NanoQT Selected for NEDO PCA Phase with Over 5.6 Million USD Subsidy to Advance Cavity-QED Quantum Communication Technology
―Demonstrating remote entanglement manipulation and exploring applications for networked QPUs―
Nanofiber Quantum Technologies, Inc. (“NanoQT”) is pleased to announce that its R&D proposal, “Development of Cavity-QED Quantum Repeaters,” has been selected for the PCA (Product Commercialization Alliance) Phase of the Deep Tech Start-Up Support Program (DTSU) administered by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The project is expected to receive more than ¥900 million, approximately US$5.6 million, in subsidy funding over two years.
This PCA Phase project builds on NanoQT’s prior work under the Seed-stage Technology-based Startups (STS) Phase of the same DTSU program, through which the company developed demo-ready cavity and atomic systems based on its nanofiber cavity-QED technology. In the PCA Phase, NanoQT will advance this foundation toward the demonstration of remote entanglement manipulation and deeper exploration of applications enabled by remotely networked QPUs.
Quantum interconnects are becoming an architectural necessity for scaling quantum computers beyond single-unit systems. At the same time, they create a new opportunity: enabling useful quantum operations among remotely connected QPUs before the arrival of large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers. By connecting small, noisy, but fiber-networked QPUs through remote entanglement, NanoQT aims to explore near-term applications in quantum communication and non-local information processing.
Background
Quantum computing and quantum communication both require the ability to connect quantum systems through optical channels. For quantum computing, this connection may be local — linking multiple QPU units within or near the same system. For quantum communication, it may be remote — distributing entanglement between distant quantum systems through optical fiber.
Although these use cases differ in distance and architecture, they are governed by the same physics: coherent interaction between atoms, photons, and optical fiber. This means that the same core hardware capability — an efficient cavity-QED interface that converts matter-qubit states into fiber-compatible photons and distributes entanglement — can serve both local quantum interconnects and remote quantum networks.
NanoQT is developing this common hardware foundation through its nanofiber cavity-QED platform. In quantum computing, this technology can support modular scaling by enabling fiber-connected QPUs. In quantum communication, it can support remote entanglement generation, quantum repeaters, small-scale quantum networks, and new non-local applications enabled by remotely networked QPUs.
The newly selected PCA Phase project focuses on this remote-networking direction. It aims to advance NanoQT’s platform from demo-ready cavity and atomic systems toward system-level demonstrations of remote entanglement manipulation and application development.
Scope and Goals
Through this project, NanoQT will develop and demonstrate a multiple-atom entanglement system based on cavity-QED technology for quantum communication. The project will also refine use cases enabled by remote entanglement, including quantum communication applications and broader non-local applications that may become feasible with small-scale networked QPUs.
By the end of the project period, NanoQT aims to establish stable production of ultra-low-loss nanofiber cavities, demonstrate two-node remote entanglement generation, manipulation, and distillation, develop a multiple-atom entanglement system for quantum communication, identify use cases based on remote entanglement, and advance partnerships toward commercialization.
Comment from Masashi Hirose, CEO of NanoQT
“Quantum interconnects are often discussed as a requirement for scaling quantum computers. At the same time, they can open a new opportunity: useful quantum applications based on small, noisy, but remotely networked QPUs. This NEDO PCA Phase project allows us to demonstrate remote entanglement manipulation and deepen the exploration of applications enabled by networked quantum systems.”
About NanoQT
NanoQT is a quantum hardware company developing cavity-QED-based quantum interconnect technology using proprietary ultra-low-loss nanofiber cavity manufacturing. With operations in California, Maryland, and Tokyo, NanoQT is building foundational hardware for modular quantum computing, quantum communication, and networked quantum information processing.
