What is Quantum Technology? Complete 2026 Guide
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- 22 hours ago
- 31 min read
The world stands at the edge of a computing revolution that will make today's fastest supercomputers look like pocket calculators. In laboratories from California to Tokyo, scientists are harnessing the strange rules that govern atoms and electrons to build machines that can solve problems in minutes that would take classical computers millions of years. This isn't science fiction. In December 2025, Google's Willow chip completed a calculation in five minutes that would require 10 septillion years on a conventional supercomputer (Nature, December 2025). Quantum technology is no longer a distant dream—it's arriving now, and it's about to change everything from how we discover life-saving drugs to how we protect our digital secrets.
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TL;DR
Quantum technology uses quantum mechanics principles (superposition, entanglement) to process information in fundamentally new ways
Three main pillars: quantum computing (solving complex problems), quantum sensing (ultra-precise measurements), and quantum communication (secure data transmission)
Market projected to reach $97 billion by 2035 and $198 billion by 2040 (McKinsey, June 2025)
Real commercial applications emerging in 2025-2026: drug discovery, financial modeling, GPS-denied navigation, and secure communications
Major tech companies (IBM, Google, Microsoft) investing billions with systems already deployed
2025 declared International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by the United Nations
Quantum technology is a field that harnesses quantum mechanics principles—like superposition (existing in multiple states simultaneously) and entanglement (instant correlation between particles)—to create devices that process information, measure physical properties, and transmit data in ways impossible for classical technology. It includes quantum computing (solving complex calculations), quantum sensing (ultra-precise detection), and quantum communication (secure information exchange), with applications emerging across healthcare, finance, defense, and science.
Table of Contents
Understanding Quantum Technology: The Basics
Quantum technology sounds mysterious, but the core idea is surprisingly simple: use the weird rules of the quantum world to do things we can't do with regular technology.
In our everyday world, objects follow predictable rules. A light switch is either on or off. A car is either moving or stopped. But at the tiniest scales—inside atoms and electrons—matter behaves differently. An electron can spin both up and down at the same time until you look at it. Two particles separated by vast distances can instantly affect each other.
These aren't glitches in nature. They're fundamental properties of quantum mechanics, the branch of physics that describes how the smallest pieces of reality work.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics went to three scientists—John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis—for proving these quantum effects can work in large-scale systems, not just individual atoms (SpinQ, 2025). Their work in the 1980s showed that superconducting circuits cooled to near absolute zero could behave as single quantum objects, even though they contain billions of particles.
That discovery opened the door to quantum technology. Today, engineers build devices that exploit three key quantum phenomena:
Superposition: A quantum bit (qubit) can be 0, 1, or both at once. This lets quantum computers explore many solutions simultaneously, instead of checking them one by one like classical computers.
Entanglement: When quantum particles become entangled, measuring one instantly affects the other, no matter how far apart they are. Einstein called this "spooky action at a distance." It enables ultra-secure communication and coordinated operations across multiple qubits.
Interference: Quantum states can amplify correct answers while canceling out wrong ones, guiding calculations toward solutions.
Think of it this way: A classical computer is like checking every door in a massive hotel to find your room. A quantum computer can check all the doors at once.
According to research published in Science on January 27, 2026, quantum technology has reached its "transistor moment"—the point where foundational principles are established and functional systems exist, similar to classical computing in the 1940s before the transistor revolutionized the field (ScienceDaily, January 27, 2026).
The Three Pillars of Quantum Technology
Quantum technology isn't one thing. It's three distinct but related fields, each solving different problems.
Quantum Computing
This pillar focuses on processing information. Quantum computers tackle specific problems exponentially faster than classical computers: drug molecule simulation, optimization puzzles with millions of variables, cryptography, and machine learning.
Quantum Sensing
These devices measure physical properties with impossible precision: magnetic fields trillions of times weaker than Earth's, gravity changes from underground structures, time intervals accurate to billionths of a second, and temperature variations at the atomic level.
Quantum Communication
This pillar ensures ultra-secure data transmission. Quantum communication uses quantum properties to create encryption keys that reveal any eavesdropping attempt, making communication theoretically unbreakable.
McKinsey's Quantum Technology Monitor projects that by 2035, quantum computing will be worth $28-72 billion, quantum communication $11-15 billion, and quantum sensing $7-10 billion—totaling up to $97 billion (McKinsey, June 2025). By 2040, the combined market could reach $198 billion.
