On September 1, 2021, twenty-four Japanese companies formally established the Quantum Strategic Industry Alliance for Revolution (Q-STAR) at a general meeting in Tokyo. Founding members included Toyota, NEC, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Toshiba, NTT, Mitsui, Mizuho Financial Group, and Mitsubishi Electric, among others.
According to the Q-STAR website, the consortium was created to promote quantum industrialization through industry-government-academia collaboration. Q-STAR organized subcommittees covering quantum computing applications, quantum-inspired computing (Ising machines), and quantum cryptography communications. A founders’ association had been formed on May 31, 2021, to prepare for the establishment.
Q-STAR became a general incorporated association in May 2022 and grew to over 50 members by February 2022. By April 2025, membership had expanded to 112 organizations, including startups, large corporations, and academic institutions.