The 28th “Science in Japan” Forum
Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
1:00 pm – 6:00 pm (EDT)
Format: Hybrid (Onsite & Online)
Venue: Cosmos Club (2121 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC)
Theme: Glimpse of Quantum Technology and Quantum Computer
*Please download the booklet from HERE
This year, over 100 participants gathered in-person and online from Washington DC, other areas of the US, and also from other countries including Japan.
Opening
Following welcome remarks by Dr. Junji Urakawa, Director of JSPS Washington Office, Ambassador Takehiro Shimada, Embassy of Japan in the United States of America, congratulated the forum on the occasion of science diplomacy between the U.S. and Japan.
Furthermore, B. Estefania Ortiz Calva, Senior Program Associate, International Affairs and Science Diplomacy, Center for Science Diplomacy, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Dr. Amit Sawant, Professor and Vice Chair for Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, gave congratulatory remarks and expressed their delight at being brought together again this year in this location.
Keynote Speech
In the lecture session with the topic of “Glimpse of Quantum Technology and Quantum Computer,” Nobel Laureate Dr. William D. Phillips, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, NIST Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology, gave a keynote speech titled “Quantum Mechanics 2025: Incredible Past, Amazing Present—what about the future and the role of quantum information?” in which he discussed the history and future of the quantum machine with humor.
Session 1 : Challenge toward Fault-Tolerant Universal Quantum Computer
Professor Masahiro Kitagawa, Director, Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology, The University of Osaka, offered a presentation titled “Challenge toward Fault-Tolerant Universal Quantum Computer”. In this presentation, he covered the challenges currently faced by quantum computers.
Session 2 : Challenges in superconducting quantum computing
Professor Yasunobu Nakamura, Director, RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing, RIKEN, and Professor, Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, offered a presentation titled ” Challenges in superconducting quantum computing”. In this session, the outcomes of the Q-LEAP (Quantum Leap Flagship Program), in which Prof. Nakamura is involved, will be introduced.
Session 3 : From Research to Real World: The Emerging Quantum Computer Economy
Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) Managed by SRI International, offered a presentation titled ” From Research to Real World: The Emerging Quantum Computer Economy”. She outlined the quantum computer in the industrial world in this presentation.
Panel Discussion : Future of Quantum Computing
In the panel discussion,Dr. Robabeh Rahimi, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, acted as moderator. After a brief summary of the previous sessions and questions about them, the discussion evolved in various directions on the cutting-edge topic of “Glimpse of Quantum Technology and Quantum Computer.”
Closing
The forum wrapped up with Dr. Keisuke Okamura, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in the United States of America’s closing remarks fostering interdisciplinary, cross-generational, and global partnerships.
Host
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Sponsors
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Center for Quantum Computing
Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology(QiQB)
Department of Energy (DOE)
Embassy of Japan
Institute of Physical and Chemical Research（RIKEN)
JSPS US and Canada Alumni Association
Osaka University
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Special thanks to Dr. Rita R. Colwell
