Yaqumo, SCREEN to Develop Neutral-Atom Quantum Components
Tokyo-based Yaqumo has been selected for a NEDO research project and will commence collaborative work with SCREEN Holdings on optical components for neutral-atom quantum computers. This funding will support the development and testing of components still in the R&D phase, such as spatial light modulators, multi-wavelength objective lenses, and photonic integrated circuits. This initiative focuses on building and testing parts, not on delivering a finished product or a fully functional large-scale machine.
Details of the Selection
On July 31, Yaqumo announced its selection under NEDO’s “Post-5G Information and Communication Systems Infrastructure Enhancement R&D Project,” specifically within the track dedicated to components and materials for large-scale quantum computers.
Indeed, Yaqumo will lead the technical aspects of the project, with SCREEN Holdings, a manufacturer of high-precision optical modules, contributing to specific areas of the work. NEDO, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, is a Japanese government funding agency.
The project’s objectives are framed as developmental goals rather than achieved outcomes. Yaqumo aims to develop a high-speed spatial light modulator (SLM) module for individual-atom addressing, an objective lens capable of operating across multiple wavelengths, and optical components constructed from low-thermal-expansion materials to deliver stable operation. The company also plans to investigate the potential of photonic integrated circuits to miniaturize optical systems and to outline a roadmap for this advancement. Each of these represents a defined goal at the project’s outset.
Yaqumo describes its modularization efforts as “world-leading,” a designation provided by the company itself. Currently, it has announced the selection decision and the research plan. There is no demonstrated module, no performance metrics, and no qubit count associated with this particular work.
Yaqumo’s Current Standing and Future Outlook
Yaqumo, a spin-off from research conducted at Kyoto University’s Takahashi Laboratory and the Institute for Molecular Science’s Ohmori Laboratory, specializes in neutral-atom quantum computers. The company has established several early-stage collaborations, including a Memorandum of Understanding with Hamamatsu Photonics, joint research with Entropica Labs in Singapore and QC Design in Germany, and a letter of intent with the Indian Institute of Science.
This marks Yaqumo’s third selection related to NEDO. A 2025 award funded the company’s own neutral-atom machine, and a Deep Tech Startup Support Fund selection supported the collaboration with Entropica.
Masahiko Kokubo, Executive Officer In Charge of Innovation at SCREEN, provided a measured statement regarding his company’s contribution:
“The optical technologies we have cultivated to date through electronic device manufacturing and other fields offer excellent modulation speed and controllability in micro-scale regions, and we believe they can contribute to the advancement of quantum computer systems.”
Until the company builds and tests the components, the current plan remains a conceptual framework.