In the race toward next-generation computing, supercomputers and quantum systems aren’t just tools. They are the frontline of scientific discovery, global competitiveness, and tomorrow’s breakthroughs in AI, medicine, climate, and materials science. Japan is investing heavily in FugakuNEXT, a successor to the record-setting Fugaku, designed to fuse high-performance computing (HPC) with cutting-edge AI capabilities. Simultaneously, IBM has laid out an ambitious quantum roadmap, with clear milestones for fault-tolerance, hybrid quantum-classical systems, and quantum advantage, slated for 2025-2027.
As we enter 2026, a compelling question arises: what might happen if FugakuNEXT and IBM Quantum formed a strategic alliance—a collaboration combining FugakuNEXT’s AI-HPC strengths and IBM’s quantum expertise? In this blog, we explore what such an alliance could mean: the technical possibilities, the scientific, geopolitical, and economic implications, potential challenges, and why it might be one of the most important tech partnerships globally in 2026.
FugakuNEXT: What We Know So Far
- Design & Leadership: Fujitsu was awarded the contract by RIKEN in mid-2025 to design FugakuNEXT, until February 2026 for the basic design phase.
- Core Hardware: FugakuNEXT will build on new Fujitsu CPU technology called MONAKA-X, fabricated using 2-nanometer technology. These CPUs are designed for ultra-low-voltage operation, advanced 3D packaging, efficient integration with GPUs and accelerators.
- Hybrid Architecture: For the first time in a Japanese flagship machine, FugakuNEXT will combine CPUs (from Fujitsu MONAKA-X) with GPUs—Nvidia is involved in designing the GPU platform and the interconnect (NVLink Fusion).
- Performance and Scale: Targets are very ambitious. FugakuNEXT is planned to deliver approximately ¥110 billion (~US$740 million) investment. One report puts its AI performance in future workloads at over
- for certain AI tasks, while also achieving a hundred-fold performance improvement in real-world applications compared to its predecessor Fugaku.
- Timeline: FugakuNEXT is expected to become operational around 2030, but its design, integration of components, and infrastructure are being set up in steps through 2026.
IBM Quantum: Ambitions & Roadmap Toward 2026
- Quantum-Centric Supercomputing: IBM is pushing toward systems that integrate quantum processors (QPUs) with HPC and classical computing resources to tackle problems that classical systems cannot.
- Milestones for 2025: The release of “Nighthawk”, a high-connectivity 120-qubit processor capable of executing more complex circuits. Improvements to algorithms, error correction, and tools for combining quantum + HPC workflows are key for 2025.
- Targets for 2026: IBM aims in 2026 to demonstrate scientific quantum advantage using quantum computers paired with HPC. Their plans include processors with up to 360 qubits that can run thousands (≈ 7,500) of two-qubit gates. They will deliver tools for mapping and profiling quantum + HPC workflows.
- Long-Term: IBM’s roadmap extends out to 2029 with the goal of fault-tolerant modules and logical qubit systems, improved error correction (e.g. using LDPC codes), and supercomputers that can run tens of thousands of gates on many hundreds of qubits.
Why An Alliance Makes Sense
Complementary Expertise
FugakuNEXT brings world-class AI-HPC architecture, energy-efficient CPUs, system integration, and large scaled HPC systems. IBM brings quantum hardware, quantum software (Qiskit, error correction methods), and experience in bringing quantum + classical workflows in practice. A collaboration could allow joint development of hybrid systems where HPC, AI, and near-term quantum capabilities are co-designed to solve complex scientific problems (e.g. climate modeling, materials, drug design).
Speeding Up Quantum Advantage
By combining FugakuNEXT’s massive computational resources with IBM’s quantum processors, experiments and benchmarks of quantum advantage could proceed more swiftly. For example, IBM’s 2026 goal is a demonstration of scientific quantum advantage. Outdoor testing, simulations, and hybrid algorithms require large HPC resources to simulate parts of quantum circuits or to manage error correction. FugakuNEXT could supply that infrastructure.
Shared Risk & Shared Investment
Developing quantum and exascale computing systems is expensive, technically risky, and resource intensive. A partnership could spread costs, pool R&D, allow shared hardware testbeds, joint software libraries, and possibly standardization. For Japan, such an alliance also supports national strategies of technological sovereignty; for IBM, it offers access to new markets and collaborations in Asia.
Geopolitical & Scientific Prestige
An alliance would also be a symbol: East meets West technology cooperation at the highest level. It could help counterbalance other supercomputing-and-quantum programs globally (in China, Europe, etc.). The scientific output—published in climate science, biology, astrophysics—would likely be high visibility.
What Might Such an Alliance Look Like in Practice
Joint Hardware Integration
- Co-development of interconnects allowing IBM QPUs to closely couple with FugakuNEXT’s CPUs/GPUs, possibly using NVLink or other high-bandwidth low-latency fabric.
