U.S., Japan Sign International Statement on Quantum Cooperation
ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com
The move comes as both nations are making strategic investments to accelerate advancements across the quantum landscape.
The United States and Japan are teaming up to advance—and mutually benefit from—emerging breakthroughs in quantum information science and technology.
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo’s acting deputy chief of mission and Japan’s director-general for science, technology and innovation policy signed the Tokyo Statement on Quantum Cooperation Thursday to formalize the nations’ commitment to jointly harness scientific collaboration on topics across the quantum landscape.
“This landmark international statement on quantum demonstrates our commitment to engaging with like-minded nations to advance emerging technology in a way that supports economic prosperity and strengthens national security, underpinned by our shared values,” U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios said in a statement.
Officials said the signage follows a series of quantum-related engagements in Japan that leaders and experts from both countries participated in this week. U.S. Assistant Director for Quantum Information Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Jake Taylor, for example, keynoted a quantum cooperation symposium in Kyoto before attending the signing in Tokyo.
The statement also comes as both nations are making deliberate, strategic moves to accelerate the next revolution of ultra-fast, powerful computing. In November, Japan unveiled its ambitious vision to produce a 100-qubit quantum computing machine over the next decade—and an even more powerful quantum computer by around 2039. Tech-giant IBM on Wednesday also announced it’s taking a quantum computer to Japan, in hopes to help launch the nationwide quantum initiative. Also in November, OSTP launched the Joint Committee on Research Environments, or JCORE, to bolster the integrity and viability of America’s research landscape.
“The Tokyo Statement on Quantum Cooperation affirms America’s strong science and technology alliance with Japan,” OSTP Director Kelvin Droegemeier said in a statement this week. “Importantly, this is the first international statement to reflect the core pillars of the Joint Committee on the Research Environment, including the importance of safe and productive research environments, promoting integrity and rigor in research, and balancing openness and security.”
In the Tokyo statement, the nations agree to embark “on good-faith cooperation” and collaborate across workshops, seminars, and conferences to identify overlapping interests and accelerate quantum advancements valued by both countries. They also plan to support quantum workforce development and leverage multilateral opportunities to address issues of international importance and crucial policy issues. The nations also note that they are continuously exploring other possibilities for quantum collaboration going forward.
“We, signed below, intend to harness the spirit of science, technology, and innovation to pursue cooperation and the mutual respect it confers, and to promote [quantum information science and technology] including but not limited to quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum sensing, which underpins the development of society and industry,” the mutual agreement said.