How Quantum Computing Works
Classical computers store information in bits—tiny switches that are either 0 or 1. Eight bits make a byte, which might represent the letter "A" or a number.
Quantum computers use qubits. A qubit can be 0, 1, or a superposition of both. This changes everything.
Two classical bits hold two pieces of information: 00, 01, 10, or 11. But two qubits can hold all four combinations simultaneously. Three qubits hold eight combinations. Four qubits hold 16. Each additional qubit doubles the capacity—an exponential increase (NIST, August 2025).
Someone using a quantum computer first entangles qubits to harness this exponential power. Then they perform operations—addition, multiplication, more complex calculations. Electromagnetic signals or lasers create the entanglement and operations, depending on the quantum computer type.
But there's a catch: quantum computers can't extract unlimited data from their exponential calculations. They're limited by the laws of quantum mechanics. You can't simply read out all possible combinations. Instead, quantum algorithms are designed to use interference to amplify correct answers while canceling wrong ones.
Types of Qubits
Several physical systems can act as qubits:
Superconducting qubits (used by IBM and Google) require cooling to near absolute zero—around 10-20 millikelvin—but can be easily coupled together (SpinQ, 2025).
Trapped ions (used by IonQ and Quantinuum) confine individual atoms with electromagnetic fields and can operate at warmer temperatures.
Neutral atoms (used by Atom Computing and QuEra) offer long coherence times and easy scaling to hundreds or thousands of qubits.
Photonic qubits (used by PsiQuantum and Xanadu) use particles of light and can potentially operate at room temperature.
Silicon spin qubits leverage existing semiconductor manufacturing techniques.
Topological qubits (Microsoft's approach) promise extreme stability but remain largely experimental. Microsoft unveiled its Majorana 1 chip in February 2025, marking progress in this approach (SpinQ, 2025).
The Error Correction Challenge
Quantum states are fragile. Vibrations, temperature changes, stray electromagnetic fields—any environmental noise causes decoherence, introducing errors.
For years, this seemed insurmountable. Adding backup qubits to catch errors only made things worse: more qubits meant more errors, growing faster than error-correction could handle.
But 2025 brought a wave of breakthroughs. Google's Willow chip demonstrated "below threshold" error correction, where error rates decreased as more physical qubits were added to encode each logical qubit (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025). This milestone proved that large, error-corrected quantum computers are achievable.
Companies including IBM, QuEra, Quantinuum, IonQ, Microsoft, Alice & Bob, Nord Quantique, Infleqtion, and Rigetti all announced error-correction progress in 2025 (Network World, November 19, 2025).
According to Microsoft's quantum team, the industry uses a three-level framework: Level 1 includes today's noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computers with roughly 1,000 qubits but high error rates. Level 2 consists of small error-corrected machines. Level 3 represents large-scale fault-tolerant systems with millions of qubits (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025).
"We feel very excited about the year 2026, because lots of work that happened over the last so many years is coming to fruition now," says Srinivas Prasad Sugasani, vice president of quantum at Microsoft (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025).
Quantum Sensing: Measuring the Impossible
While quantum computing grabs headlines, quantum sensing is already delivering commercial value.
Quantum sensors exploit the extreme sensitivity of quantum states to their environment. Because quantum objects can exist in superposition and entanglement, they detect changes that classical sensors miss entirely.
How Quantum Sensors Work
A quantum sensor typically uses a quantum system—like an atom, electron spin, or superconducting circuit—that's extremely sensitive to a specific physical property: magnetic fields, electric fields, acceleration, rotation, temperature, or time.
When that property changes, even slightly, the quantum state shifts in measurable ways. By carefully controlling and reading the quantum state, sensors achieve precision far beyond classical limits.
For example, superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) can detect magnetic fields trillions of times weaker than Earth's magnetic field (SpinQ, 2025). This enables applications from brain imaging to mineral exploration.
Commercial Quantum Sensing Breakthrough
On World Quantum Day 2025, Q-CTRL announced the first true commercial quantum advantage: quantum sensors for GPS-denied navigation that outperformed the best conventional alternatives by 50 times, later improved to over 100 times (Q-CTRL, December 5, 2025).
This achievement earned recognition as one of TIME Magazine's Best Innovations of 2025. The quantum sensors allowed accurate navigation when GPS signals were unavailable—critical for military operations, underground exploration, and autonomous vehicles in urban canyons.
