IBM has played a pivotal role in the NEDO Quantum Challenge, with all nine prize-winning teams leveraging IBM quantum computers for their research. The competition, which concluded on October 15, 2026, featured projects across three tracks: Society 5.0, Quality of Life, and Cool Japan. Winning projects included applications in disaster prevention, drug discovery, gut microbiome analysis, materials research, music generation, and animation. IBM provided extensive support, including access to quantum computing resources, technical guidance, workshops, and educational content.
Each track had at least one winner that relied exclusively on IBM quantum computers. Notable projects included NV Learning Center's infrastructure safety initiative, Q-Chainners' transaction security solution, and EntangleTune's music generation technology. Two winning teams, Q4Health and EntangleTune, have already launched companies based on their work. IBM's involvement extended beyond hardware access, with experts advising teams on algorithms and co-researching with academic institutions.
The NEDO Quantum Challenge, organized by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), aimed to explore how quantum computing could address societal issues. The competition drew 87 applications, with 80 teams participating. IBM Quantum was the most widely selected platform, used by 65 teams, which ran 11,159 jobs and utilized over 5,900 minutes of quantum compute time. Prizes ranged from ¥40 million for first place to ¥10 million for third place.
In the Society 5.0 track, projects focused on infrastructure safety, transaction security, and vehicle design. The Quality of Life track highlighted health-related applications, including drug discovery and gut microbiome analysis. The Cool Japan track featured innovative uses of quantum computing in music, animation, and low-carbon chemical manufacturing. IBM's support and the teams' innovative approaches underscore the potential of quantum computing to solve real-world problems.