In February 2021, Japan inaugurated a network of Quantum Technology Innovation Hubs based on the 2020 Quantum Technology and Innovation Strategy. Eight initial hubs were established across national research institutes and universities, with RIKEN designated as the headquarters. The hubs brought together industry, academia, and government to carry out activities ranging from basic research and technology development to intellectual property management and human resource development.
According to the Quantum Technology Innovation Hubs portal, each hub focused on different quantum technology domains, including the Quantum Computation Pioneering Hub at RIKEN. Director Yasunobu Nakamura of the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing led a full-stack approach covering hardware, software, and basic-to-applied science.
Subsequent policy documents, including the 2022 Vision of Quantum Future Society, called for strengthening hub functions and establishing new hubs to support industrial competitiveness and economic security.