Quantum Sensing Applications
Medical Imaging: Quantum magnetometers based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond detect weak magnetic fields from the human brain, enabling magnetoencephalography (MEG) that maps brain activity without bulky equipment (ScienceDirect, March 14, 2025).
Geological Surveys: Quantum gravimeters measure tiny variations in Earth's gravitational field, revealing underground structures, water reservoirs, and mineral deposits.
Navigation: Quantum accelerometers and gyroscopes enable precise inertial navigation without GPS.
Fundamental Physics: Quantum sensors test fundamental theories by measuring tiny effects like dark matter interactions or gravitational waves.
In November 2025, researchers from Hungary and China demonstrated a silicon carbide-based quantum sensor that operates at room temperature—a significant advance, since most quantum devices require extreme cooling (Phys.org, November 28, 2025). This sensor could detect magnetic fields and chemical signals with nanometer precision, opening applications in biology and medicine.
Market Growth
The quantum sensors market is experiencing rapid growth. The first quarter of 2025 saw over $1.25 billion in quantum technology investment, more than double the previous year (GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025).
QSENSATO, a University of Bari spin-off developing chip-based quantum sensors, raised €500,000 in May 2025 to advance miniaturized vapor cell technology for brain imaging and geological surveys. Q-CTRL raised $59 million, and Aquark Technologies secured €5 million led by the NATO Innovation Fund (GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025).
Government initiatives are accelerating development. China announced plans to mobilize 1 trillion yuan ($138.01 billion) into quantum and other cutting-edge technologies. The U.S. National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act would authorize $2.7 billion over five years (GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025).
Quantum Communication: Unbreakable Security
Quantum communication uses quantum properties to transmit information with security guaranteed by the laws of physics, not just mathematical complexity.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
The cornerstone of quantum communication is QKD, which creates encryption keys using quantum states—typically photons with specific polarizations or phases.
Here's how it works: Alice wants to send Bob a secret message. First, they establish a shared encryption key using quantum particles. Alice sends Bob photons prepared in specific quantum states. Bob measures them using randomly chosen settings. Afterward, Alice and Bob compare a sample of their results over a public channel (without revealing the actual key). Any discrepancy indicates an eavesdropper, because measuring quantum states disturbs them—a fundamental principle called the no-cloning theorem.
If no eavesdropping is detected, they use the quantum-generated key to encrypt their message with classical encryption methods. Even if an attacker intercepts the encrypted message, they can't decrypt it without the key—and can't steal the key without being detected.
Two major QKD protocols dominate:
BB84 Protocol: Uses four polarization states of photons. Bob randomly chooses measurement bases, and they later compare results to detect eavesdropping.
E91 Protocol: Uses entangled photon pairs. Violations of Bell's inequality confirm the quantum correlation and reveal eavesdropping attempts.
Recent Breakthroughs
In December 2025, Stanford researchers announced a room-temperature quantum communication device using twisted light from molybdenum diselenide (a two-dimensional material) to entangle photons and electrons (Stanford Report, December 2, 2025).
Previous quantum systems required cooling to near absolute zero—making them expensive and impractical. The Stanford device is nanoscale, relatively inexpensive, and operates at room temperature. This breakthrough could enable quantum communication devices embedded in everyday technologies.
"The material in question is not really new, but the way we use it is," says Jennifer Dionne, professor of materials science at Stanford and senior author of the paper published in Nature Communications. "It provides a very versatile, stable spin connection between electrons and photons that is the theoretical basis of quantum communication" (Stanford Report, December 2, 2025).
Post-Quantum Cryptography
While quantum communication offers security against any attack, it requires specialized infrastructure. That's where post-quantum cryptography (PQC) comes in—encryption algorithms designed to resist attacks from quantum computers, but running on classical hardware.
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized PQC standards in 2024. Key algorithms include Kyber for key encapsulation and Dilithium and Sphincs+ for digital signatures.
McKinsey's 2025 Quantum Technology Monitor reports that PQC is the most commercially mature quantum communication vertical, critical for protecting data against "Q-Day"—when quantum computers become powerful enough to break current encryption (McKinsey, June 2025).
In October 2025, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh demonstrated a network architecture combining QKD and PQC to secure both quantum and classical communication channels, addressing vulnerabilities that arise when quantum and classical systems interact (Quantum Zeitgeist, October 29, 2025).
