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Japanese translation

World's First Successful Trial of Quantum Tokens Created Using Quantum Technology

Nov. 18, 2024

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. ("Mitsui", Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Kenichi Hori), together with Quantinuum (CEO: Rajeeb Hazra), which is engaged in the global rollout of quantum computing, and NEC Corporation ("NEC", Head Office: Minato City, Tokyo, President and CEO: Takayuki Morita) have jointly carried out a successful trial of tokens^*1 based on quantum technology (quantum tokens).

Mitsui and Quantinuum have been working to develop practical unforgeable quantum tokens based on a property of quantum physics for which Quantinuum holds a basic patent. The principle behind quantum tokens has been proven in theory. This trial, the first of its type in the world, has now confirmed that tokens can be issued and redeemed as predicted by the theory on commercial quantum cryptographic communication equipment and a 10-km fiber-optic cable, both provided by NEC.
Unlike the tokens used in conventional communications technology, quantum tokens cannot be forged and can be redeemed instantly. Thanks to these characteristics, it will be possible to use them for a variety of purposes, including data restoration and certification, primarily for financial sector applications, such as high-speed transactions and commodity trading. The quantum cryptographic communications technology used in the trial is expected to be used in future infrastructure development as a communication method that cannot be decrypted by quantum computers, and quantum tokens can be used on this infrastructure. By leveraging this success, Mitsui will develop specific applications with a focus on areas that require high levels of security, such as finance and healthcare, with the aim of realizing commercialization within five years.

*1 Token: A digital certificate indicating certain rights and values, such as digital assets, user information, and access authorities.
*2 Quantum cryptographic communication: Experts have warned that the quantum computers of the future will be able to decipher information encoded using today's RSA encryption technology. Various companies are working to develop communications technologies that employ quantum properties to make eavesdropping physically impossible. Quantum cryptographic communication uses encryption based on quantum properties.

Company Profile

Company name	Quantinuum
Location	Broomfield, Colorado, U.S.A.
Established	December 2021 (through management integration between Honeywell Quantum Solutions of the United States and the British company Cambridge Quantum Computing)
Representative	Rajeeb Hazra (CEO)
Employees	Approximately 500
Business activities	Quantinuum is a science-led, enterprise-driven quantum computing company that brings together hardware from Honeywell Quantum Solutions, and middleware and applications from Cambridge Quantum. It is accelerating the development of applications in such fields as quantum computing, chemistry, cybersecurity, finance, and optimization. Its main focus is the creation of scalable, commercial quantum solutions for the world's most urgent issues in such areas as energy, logistics, climate change, and healthcare. It employs over 480 people, including more than 350 scientists, at nine locations in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Mitsui invested in Quantinuum in January 2024 and has concluded distribution agreements covering Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
Website	https://www.quantinuum.com/

Mitsui’s Materiality

“Build brighter futures, everywhere” as our corporate mission, and to gain the trust and expectations of our stakeholders to realize a better tomorrow for earth and for people around the world, we have identified five material issues (“Materiality”) for Mitsui’s sustainable growth. We anticipate this particular project/ business to contribute especially to the realization of “Enhance quality of life” and “Create an eco-friendly society” and “Develop talent leading to value creation”