Insider Brief
- Sumitomo Corporation is advancing real-world applications of quantum computing through its Quantum Transformation (QX) Project, focusing on integrating the technology into existing business operations.
- The company has launched pilot projects in logistics, drone traffic control, and mining optimization, and has invested in five quantum-related startups since 2020.
- Executives and academic partners emphasize the need for “quantum bilinguals” and broader ecosystem development to support Japan’s national goal of quantum industrialization by 2030.
Sumitomo Corporation is emerging as one of Japan’s most active corporate champions of quantum computing, with a series of real-world pilot projects designed to turn early promise into practical transformation, according to an interview with the company’s business and scientific leads. Through its Quantum Transformation (QX) Project, launched in 2020, the trading giant is experimenting with logistics optimization, drone traffic control and energy routing, all of which are underpinned by partnerships with startups, global research institutions and Japan’s leading physicists.
The initiative reflects a larger ambition: not just to adopt quantum technology, but to build the business infrastructure and talent pipelines necessary to bring it into full commercial use.
“The question now is what kind of future we want to shape – and what role we can play,” said QX Team Leader Yusuke Okazaki. “We’re engaged in passionate discussions within and beyond the company. Utilizing quantum technology doesn’t explicitly mean we’re venturing into new business areas. Rather, quantum technology is best seen as an extension of our existing DX initiatives. In other words, Sumitomo Corporation is implementing quantum technology to create solutions in different fields and open up new possibilities. We want to be a front-runner in implementing quantum technology and providing real value to society.”
Okazaki joined Sumitomo Corporation in 2004 and became leader of the QX project team in 2023.
Sumitomo’s Quantum Strategy: From CVC to Implementation
While most companies still view quantum computing as a long-term bet, Sumitomo began tracking developments in the sector as early as 2018 through its global corporate venture capital strategy. That early interest evolved into a formal launch of the QX Project in 2020, with a mandate to explore practical applications across the conglomerate’s sprawling business portfolio.
The efforts are fueled by a constant commitment to generating value, said Tatsushi Tatsumi, Sumitomo’s Chief Digital Officer and Head of the DX/IT Group.
“At Sumitomo Corporation, we’ve had a global CVC strategy for some time and began tracking developments in quantum technology as early as 2018, especially from startups in Silicon Valley, Israel and Europe,” said Tatsumi in the interview. “In 2020, we launched the QX Project in earnest, partnering with public research institutions and startups in Japan. We’ve already invested in five quantum-related startups globally and are building ecosystems in relevant business sectors for long-term development.”
Quantum (in the) Field
Among the key experiments is a logistics optimization project with Belle Maison Logisco, a Sumitomo subsidiary at the time. The project used quantum annealing techniques to improve warehouse personnel allocation. The resulting solution, Smile Board Connect, is now used by four companies as of June 2025.
In 2021, Sumitomo ran what it says was the world’s first proof-of-concept for 3D drone traffic control using quantum computing. The project was undertaken in partnership with U.S. startup OneSky. Other pilots include vehicle allocation with a Nordic carsharing firm, emergency evacuation modeling with Kyushu Electric Power, and mining operations optimization in Australia.
These initiatives, while still experimental, point to the diversity of quantum’s potential across industries.
The Japan Advantage
Sumitomo’s efforts come at a time when Japan is mobilizing for quantum industrialization. The government has declared 2025 the “first year of quantum industrialization” and aims to reach 10 million quantum tech users by 2030.
Professor Shu Tanaka of Keio University, a key academic advisor to the QX Project, said in the interview that Japan is “ahead of the curve” in achieving these goals, noting the government’s interest in promoting quantum.
“Japan also boasts strong research hubs like the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), as well as major electronics companies working on hardware. Startups are also emerging in the software and services space,” said Tanaka, who held positions at institutions including the University of Tokyo Institute and Kindai University before assuming his current role in 2025. “Further, Japanese components are already widely used in quantum computers built overseas, which speaks to our technical prowess and will likely give us a strong edge in global adoption.”
Bridging the Gap: Quantum Bilinguals and Business Integration
Despite the potential, both Sumitomo and its academic partners acknowledge that challenges remain. Chief among them is a lack of professionals who can bridge the technical and practical worlds — or what Tanaka calls “quantum bilinguals.” These are individuals who understand quantum mechanics but also know how to apply it to real-world domains like manufacturing, finance, or healthcare.
Sumitomo’s strategy is to act as a connector: identifying business problems, finding the right quantum tools and managing the implementation.
“Many of the projects we’re already engaged with are rooted in real issues faced by long-standing partners, and we’re putting the expertise we’ve developed through digital transformation efforts into practice,” Tatsumi said. “We’re also bringing in talent from AI specialists like Insight Edge and SCSK, giving us a clear advantage in implementing technology at the operational level.”
A 10 Trillion Yen Opportunity?
According to estimates cited by Okazaki, quantum technologies could add 10 trillion yen in global economic value by 2040. For Sumitomo, that future is already taking shape.
Rather than viewing quantum as a wholly new direction, the company sees it as a natural extension of digital transformation.
Okazaki said that quantum transformation may rank up with other historic technological revolutions.
“We’re on the brink of a transformation as impactful as the arrival of the internet or smartphones,” Okazaki said.
In other words, Sumitomo sees quantum not as a detour from digital transformation, but its natural evolution — particularly for complex optimization problems across logistics, mobility and infrastructure.
For Japan’s ambitions in quantum to take hold, though, the team suggests that companies like Sumitomo will need to not only adopt the technology but help build the surrounding ecosystem — talent, supply chains, public-private partnerships — which is custom fit for the role the QX Project is playing.
“Sumitomo Corporation took the lead early on in launching the QX initiative and building communities around it, which is highly meaningful,” said Tanaka. “The possibilities for applying quantum are endless, and collaboration across industries is essential for meaningful progress. I hope Sumitomo Corporation will continue to lead the development of Japan’s quantum ecosystem and supply chains.”
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