NEC Ends Quantum Hardware Work in March 2026 as Fujitsu Gains Researchers
Updated
Updated · Tom's Hardware · Sep 8
NEC Ends Quantum Hardware Work in March 2026 as Fujitsu Gains Researchers
3 articles · Updated · Tom's Hardware · Sep 8
Summary
March 2026 marked NEC’s quiet shutdown of physical quantum-computer development, ending one of the earliest corporate superconducting-hardware programs while keeping work on applications, industrialization and customer proof-of-concept projects.
1999 research at NEC produced the first superconducting solid-state qubit, but the company appears to have concluded commercial hardware would take too long to deliver adequate returns as development costs rose.
Fujitsu has since absorbed several NEC researchers, reportedly including a key leader, potentially strengthening a rival effort that launched a 256-qubit machine with Riken and is targeting more than 1,000 qubits in 2026.
The retreat stands out because few surviving 1990s quantum pioneers have abandoned hardware entirely; IBM, another early player, has instead become one of the sector’s biggest system developers.