ULVAC Delivers Cryogenic System, Advancing Japan’s First Fully Domestic Quantum Computer

Insider Brief:

• ULVAC and ULVAC CRYOGENICS installed a dilution refrigerator at the University of Osaka on April 4, 2025, as part of Japan’s first fully domestic quantum computer.

• The company overcame common cryogenic engineering challenges by applying custom flow designs, precision fabrication, and thermal-stress simulations.

• ULVAC’s refrigerator achieves stable 10 mK temperatures and features a modular architecture, making it suitable for both research and scalable quantum systems as Japan advances toward commercialization.

• Supported by Japan’s Moonshot Program, the system will be publicly demonstrated at Expo 2025 Osaka and reflects ULVAC’s broader plan to provide cryogenic infrastructure for global quantum computing efforts.

On April 4, 2025, ULVAC, Inc. and ULVAC CRYOGENICS INC. completed the installation of a dilution refrigerator at the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology at the University of Osaka. According to a news release from ULVAC, the system supports Japan’s first quantum computer built entirely from domestically developed components—including the qubit chips, control electronics, and now, the cryogenic platform.

The achievement addresses Japan’s long-standing efforts to reduce reliance on foreign components in quantum systems. This speaks to an intentional push for technological self-sufficiency in a field where certain components, such as cryogenics and control systems, have historically relied on foreign suppliers. By producing core subsystems in-house, ULVAC contributes to a more secure and scalable supply chain for Japan’s quantum efforts.

Engineering Challenges and Cryogenic Design

Dilution refrigerators are typically used to reach ultra-low temperatures, usually in the millikelvin range, required for stable operation of superconducting qubits. The ULVAC-developed refrigerator provides a stable base temperature of approximately 10 mK over extended periods, which is essential for reducing thermal noise and enabling high-fidelity quantum operations. As noted in the release, the unit is now operating as a central part of the new quantum system.

The development process addressed several technical challenges that currently exist in cryogenic engineering, including enhancing cooling power, minimizing mechanical vibrations that could disturb qubit coherence, and managing the material strain caused by thermal contraction at cryogenic temperatures.

To overcome these issues, ULVAC engineers implemented custom flow path designs, precision fabrication techniques, and advanced thermal-stress simulations. According to the company, these improvements led to consistent and reliable system performance, validated through multiple prototyping cycles and long-term testing.

The system also features a modular architecture intended to support future scalability. This design allows the refrigerator to be adapted from research laboratory setups to production-level quantum computing platforms as needed. This flexibility could prove valuable as Japan expands its quantum R&D initiatives and begins transitioning select technologies toward commercialization.

In addition to the dilution refrigerator, ULVAC noted that all related cryogenic and vacuum technologies—including pulse tube cryocoolers and vacuum infrastructure—are developed and manufactured domestically. This vertically integrated approach reduces reliance on external vendors, ensures component interoperability, and supports long-term maintenance and availability.

Dr. Masamichi Saitoh, the lead engineer overseeing the refrigerator’s development at ULVAC CRYOGENICS INC., emphasized the significance of the achievement: “It has been a great honor, as a cryogenic engineer, to contribute to the cooling of a quantum computer using technologies developed entirely in Japan,” he said in the release.

Public Demonstration and Government Support

The quantum system will be demonstrated publicly during the “entangle moment – [quantum | earth | universe] × art” exhibition at Expo 2025 Osaka, taking place August 14–20. Visitors will be able to interact with the system through cloud access, experiencing real-time quantum operations from the venue.

The project was partially supported by Japan’s Moonshot Research and Development Program, under Goal 6: the realization of a fault-tolerant universal quantum computer by 2050. Specifically, the cryogenic development falls under the theme “Development of Cryogenic Systems Specialized for Quantum Computing,” led by Dr. Saitoh as part of Project No. JPMJMS2067.

De-Risking the Quantum Supply Chain

While the current installation focuses on supporting Japan’s first fully domestic quantum system, ULVAC’s roadmap extends beyond national projects. The company intends to provide scalable cryogenic infrastructure to support global quantum development, leaning on its longstanding expertise in vacuum and cryogenic technologies.

As the field of quantum computing moves toward more scalable and modular architectures, innovations in cryogenics, especially those that reduce cost, footprint, and vibration, are essential. ULVAC’s fully domestic approach represents one example of how regional ecosystems are working to de-risk quantum supply chains while supporting future growth.