This proposal, "Utilization Strategy for Quantum Materials to Address Social Challenges," seeks to transform quantum materials research from a curiosity-driven endeavor into one focused on solving societal problems. Its ultimate goal is to evolve quantum materials research into the development of innovative, high-performance, and energy-efficient devices for next-generation ICT systems, energy systems, and medical applications. To achieve this, the proposal calls for a close integration of two research streams: objective-driven basic research on quantum materials and application-focused research that develops the technologies needed to realize new functions. In parallel, research and development (R&D) will be conducted to demonstrate these new functions in devices attractive to industry. This effort involves establishing a framework that brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, startups, and others, while promoting the shared use of large-scale research facilities and collaborative research with overseas institutions.

For our nation to achieve both economic growth and sustainability, it is essential to realize a highly digital society, maximize energy efficiency, and foster a healthy, long-lived population. In the information field, accelerated digital transformation (DX) spurred by advances in AI and big data analytics is expected to dramatically improve efficiency and convenience across a wide range of sectors--including energy, healthcare, education, and transportation--thereby significantly enhancing people's quality of life. In the energy sector, global efforts are underway to combine smart grid technology with big data analytics, enabling more accurate forecasts of power demand and efficient operation of renewable energy systems. Likewise, in the medical field, systems that leverage AI to analyze vast amounts of vital data from wearable sensors are beginning to enable early diagnosis and remote medical consultations.

However, to further accelerate these advancements, several challenges must be overcome. In the information domain, the progress of DX has led to a continuous increase in the power consumption of data centers and communication networks. In the energy sector, enhancing the efficiency of energy transmission is an urgent task, with challenges including reducing energy losses in power grids and optimizing energy conversion processes. In healthcare, there is a growing demand for diagnostic devices with higher sensitivity and lower invasiveness. If these challenges continue to expand without resolution, the resulting reliance on fossil fuels could exacerbate energy resource depletion and climate change, making it increasingly difficult to achieve a healthy, long-lived society and ultimately threatening overall sustainability.

To address these issues, breakthroughs beyond the current framework of materials and technology are needed. New materials and technologies capable of realizing high-efficiency, low-energy ICT devices and high-precision diagnostic instruments must be developed. Quantum materials--including spintronics, photonics, low-dimensional, and topological materials--offer such potential. For instance, spintronics materials exploit the quantum mechanical properties of electron spin rather than charge, allowing operations at lower energy and higher speed than conventional materials, and thus promise to deliver efficiency and energy-saving performance unattainable with current technologies.

For our country with its strong expertise in materials research, pioneering the potential of these quantum materials ahead of the global competition is extremely important. Domestically, while curiosity-driven basic research on quantum materials has advanced, application-oriented R&D remains limited. Moreover, collaboration across disciplines--such as theory, simulation, measurement, analysis, device fabrication, and process development--and between academia and industry is still insufficient, and there is a shortage of people capable of promoting international cooperation. In contrast, major countries like the United States, the Europe nations, and China have initiated large-scale government investments in quantum materials, pursuing projects that span from basic research and applied technology to device development through industry collaboration. Thus, it is an urgent priority to formulate and actively implement an R&D strategy that secures our nation's competitive advantage in both quantum materials research and industrial application.

To address these challenges, this proposal advocates a three-tiered R&D approach to extend basic research on quantum materials into socially relevant applications:

1. Objective-Driven Basic Research
Focus on quantum materials that have recently shown novel physical properties. The aim is to thoroughly understand their characteristics so as to overcome the performance limitations of existing semiconductors (e.g., silicon) and enable the emergence of new innovative functions.

2. Foundational Utilization Technology
Develop technologies to precisely measure and control quantum states. This includes advancing measurement techniques, simulation methods for quantum state estimation, and synthesis processes to fabricate high-quality materials and substrates. Additionally, research will focus on methods to induce and control unique quantum states and on process technologies that maintain these states in practical environments.

3. Demonstration of New Functions
Rapidly translate the new functions discovered through the collaboration between basic research and technology development into practical devices. This requires establishing objective benchmarks for evaluation, testing device functionality under real-world conditions, and identifying and addressing key manufacturing challenges for scaling up production.

By implementing these three tiers through a Quantum Materials Utilization R&D Framework, we can set common goals that benefit both academia and industry. Cooperation among universities, public research institutions, and industrial partners--leveraging large-scale research facilities-- is essential to ensure that basic research and technology development work synergistically toward practical demonstrations. Furthermore, creating evaluation devices that showcase the unique functions of quantum materials will encourage industry participation. Strengthening our nation's research and technological strengths, promoting joint projects with overseas institutions, organizing international workshops, and cultivating experts who can facilitate industry-academia-government collaboration are all critical measures to enhance our competitiveness and global leadership in quantum science and technology.

• (in Japanese) Utilization Strategy for Quantum Materials to Address Social Challenges