Real-World Deployment
Quantum communication networks are expanding globally. China operates the world's longest quantum communication network, spanning over 2,000 kilometers between Beijing and Shanghai. Europe has deployed metropolitan QKD networks in cities including Vienna, Geneva, and Madrid.
In September 2025, researchers demonstrated quantum cryptography integrating an optical quantum memory—enabling protocols with storage steps rather than just on-the-fly operations (Science Advances, September 19, 2025). This advance unlocks applications like quantum money schemes and complex communication protocols.
Current State of the Industry (2026)
February 2026 marks a pivotal moment for quantum technology. After decades of research and development, commercial deployments are beginning.
Quantum Computing Milestones
Google's Willow Chip (December 2024/2025): Features 105 superconducting qubits and achieved below-threshold error correction—error rates decrease as more qubits are added. Completed a benchmark calculation in approximately five minutes that would require a classical supercomputer 10^25 years (SpinQ, 2025).
IBM's Roadmap: Unveiled its Loon processor and Nighthawk quantum chip in November 2025. IBM's roadmap targets Starling—a fault-tolerant system with 200 logical qubits capable of 100 million operations—by 2029. Current systems include the 1,121-qubit Condor processor, with plans for Kookaburra (1,386 qubits) connecting three chips into a 4,158-qubit system (SpinQ, 2025).
Microsoft's Majorana 1: Introduced in February 2025, this topological qubit processor leverages a new class of materials called topoconductors, allowing precise control of Majorana particles for more stable qubits (SpinQ, 2025).
Fujitsu and RIKEN: Announced a 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer in April 2025—four times larger than their 2023 system—with plans for a 1,000-qubit machine by 2026 (SpinQ, 2025).
Atom Computing: Demonstrated a quantum computing platform with 1,180 qubits in October 2023, with continued scaling planned for 2026.
Revenue and Commercial Adoption
Quantum computing companies generated $650-750 million in revenue in 2024 and are expected to surpass $1 billion in 2025—the first time the industry crosses this threshold (McKinsey, June 2025).
Companies are deploying quantum systems beyond research labs:
The Basque Government and IBM launched Europe's first IBM Quantum System Two in Donostia-San Sebastián in 2025 (Constellation Research, December 29, 2025).
Switzerland's Quantum Technology inked a €10 million deal to deploy D-Wave's Advantage2 system (Constellation Research, December 29, 2025).
Microsoft and Atom Computing plan to deliver an error-corrected quantum computer to the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark and the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2026 (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025).
QuEra delivered a quantum machine ready for error correction to Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in 2025, with plans to make it available to global customers in 2026 (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025).
Quantum-as-a-Service
Cloud platforms democratize access. IBM, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and companies like SpinQ offer quantum computing through cloud services, enabling experimentation without massive capital investments (SpinQ, 2025).
The 2025 International Year of Quantum
The United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, recognizing 100 years since quantum mechanics' initial development (IYQ 2025, August 19, 2025). This global initiative raised public awareness through activities spanning education, research showcases, and industry demonstrations.
Expert Predictions for 2026
Industry experts surveyed by The Quantum Insider predict:
Quantum sensors start delivering commercial value in early markets like biomedical and automotive (Marcus Doherty, TQI, December 30, 2025).
Substantial advances in fault-tolerant computation platforms and hybrid quantum-classical applications (Fred Chong, University of Chicago, TQI, December 30, 2025).
Compelling proof-of-concept demonstrations in quantum chemistry and materials science for highly coupled electronic systems (TQI, December 30, 2025).
Booz Allen's Quantum Practice Leader emphasizes: "With quantum computers potentially emerging as early as 2029, organizations must invest in post-quantum cryptography now to ensure infrastructure is not left vulnerable" (TQI, December 30, 2025).
Real-World Case Studies
Case Study 1: IonQ and Ansys—Medical Device Simulation
Date: March 2025
Companies: IonQ (quantum computing) and Ansys (engineering simulation software)
Application: Medical device fluid dynamics simulation
IonQ and Ansys achieved a significant milestone by running a medical device simulation on IonQ's 36-qubit quantum computer that outperformed classical high-performance computing by 12 percent (SpinQ, March 2025).
This is one of the first documented cases of quantum computing delivering practical advantage over classical methods in a real-world application. The simulation analyzed fluid interactions in medical devices—calculations critical for designing safer, more effective medical equipment.
