QST (National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology)

QST, pronounced as the three letters, is Japan's National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, a national research and development agency. Its full Japanese name, its shortened Japanese name meaning “Quantum Research,” and QST refer to the same organization. The letters correspond to Quantum, Science and Technology. Its former English name included “Radiological”; the current name took effect in October 2021. About QST / English-name change

QST is Japan's Domestic Agency for ITER, coordinating procurement of Japan's assigned components and facilities and personnel cooperation. It also advances plasma research through the Japan–Europe JT-60SA collaboration and connects design, materials, fuel and engineering research for future demonstration reactors. Beyond conducting experiments itself, it connects university and company technologies with large international programmes. Quantum-energy research

The Naka institute hosts JT-60SA. Researchers magnetically confine and heat plasma, measure its state and control it. They investigate maintaining desired conditions stably rather than achieving high performance for only an instant.

The Rokkasho institute researches demonstration-reactor design, materials, neutron sources, blankets and fuel. Even when plasma produces energy, a power system requires extracting heat, protecting equipment and circulating fuel.

Naka's plasma and equipment knowledge and Rokkasho's reactor-design, fuel and materials knowledge depend on one another. QST has stated that, from April 2026, the two sites operate as an integrated matrix organization advancing demonstration-reactor, ITER and JT-60SA projects. Their responsibilities are not completely separate.

QST began in April 2016 by integrating JAEA's fusion research and development and part of its quantum-beam applications research into the National Institute of Radiological Sciences. JAEA as a whole did not merge or disappear. This history also explains QST's work in quantum science and radiological medicine. Official history

• Naka Institute for Fusion Science and Technology: a QST research site
• Rokkasho Institute for Fusion Energy: a QST research site
• ITER: an international experimental reactor and programme
• JT-60SA: the experimental device at Naka and the Japan–Europe programme
• Q-DEMO: conceptual design of a demonstration reactor aimed at demonstrating electricity generation

October 8, 2026. Organization names, roles, plans and achievements were checked against publicly available official sources.