Creating new industries and developing solutions for societal challenges

Following the digital revolution (DX1.0) that brought us the smartphones and computers we use daily, and the digital revolution (DX2.0) that connected the physical and cyber worlds, we are now beginning to see the emergence of Quantum Transformation (QX). Quantum technology possesses immense power to fundamentally change foundational technologies and bring new innovations to industries.

For example, quantum computing is expected to solve complex problems in a short time with computational capabilities far superior to traditional computers. Additionally, quantum communication is achieving more secure data transmission, and quantum sensing is gaining attention as a technology that enables high-precision measurements.

Q-STAR was established to create new industries using quantum technology in this era of QX. Quantum technology is expected to bring innovation across various sectors, such as developing new treatments in healthcare, enabling more secure transaction systems in finance, and finding optimal routes in logistics.

However, not all aspects of the technology are fully established yet. To realize these advancements, it is crucial to rapidly and appropriately integrate usable technologies into industries and to bring together cutting-edge information and technology across all sectors. To play a part in this, Q-STAR has begun by streamlining discussions as a first step, developing a framework that can serve as a guideline for "what needs to be organized" during these discussions.

"QRAMI": A Framework Bridging Quantum Technology and Business

That framework is "QRAMI (Quantum Roadmap Architecture and Management Initiative)."

QRAMI is a reference architecture uniquely structured by Q-STAR, inspired by "RAMI4.0," a standardized framework for realizing Industry 4.0, and adapted to meet the specific requirements of quantum technology.

Quantum technology is evolving daily, with its applications spanning a wide range. However, the rapid pace of technological advancement makes it difficult to grasp the overall picture for societal implementation, raising concerns about misunderstandings among stakeholders and inefficient development. Therefore, QRAMI was developed as a tool to provide an overarching view and foster common understanding among stakeholders, thereby facilitating the smooth industrialization of quantum technology.

QRAMI is designed to hierarchically break down quantum technology-based businesses into seven layers, from business operations to specific technical elements, and make them visible, by setting the value chain on the vertical axis and the technology layer on the horizontal axis.

Therefore, it can be used not only to establish a common understanding during discussions regarding "what needs to be organized" and "which part of the discussion we are currently on," but also to clarify strengths, weaknesses, and potential collaborations by mapping the initiatives of specific companies and research institutions onto QRAMI.  

QRAMI is expected not only to promote technological development towards the practical application of quantum technology but also to foster a common understanding across industries and serve as a foundation for building a new ecosystem.

Utilizing QRAMI in Industry

For example, QRAMI can be utilized in business development in the following scenarios:

・Business Case / Use Case Consideration: By referencing QRAMI, considering the architecture, and then proceeding with specific considerations after separating the layers, various discussions can progress smoothly.

・Roadmap Sharing: It is also used as a tool for sharing roadmaps among stakeholders.

・Standardization and Specification: By establishing and standardizing specifications for input/output between layers, efficiency improvements are expected as technology advances.

For example, in the development of a drone operation control system, QRAMI helps concretize elements at each layer, such as the business model for service provision (Business Layer), and the necessary functions and information transmission (Function Layer / Information Layer). Sharing this among stakeholders helps eliminate misunderstandings and facilitates smooth development.

Activities aimed at industrializing quantum technology are still in their early stages. We believe that effective ways to utilize QRAMI as a tool will be discovered as it is put into practice.

Going forward, we aim to make QRAMI an even more practical framework by accumulating and progressively incorporating usage know-how from various scenarios.

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