Why it matters: Medical device simulations traditionally require extensive computational resources and time. Even a 12% improvement accelerates development cycles, reduces costs, and potentially brings life-saving devices to market faster.
Source: SpinQ, "Quantum Computing Industry Trends 2025," March 2025.
Case Study 2: Ford Otosan—Production Scheduling
Date: March 2025
Company: Ford Otosan (Turkish automotive manufacturer)Technology: D-Wave quantum annealing
Application: Manufacturing schedule optimization
Ford Otosan deployed D-Wave's quantum annealing technology in production, reducing scheduling times from 30 minutes to less than five seconds—a 360-fold improvement (Network World, November 19, 2025).
This wasn't a pilot or test. Ford Otosan integrated D-Wave's quantum system directly into their production line for real-time scheduling optimization. The system handles complex constraints including machine availability, worker shifts, material supplies, and production targets.
D-Wave's quantum computer is an analog device specialized for optimization problems—different from gate-based quantum computers like IBM's or Google's, but highly effective for logistics and scheduling challenges.
Why it matters: In automotive manufacturing, even small scheduling improvements compound into massive efficiency gains. Reducing scheduling time from minutes to seconds enables more frequent optimization, responding faster to production changes and disruptions.
A July 2025 D-Wave-sponsored survey of 400 business leaders found significant interest in quantum optimization across industries (Network World, November 19, 2025).
Source: Network World, "Top quantum breakthroughs of 2025," November 19, 2025.
Case Study 3: HSBC—Bond Trading Predictions
Date: 2025
Company: HSBC (global banking and financial services)
Technology: IBM Heron quantum computer
Application: Financial modeling and bond trading
HSBC used IBM's Heron quantum computer to improve bond trading predictions by 34 percent compared to classical computing methods (Network World, November 19, 2025).
Financial institutions face enormous computational challenges modeling bond portfolios, risk scenarios, and market dynamics. Bond trading involves complex calculations considering interest rates, credit risk, maturity dates, liquidity, and countless market variables.
The 34% improvement in prediction accuracy translates directly to better investment decisions, risk management, and profitability. In financial markets where fractions of a percent matter, a 34% advantage is transformative.
Why it matters: This demonstrates quantum computing's potential in finance—one of the industries expected to gain significant value from quantum technology. McKinsey projects finance among the sectors most likely to realize early quantum advantage.
Source: Network World, "Top quantum breakthroughs of 2025," November 19, 2025.
Key Players and Companies
The quantum technology ecosystem includes tech giants, specialized startups, academic institutions, and government labs.
Major Technology Companies
IBM: A quantum computing pioneer, IBM offers cloud-based access through IBM Quantum Experience. Its Quantum Network includes over 210 organizations. IBM's 2025 roadmap includes the Kookaburra processor and targets fault-tolerant systems by 2027-2029 (PatentPC, December 9, 2025).
Google: Achieved quantum supremacy in 2019 with its Sycamore processor. The 2025 Willow chip demonstrated below-threshold error correction, a crucial milestone. Google aims for error-corrected quantum computers by 2029.
Microsoft: Takes a unique approach focusing on topological qubits with the Majorana 1 chip launched in February 2025. Microsoft Azure Quantum provides cloud access to multiple quantum hardware types (PatentPC, December 9, 2025).
Amazon: Offers Amazon Braket, a cloud service providing access to quantum hardware from IonQ, Rigetti, D-Wave, and others, plus quantum simulators.
Specialized Quantum Companies
IonQ: Focuses on trapped-ion quantum computers. Plans to acquire Oxford Ionics in a $1 billion deal announced June 2025 (McKinsey, 2025). IonQ's systems can operate at room temperature, offering cost advantages.
Rigetti Computing: Develops superconducting quantum processors. Stock up 200% in 2025, reflecting investor confidence (Constellation Research, December 29, 2025).
D-Wave: Specializes in quantum annealing for optimization problems. Stock up 356% in 2025. Deployed commercial systems including Ford Otosan's production line (Constellation Research, December 29, 2025).
Quantinuum: Formed from the merger of Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum Computing. Received half of total quantum investment in 2024 alongside PsiQuantum (McKinsey, June 2025).
PsiQuantum: Focuses on photonic quantum computing. Announced plans to build the world's first utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer in Brisbane, Australia, supported by $620 million from the Australian government (McKinsey, June 2025).
