Quantinuum teams up with SoftBank Corp. for the development of quantum computing applications in practical scenarios
In a groundbreaking move, SoftBank Corp. and Quantinuum have announced a strategic partnership in January 2025, aiming to revolutionise the quantum computing industry. This collaboration comes at a time when the sector is experiencing significant global investment momentum, reflecting confidence in overcoming current challenges.
The partnership addresses the key challenges and potential solutions in the business model, use case identification, and hardware/software technology advancement for quantum computing.
One of the primary challenges in quantum computing is the lack of clear monetization paths and the need for wide adoption across industries. To tackle this, the SoftBank-Quantinuum partnership focuses on strategic integration of quantum computing and AI for real-world applications. This collaboration aims to enable customers to deploy quantum computing as part of a broader AI-powered solution, facilitating earlier adoption and clearer return on investment pathways.
Identifying quantum computing use cases that match the current capabilities of quantum systems remains difficult. To address this, the partnership aims to accelerate practical use case development by leveraging AI to identify and optimise problems where quantum advantage is attainable today or in the near future. Demonstrations at events like ISC 2025 illustrate near-term hybrid use cases linking quantum and classical HPC (high-performance computing) environments, highlighting applications in finance, materials science, and logistics.
Quantum hardware still faces issues like qubit coherence, error rates, and scaling challenges. Quantinuum is leading with hardware innovations and advanced software integration, such as quantum algorithms optimisation and error suppression software to improve performance. These advances enable more reliable, higher-fidelity quantum processors and user-friendly hybrid systems. The partnership also facilitates plug-and-play quantum computing solutions embedded in existing HPC and AI infrastructure, simplifying adoption and broadening usability for enterprise customers.
SoftBank Corp. and Quantinuum believe in the power of quantum computing and are committed to exploring its potential. The partnership aims to unlock quantum computing solutions beyond the limitations of classical AI. A hybrid approach combining Central Processing Units (CPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) has the potential to extend the capabilities of AI, providing solutions that surpass traditional limitations.
The partnership coincides with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the quantum computing industry's journey towards practical applications. This effort aims to bridge the gap from concept to deployment, igniting new business opportunities through the fusion of AI and quantum computing.
References: [1] SoftBank and Quantinuum Announce Strategic Partnership in Quantum Computing. (2025, January). Retrieved from https://www.softbank.com/press/2025/01/22/softbank-and-quantinuum-announce-strategic-partnership-in-quantum-computing/ [2] Quantinuum and SoftBank: Accelerating Quantum Computing Adoption. (2025, January). Retrieved from https://www.quantinuum.com/news/quantinuum-and-softbank-accelerating-quantum-computing-adoption/ [3] The Future of Quantum Computing: SoftBank and Quantinuum Partnership. (2025, January). Retrieved from https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/22/the-future-of-quantum-computing-softbank-and-quantinuum-partnership/ [4] Global Investment in Quantum Computing Soars. (2025, January). Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-22/global-investment-in-quantum-computing-soars
The SoftBank-Quantinuum partnership focuses on integrating quantum computing with artificial-intelligence for real-world applications, aiming to enable early adoption and clearer return on investment pathways by deploying quantum computing as part of a broader AI-powered solution.
To accelerate practical use case development, the partnership leverages AI to identify and optimise problems where quantum advantage is attainable today or in the near future, demonstrating near-term hybrid use cases that highlight applications in finance, materials science, and logistics.
