The Comeback of Semiconductor Quantum Computers — Digital Control Heats Up the Race for Supremacy
The development of semiconductor-based quantum computers is now accelerating worldwide. A key feature is the adoption of digital control, which eliminates the need for special coaxial cables, complex wiring, and expensive cooling equipment.
Although the theoretical proposal for this approach was made around the year 2000, it has returned to the spotlight a quarter century later. This technology, known as singlet–triplet qubits, is being developed in a global race to achieve one million qubits by 2030.
The United States currently leads the way, but in recent years, research and development have been rapidly advancing in Europe and Asia as well, intensifying the battle for dominance in next-generation quantum computing. According to forecasts by a U.S. research firm, semiconductor quantum computers are expected to overtake superconducting systems and others to gain the largest market share in the near future, with simplified infrastructure cited as the key reason.
By using semiconductors, it becomes possible to reduce the use of special cables, eliminate the need for costly materials, and leverage existing semiconductor mass production facilities—making the path to large-scale manufacturing clear. With foundational research now advanced, nations are simultaneously exploring mass production systems, and the race for supremacy is heating up like never before.