Frost & Sullivan honours Fujitsu's quantum-inspired tech

Frost & Sullivan has named Fujitsu the recipient of its 2026 Asia-Pacific Enabling Technology Leadership Recognition, citing the company's work in quantum-inspired computing.

The recognition comes as companies across the region look for ways to tackle optimisation problems in logistics, finance, manufacturing and energy without relying on specialised quantum hardware. Frost & Sullivan assessed strategy effectiveness and execution, and found Fujitsu performed strongly on both measures.

Quantum-inspired computing applies methods drawn from quantum theory to solve complex computational problems on conventional hardware. Fujitsu has focused much of its work in this area on its Digital Annealer, a platform designed to handle combinatorial optimisation tasks involving large numbers of possible outcomes.

Such problems are common in business operations. Financial institutions may need to test large sets of portfolio combinations under changing market conditions, while manufacturers and logistics groups often seek to optimise production schedules, delivery routes and warehouse operations. Life sciences companies also use optimisation methods to narrow possible molecular combinations in drug research.

According to Frost & Sullivan, Fujitsu's position reflects not only its technical work in the field but also its commercial approach in Asia-Pacific. The research and consulting firm pointed to Fujitsu's focus on hybrid computing, ecosystem development, and continued investment in both quantum-inspired and quantum computing technologies.

It also highlighted Fujitsu's understanding of technology maturity, cost pressures and adoption patterns in the region. That matters in a market where many businesses remain interested in advanced computing methods but are cautious about deployment costs, integration risks and uncertain returns.

Rather than relying on standalone quantum systems, Fujitsu has promoted a hybrid model that lets organisations apply optimisation tools within existing infrastructure. It positions this as a way for customers to test and implement advanced methods in current operational environments, using workshops, trial access and proof-of-concept programmes to reduce implementation risk.

These steps are now common in enterprise technology sales for emerging categories, where customers often need evidence that a new tool can solve a specific operational problem before expanding its use. In quantum-inspired computing, that challenge is particularly sharp because the technology sits between research-grade innovation and practical business deployment.

Kenny Yeo, Director - ICT at Frost & Sullivan, said Fujitsu had matched its technology strategy to market conditions in the region. "Fujitsu's approach reflects a deep understanding of technology maturity, cost considerations, and adoption patterns in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling enterprises to evaluate and integrate advanced optimization methods within realistic operational conditions," Yeo said.

Business uses

Fujitsu said the commercial value of the technology lies in speeding up decision-making for large and complex scenarios. It has positioned the systems as tools that can process high-dimensional datasets and address optimisation tasks that would otherwise take much longer with conventional approaches.

Peter Grassi, Chief Executive Officer at Fujitsu in Oceania, linked the recognition to practical industry use cases, especially in financial services and life sciences. "This recognition reflects Fujitsu's focus on turning advanced computing into real business outcomes. In financial services, quantum‐inspired optimisation enables institutions to rebalance portfolios at unprecedented speed - running hundreds of scenarios in the time it once took to complete a single analysis - supporting faster, better-informed decisions in increasingly volatile markets. In life sciences, the same technology is accelerating drug discovery by exploring vast chemical spaces and identifying viable candidates in a fraction of the time, helping bring new therapies to patients sooner. As we continue to expand across the region, Fujitsu is focused on helping organisations apply these capabilities today, solving complex optimisation challenges now while building a foundation for a more data-driven future," Grassi said.

Fujitsu has sought to differentiate itself by presenting quantum-inspired tools as usable now, rather than waiting for broader commercial maturity in quantum hardware. That framing puts the technology in competition not only with future quantum systems but also with established optimisation software, cloud-based analytics and high-performance computing methods already used by large enterprises.

Regional market

Asia-Pacific has become an active market for advanced computing research and early commercial deployment, supported by public investment, university-led development and demand from sectors with large-scale data and scheduling problems. Companies in the space are increasingly expected to show measurable operational gains rather than broad claims about future transformation.

Frost & Sullivan's award programme is intended to identify companies that combine technical development with market uptake. In Fujitsu's case, the recognition reflects the view that its regional strategy, product direction and customer engagement model have helped it establish a visible position in a still-developing segment of the computing market.

Fujitsu reported consolidated revenue of USD $23 billion for its most recent fiscal year and remains one of Japan's largest digital services groups by market share. The company employs about 100,000 people globally and has expanded its work across AI, computing, networks, data and security, with quantum-inspired computing forming part of its broader advanced technology portfolio.

The award gives Fujitsu a stronger external endorsement as competition builds around practical uses for advanced optimisation tools in business settings, and as customers continue to weigh near-term value against the longer-term promise of full quantum computing.