- Shared testbeds where IBM’s quantum processors (or prototypes) are physically located in centers using FugakuNEXT for classical compute tasks.
Shared Software, Tools, Benchmarking
- IBM’s Qiskit is optimising to run on or integrate with FugakuNEXT’s AI/HPC stack.
- Joint development of hybrid workflows: part quantum, part AI, part simulation.
- Benchmarking tools to compare performance of AI, HPC, quantum components on real scientific tasks.
Mutual Access & Knowledge Transfer
- IBM researchers could collaborate more deeply with RIKEN / Fujitsu on “AI for Science” initiatives.
- Training programs, exchanges, joint PhD / postdoc efforts.
- Shared infrastructure for running quantum algorithms, error correction, etc.
Challenges and Caveats
Timeline Mismatch
While FugakuNEXT is designing now, its operation is not expected until around 2030. IBM’s quantum goals have nearer-term milestones (2025-2026), but making quantum systems reliable and useful is still difficult. The alignment in schedule may require flexibility.
Technological Integration
Coupling quantum and classical/HPC systems is non-trivial: latency, coherence, error correction, interconnects, data movement, software stacks. The hardware from different companies has diverging architectures, standards, and constraints.
Cost & Funding
Huge investment required. Even though FugakuNEXT is backed by tens of billions of yen, quantum systems are costly—not only in hardware, but in cooling, error correction, maintenance, and human capital. Shared funding or agreement on intellectual property will need clear negotiation.
Standards & IP / Sovereignty Issues
Nations and companies often must protect IP, keep some technological sovereignty, especially around semiconductors, quantum hardware etc. If IBM and FugakuNEXT collaboration is too open, there may be concerns in Japan about foreign control of critical infrastructure. Similarly, IBM may be concerned about protecting its quantum hardware/software IP.
What to Watch For in 2025-2026
- Announcements of Joint Projects: labs or centers involving both IBM and Japanese institutions (RIKEN, Fujitsu) specifically for hybrid quantum/HPC work.
- Demonstrations of Quantum Advantage Using AI-HPC: IBM’s goal in 2026 is to show scientific advantage; FugakuNEXT may play a role if the collaboration exists.
- Hardware & Infrastructure Compatibility: news about interconnect standards, modular quantum processors, packaging, cooling etc.
- Software Ecosystems: tools that make quantum + classical workflows seamless; perhaps Qiskit with plugins for GPU/CPU accelerators in FugakuNEXT.
- Policy & Funding Moves: governments supporting joint R&D; export controls; funding allocations.
Speculative Scenario: What if It Happens
Imagine in early 2026, IBM and RIKEN-Fujitsu announce a joint lab or initiative to co-locate an IBM quantum processor within FugakuNEXT’s facility. Researchers begin using FugakuNEXT to run large-scale simulations, then offload portions to IBM quantum hardware via high-bandwidth interconnect. Hybrid workflows emerge: AI models trained on FugakuNEXT’s CPUs/GPUs, fine-tuned or tested via quantum subroutines for e.g. materials modelling or quantum chemistry. Quantum advantage could be demonstrably achieved for a real scientific task—say simulating certain molecular interactions beyond what classical HPC can simulate alone. This success bolsters Japan’s “AI for Science” agenda and gives IBM increased credibility and influence in Asia.
Conclusion
As 2026 approaches, the alignment of ambition between FugakuNEXT and IBM is remarkable. FugakuNEXT embodies Japan’s drive for AI-HPC power, energy efficiency, and scientific sovereignty. IBM, meanwhile, is pushing hard toward quantum advantage, fault tolerance, and integrating quantum into real world workflows. A strategic partnership between them would not just be powerful. It could accelerate global innovation in AI, climate science, materials, drug discovery, and more.
In closing, Mattias Knutsson, a strategic leader in global procurement and business development, offers a useful lens through which to view this potential alliance. From his experience, success in such large-scale technology partnerships often depends not only on technical fit but on shared vision, trust, and procurement strategy. Knutsson might say that for the FugakuNEXT-IBM alliance to succeed, both sides will need clearly defined procurement roadmaps, aligned incentives, and governance structures that balance IP protection with openness.
He might emphasize that contracts should build in flexibility—so emerging technologies (e.g. new quantum components or error-correction schemes) can be swapped in as they mature. And importantly, that one must think not just about hardware specs today but about the lifecycle: maintenance, software updates, training human talent, and the energy cost.
A collision of FugakuNEXT’s AI-HPC strength with IBM’s quantum trajectory could mark 2026 as a turning point. If well executed, this kind of alliance won’t just push the envelope of what’s possible—it could redraw the map of computing power for decades to come.
