight stay in Tokyo

Thursday 13 October

• Morning: Visit to Tokyo University
  
• Afternoon: Visit to research labs of Fujitsu and NTT
• Overnight stay in Hamamatsu

Friday 14 October

• Morning: Visit to Hamamatsu Photonics
• Afternoon: Visit to Kyoto University
• Evening: Mission debrief & informal dinner
• Overnight stay in Kyoto

Saturday 15 October

• Flight back to NL (from Osaka)

Background of Mission

In the beginning of 2021, the Netherlands embassy in Japan brought together Dutch and Japanese organizations (*) and came to a basic joint ambition to work towards bilateral QPN partnerships. This ambition was spread and promoted during the Launch Event in July 2021. Until May 2022, follow up webinars from both sides deepened the mutual knowledge of status and ambitions.

(*) From the Netherlands the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZK), the Enterprise Agency (RVO), The Dutch Research Council (NWO), Quantum Delta NL (QDNL), Photon Delta NL (PDNL), Dutch Optics Center (DOC) and the public-private-partnership PIB Nano. From Japan, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MEXT), RIKEN, IOWN, SIP and Keio University (KQCC).

Japan and QPN

Like the Netherlands, Japan is front runner in developing and commercializing QPN-related technologies. Also, it has a proactive government that supports activities in these fields with policies and support schemes. For example:

• The Cabinet Office runs the national program SIP Quantum-Photonics, a ten year program in which a cluster of companies and institutes work together to develop key technologies for a cyber-physical system (CPS) focusing on 1) photonic-quantum communication (quantum secure cloud systems), 2) photon-electron convergence for information processing and 3) next generation laser processing.
• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) runs the national JST Moonshot program on Quantum Computers, is a long term program in which tens of companies and institutes collaborate on ten aspects (like materials, electronics, cryogenics, algorithms, error correction etc) needed to realize a fault tolerant quantum computer in 2050.
• In May 2022, the Ministry of economy Trade and Industry (METI) announced decisions by the Working Group on Digitalization and Semiconductors to invest further in nextgen semiconductors for applications in quantum, photon-electron convergence and others by 2030.
• In 2021, NTT, Sony and Intel founded the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), a worldwide Forum to develop a future oriented communication infrastructure that is based on photons and optics, and more efficient in terms of speed and energy. Since then 95 companies and institutes worldwide have joint IOWN.
• In 2021, Toshiba established Q-Star, a consortium of 24 Japanese companies that are anticipating to a quantum era, and are looking for quantum technology based solutions for applications in energy, finance. Q-STAR focus is on ICT (quantum computing, quantum cryptography, etc.), basic technologies (materials, devices, etc.), application areas (quantum materials, quantum biology/ medicine, quantum biotechnology, quantum sensors, quantum AI, etc.), human resources, systems and rules.
• Japan houses various companies that are leading technical developments and commercialization in the field of QPN. To name a few: Hitachi, (annealing and gate-based quantum computers, photonics integrated circuits) NTT Basic Research Lab, Toshiba (quantum networks), Fujitsu (Superconducting Quantum Computers), Hamamatsu Photonics (Photonics Research Lab), Qunasys, Mitsubishi Electric, Fuji Electric, NEC etc.
• In 2021 the renowned research institute RIKEN concentrated all its quantum related research into the newly set up RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (RQC), which also functions as leading institute of Japanese quantum research community.
• Universities are active in the field of QPN, including Keio University’s Quantum Computing Center (KQCC), the University of Tokyo (NanoQuine, Quantum Dot Lab), the University of Kyoto (Quantum-Optics Group), the University of Kyushu (Department of Quantum Physics Engineering).

Contact information: 

• Rob Stroeks, Embassy Tokyo rob@hollandinnovation.jp
• Eddy Schipper, RVO eddy.schipper@rvo.nl
• Tong Jiang, RVO tong.jiang@rvo.nl