SBI Investment Co., Ltd. today announced that it has invested in QuEra Computing Inc., a developer and provider of quantum computers using neutral atoms.

Based in Boston, QuEra has built on pioneering research from nearby Harvard University and the MIT to develop the world’s largest publicly accessible quantum computer. QuEra plays a pioneering role in the commercialization of quantum computing, and is expected to find applications in a wide range of fields, including the chemical and pharmaceutical as well as finance.

QuEra has successfully closed a total of USD 230 million in Series B funding. Investors include Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. SBI Investment also participated in this funding round.

SBI Investment, the core company in the Investment Business of the SBI Group, has a strong network of more than 350 fund investors and an annual sourcing amount of more than 2,500 with cumulative investments of over JPY 570 billion and cumulative commitments exceeding JPY 800 billion.

Since its establishment, SBI Investment has focused its investments on growth areas such as the IT sector and biotechnology/life sciences sector. In addition to our traditional focus areas—Fintech, AI, and blockchain—SBI Investment is expanding its investment domains into innovative technology and service sectors across a wide range of industries. This expansion includes sectors that contribute to the realization of “Society5.0 for SDGs”, such as 5G, IoT, and big data, as well as sectors that promote “Industry4.0”, such as robotics, healthcare, infrastructure, food, and agriculture.

Consequently, SBI Investment have developed extensive experience in venture investing and naturing startups in these fields.