Toshiba Brings SQBM+™, its Quantum-Inspired Optimization Solution,
to AWS Marketplace
February 10, 2023
Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation
KAWASAKI― Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation (TDSL), an industry leader in applying quantum-inspired solutions to complex real-world problems, today announced the launch of "SQBM+ for AWS," a version of its SQBM+ software customized for the AWS Marketplace operated by Amazon Web Services, Inc.
SQBM+ is optimization software1 that quickly finds good solutions among an immense number of options. It is derived from the Simulated Bifurcation Machine (“SBM”), a combinatorial optimization solver built on the quantum-inspired2 Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm (“SB Algorithm”)3 developed by Toshiba Corporation.
TDSL released a free, proof-of-concept (PoC) version of SBM on the AWS Marketplace4 in July 2019. Since then, working with universities, research institutions and other companies, TDSL has investigated real problems in combinatorial optimization, toward finding solutions to social issues in a range of fields. The PoC version has been used by hundreds of subscribers worldwide, and much of the knowledge obtained through its application has been brought into SQBM+. This has triggered requests for the incorporation of SQBM+ into customer systems for application in business.
Providing SQBM+ as a software module will allow customers who need to solve combinatorial optimization problems, in fields as diverse as finance, drug development, genetic engineering, logistics, and AI, to incorporate SQBM+ into their business applications and systems.
Combinatorial optimization is an essential tool for taking on many social and industrial challenges, and finding optimal answers from an enormous range of choices. Its many spheres of application include financial decision-making5, the movement of industrial robots, logistics and transmission routes, and drug discovery at the molecular level6. High speed combinatorial optimization on current computers is very difficult, because combination patterns increase exponentially as the scale of a problem grows. To overcome this, dedicated combinatorial optimization computers are being developed around the world.
SQBM+ runs on current computers and discovers high-precision, approximate solutions (good solutions) to complex, large-scale problems in a short time. Going forward, TDSL will apply SQBM+ in many fields and contribute to solving complicated social issues.
1.Provided as a software module that can be embedded
SQBM+ for AWS is provided as an Amazon Machine Image (AMI7). An AMI is a template containing a software configuration (e.g. an operating system, an application server and applications) that is used to launch an instance—a copy of the AMI running as a virtual server in the AWS Cloud.
- Starting to use SQBM+ is quick and easy, as the preconfigured AMI launches the instance. There is no need to install SQBM+.
- The SQBM+ instance is dedicated to the user and quickly processes all requests. As it is a dedicated copy, users can freely control the resource (e.g. auto-scale, redundancy, start/stop).
- Can be embedded in the customer's system to reduce network overhead.
SBM runs on a new algorithm that significantly improves speed, accuracy, and scale of use in the AWS Cloud.
SBM’s characteristics9 realize an Ising solver10 capable of handling Ising problems with up to 100,000 variables.
- Ballistic Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm (bSB): A high-speed algorithm for finding a good solution in a short time.11
- Discrete Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm (dSB): A high-accuracy algorithm for finding a more accurate solution.12
- SQBM+ automatically selects and uses one of the two algorithms listed above.
3.Availability on AWS Marketplace
AWS Marketplace is a curated digital catalog that customers can use to find, buy, deploy, and manage third-party software, data, and services to build solutions and run their businesses. Its pre-configured software can be launched with just a few clicks. AWS Marketplace offers flexible pricing, and SQBM+ for AWS offers two versions and hourly and monthly options.
Pricing of SQBM+ for AWS
Two SQBM+ for AWS plans are available: Learn & Development is limited to use for familiarization; Business Standard is designed to support business operations. Both plans have hourly and monthly pricing models.
Plan | Pricing information | ||
---|---|---|---|
Learn & Development Limited to use for familiarization |
Hourly | $200 per hour | 30-day free trial |
Monthly | $1,000 per month | ||
Business Standard | Hourly | $1,800 per hour | |
Monthly | $9,000 per month |
* Customers need to prepare Amazon EC2.
TDSL’s future plans include provision of on-site versions based on customers’ needs, professional services to support introduction by customers, and enhancement of the SQBM+ product lineup.
TDSL products page on AWS Marketplace:
https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/seller-profile?id=d204c622-7c0d-4510-8686-2bfb3213afa8 (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)
1:
Toshiba Digital Solutions Press Release(March 2022): Announcing the Launch of the Quantum-Inspired Optimization Solution SQBM+™:
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/company/digitalsolution/news/2022/0302.html
2:
A new classical mechanics method derived from or directly inspired by a calculation method based on the principles of quantum mechanics. Also known as “pseudo-quantum.”
3:
Toshiba Press Release (April 2019): Toshiba's Breakthrough Algorithm Realizes World's Fastest, Largest-scale Combinatorial Optimization:
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/technology/corporate/rdc/rd/topics/19/1904-01.html
H. Goto et al., Science Advances 5, eaav2372 (2019): https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav2372
4:
Toshiba Digital Solutions Press Release (July 2019): Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation’s Simulated Bifurcation Machine, Software Enabling Massive Combinatorial Optimization at High Speed, Now Available on AWS Marketplace:
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/company/digitalsolution/news/2019/0717.html
5:
Toshiba Press Release (October 2019): Toshiba Develops Proof-of-concept Device for Ultra-high-speed Financial Transaction Machine with Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm:
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/technology/corporate/rdc/rd/topics/19/1910-02.html
(May 2021): Toshiba and Dharma Capital’s Joint Experiment in Financial Markets to Verify the Effectiveness of a Quasi-Quantum Computer When Applied to High Frequency Trading:
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/technology/corporate/rdc/rd/topics/21/2105-01.html
6:
Toshiba Digital Solutions Press Release (June 2022): Toshiba and Revorf Advance Computational Drug Discovery Evaluation with Quantum-Inspired SQBM+™ Optimization Solution
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/company/digitalsolution/news/2022/0627.html
7:
An Amazon Machine Image (AMI) is a supported and maintained image provided by AWS that provides the information required to launch an instance. An instance, a copy of the AMI running as a virtual server in the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), is launched from the AMI. Amazon EC2 provides scalable computing capacity in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud.
8:
Toshiba Press Release (February 2021): Toshiba’s New Algorithms Quickly Deliver Highly Accurate Solutions to Complex Problems:
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/technology/corporate/rdc/rd/topics/21/2102-01.html
H. Goto et al., Science Advances 7, eabe7953 (2021): https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe7953
9:
SBM Technologies: https://www.global.toshiba/ww/products-solutions/ai-iot/sbm/sbm-technologies.html
10:
A solver for quadratic unconstrained binary optimization problems based on the Ising model, a model in statistical mechanics that explains the magnetization behavior of a magnetic material by a lattice of spinning atoms.
11:
ballistic Simulated Bifurcation (bSB). So named because its mechanical behavior is ballistic. A machine with bSB mounted on a digital computer is called a bSB Machine (bSBM).
12:
discrete Simulated Bifurcation (dSB). So named because it replaces continuous values with discrete values in the equation of motion. A machine in which dSB is mounted on a digital computer is called “dSB Machine (dSBM).”
- ”SQBM+” is a registered trademark or trademark of Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation in Japan and other countries.
- ”Amazon Web Services”, “AWS,” and “Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2)” are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries.
- In addition, the company names and product names described in this text may be used as trademarks or registered trademarks by the respective companies.
- Information in this news release, including content of services, product prices, specifications, related links and contact information, is current on the date of issue, but is subject to change without prior notice.
- Quantum-Inspired Optimization Solution SQBM+ (English site)
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/products-solutions/ai-iot/sbm.html