Case Study: JSR Corporation achieves faster, lower-cost photoresist development with IBM Quantum

JSR and IBM envision a revolution in semiconductor manufacturing

JSR Corporation, a Japan-based leader in semiconductor materials, faced the challenge of predicting how new photoresists would behave at nanometer scales—a task too complex and costly for conventional testing and even classical supercomputers. The company worked with IBM to support the next generation of chip manufacturing and extend Moore’s Law.

IBM implemented quantum chemistry simulations through IBM Quantum, collaborating with JSR to model photoresist-related molecules and explore more accurate material design. The joint team successfully simulated a smaller molecule with similar behavior to a photo-acid generator, showing the approach is feasible as quantum computers scale, with the promise of faster, lower-cost photoresist development and better chip production in the future.

JSR Corporation

Hiroaki Tokuhisa

Chief Technology Officer