en.Wedoany.com Reported - JIJ Inc. has signed a framework agreement with Kobe Steel, Ltd. to advance the application of quantum computing technology within the operations of the KOBELCO Group.
Under the agreement, the two parties will launch a multi-year initiative to establish a Quantum Center of Excellence ("Quantum CoE") and support the practical deployment of quantum computing technology within the KOBELCO Group.
The KOBELCO Group's operations span three core areas: materials, machinery, and electric power. As market conditions and social trends continue to evolve, the Group faces increasingly complex business challenges, and relying solely on traditional methods, experience, and accumulated knowledge is no longer sufficient to meet future growth needs. Kobe Steel recognizes the need to strengthen its ability to solve complex problems and explore new business opportunities. Quantum computing technology has demonstrated potential in handling complex problems involving numerous combinations and constraints, and various industries are exploring its potential applications in areas such as machine learning, data analysis, and CAE-based design and simulation. Kobe Steel noted that practical application requires systematic technical foundations, talent development, and organizational capability building, and therefore decided to take a systematic approach from an early stage to advance this multi-year collaborative initiative.
The initiative focuses on three areas: technology implementation, talent development and internal expertise building, and foundations and governance. In technology implementation, the parties will validate the applicability of quantum computing technology through actual projects and advance technology development, particularly in areas such as materials development, production management, and process optimization. The talent development and internal expertise building component will support the KOBELCO Group in cultivating personnel capable of applying quantum computing technology and sharing and building practical knowledge within the Group. In foundations and governance, the parties will establish rules, business processes, and next-generation computing foundations to support the continued use of these technologies.
The first year of the initiative will primarily focus on materials development, production management, and process optimization. Specific goals include balancing conflicting properties in materials design and development, and optimizing production planning under multiple processes and constraints—areas where traditional methods are difficult to apply. JIJ and Kobe Steel aim not to limit themselves to isolated validation activities, but to gradually expand the scope of quantum computing technology applications within the KOBELCO Group and ensure conditions for continued use to support business growth.
JIJ Inc. specializes in the development and industrial application of quantum computing and mathematical optimization technologies. Through participation in quantum computing industry networks and national R&D projects in Japan and overseas, the company has accumulated extensive experience in applying technology to real-world business challenges. JIJ's strength lies in its ability to transform complex challenges into computable models and implement them as algorithms, and it will support Kobe Steel as a co-creation partner in this initiative.
The KOBELCO Group has set transformation targets during its current medium-term management plan and is advancing the "KOBELCO-X" initiative as part of this transformation. The quantum computing technology application project will be implemented in phases over multiple years, aiming to support future industrial applications and align with the KOBELCO Group's guidelines for AX (Ambidexterity), which balances the enhancement of existing businesses with the exploration of new business opportunities. JIJ will leverage its expertise in quantum computing and mathematical optimization to help the KOBELCO Group strengthen its existing businesses and create new value.
