Quantum technology, which is expected to bring major changes to society in the future, has made remarkable progress in recent years, and it is beginning to be possible that it will be put into practical use as industrial products within the 20-year period of patent rights. I give up.
In response to this, Japan's Cabinet Office has positioned quantum technology as "an important technology that has the potential to dramatically advance Japan's economy, industry, and security," and has indicated a policy of "promoting quantum technology in a comprehensive and strategic manner across the nation" (Interim Report of the "Quantum Technology Innovation Strategy").
In January 2020, the final report of the "Quantum Technology Innovation Strategy" presented five strategies for realizing quantum technology innovation (1) technology development strategy, 2) international strategy, 3) industry and innovation strategy, 4) intellectual property and international standardization strategy, and 5) human resources strategy. The report also presented specific technology roadmaps for each area, such as gate-type quantum computers, solid-state quantum sensors, and quantum communication and encryption link technologies, with a view to practical application in 20 years' time.
It can be said that quantum technology has now entered a phase where it is necessary to treat it not just as a subject of research, but as intellectual property.
Securing the rights to quantum technology at an embryonic stage could give companies strong control over future markets. However, to achieve this, it is essential to have an intellectual property strategy based on a deep understanding of quantum technology, such as keeping an eye on global R&D trends and properly distinguishing between technologies that should be made open and those that should be closed. . In order to meet these needs, our patent office has established a quantum technology support office and is actively providing services.
In our support office, members who are well-versed in quantum physics, quantum information theory, quantum communication technology, quantum cryptography, quantum materials engineering, quantum condensed matter physics, high energy physics, etc., will consult with you about your company's inventions and rights in the field of quantum technology. We support various operations such as acquisition and rights utilization. We provide intellectual property strategy services specializing in quantum technology.
In addition, our institute is proactive in protecting intellectual property, from so-called ``defensive intellectual property strategies'' such as protecting research soil and checking other companies' research, to infringement lawsuits, and negotiations for technology transfer and licensing. We believe that it is important to transform our operations into a ``competitive intellectual property strategy.''
Our quantum technology support office provides comprehensive support for intellectual property management in the quantum technology field as a business strategy staff by proposing useful intellectual property strategies for this "offensive intellectual property strategy."
Room head: Kazuhiro Nagata, PhD (Science)
Available fields
Quantum communication/quantum cryptography: quantum cryptographic keys, quantum error correction, quantum communication control, quantum memory
Qubit/Quantum gate: Quantum circuit, Qubit resonator, Quantum gate operation
Quantum devices/quantum materials: quantum dots, topological materials, strongly correlated electron systems, superconductivity
Quantum sensing: atomic clocks, optical lattice clocks, entangled light
Particle beam engineering: beam control, particle beam medicine, particle detectors