QuEra Computing: Develops neutral-atom quantum computers. Delivered systems to Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025).
Atom Computing: Demonstrated a 1,180-qubit neutral-atom system. Partnering with Microsoft on error-corrected systems for 2026 delivery (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025).
Alice & Bob: Working on "cat qubits" with self-correcting properties, reducing error-correction overhead.
Q-CTRL: Focuses on quantum control software and achieved the first commercial quantum advantage in GPS-denied navigation in 2025. Revenue exceeded $50 million (Q-CTRL, December 5, 2025).
Academic and Government Labs
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Advanced coherence times to 0.6 milliseconds for superconducting qubits through the SQMS Nanofabrication Taskforce (SpinQ, 2025).
University of Chicago, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Harvard: Leading quantum research institutions producing breakthroughs in hardware and algorithms.
Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China: China invests heavily in quantum technology with plans to mobilize 1 trillion yuan into the field (GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025).
Applications Across Industries
Quantum computers simulate molecular interactions with unprecedented accuracy. Google's collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim demonstrated quantum simulation of Cytochrome P450, a key human enzyme in drug metabolism, with greater efficiency than traditional methods (SpinQ, 2025).
Drug discovery traditionally takes 10-15 years and costs billions. Quantum simulation could identify promising drug candidates years faster by modeling how molecules interact with disease targets.
JPMorgan Chase announced a $10 billion investment initiative naming quantum computing as strategic technology (SpinQ, 2025). Applications include:
Portfolio optimization: Finding ideal asset allocations across thousands of variables
Risk modeling: Simulating market scenarios and credit risk
Fraud detection: Pattern recognition in transaction data
Option pricing: Calculating complex derivative values
Materials Science and Chemistry
Quantum computers can simulate new materials atom by atom, predicting properties before synthesis. Potential breakthroughs include:
Better battery materials for electric vehicles
More efficient solar cells
Stronger, lighter alloys for aerospace
Superconductors that work at higher temperatures
Catalysts for chemical production
Optimization problems involve finding the best solution among countless possibilities. D-Wave's quantum systems already deliver value in:
Manufacturing scheduling (Ford Otosan reduced scheduling time by 360 times)
Route optimization for delivery fleets
Warehouse inventory management
Airline crew scheduling
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Quantum computing and AI increasingly intertwine. Quantum algorithms can:
Train neural networks faster
Optimize hyperparameters
Enhance pattern recognition
Improve recommendation systems
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang noted at GTC 2025: "We now realize that it is essential for us to connect a quantum computer directly to a GPU supercomputer. This is the future of quantum computing" (Quantum Basel, 2025).
Quantum technology poses threats and opportunities:
Threat: Large-scale quantum computers will break current encryption (RSA, ECC), threatening digital security.
Opportunity: Quantum key distribution provides unbreakable communication, and post-quantum cryptography algorithms resist quantum attacks.
Organizations must implement quantum-safe cryptography now. The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act emphasizes this urgency (TQI, December 30, 2025).
Climate and Energy
Quantum sensing measures environmental changes with extreme precision. Applications include:
Monitoring greenhouse gas emissions
Tracking ice sheet melting
Optimizing renewable energy grids
Discovering new catalysts for carbon capture
Defense and National Security
Governments worldwide recognize quantum technology's strategic importance. Over $54 billion in cumulative public commitments have been made globally (Crisp Idea, January 8, 2026). Applications include:
Secure military communications
GPS-denied navigation (Q-CTRL achieved 100x improvement)
Submarine detection (quantum magnetometers)
Encrypted command and control systems
Challenges and Limitations
Despite rapid progress, quantum technology faces significant obstacles.
Technical Challenges
Decoherence: Quantum states collapse when they interact with the environment. Maintaining coherence requires extreme isolation—often cooling to near absolute zero and shielding from electromagnetic interference.
Error Rates: Even with recent progress, quantum operations still generate errors. Building fault-tolerant systems requires overhead—many physical qubits encode each logical qubit.
Scalability: Growing from hundreds to millions of qubits poses engineering challenges: control systems become exponentially complex, cooling requirements intensify, and manufacturing consistency matters.
Limited Connectivity: Not all qubits can directly interact. Operations between distant qubits require intermediary steps, adding time and error.
Commercial Challenges
Cost: Quantum computers are expensive. Dilution refrigerators cost millions. Specialized equipment and expertise add more. While costs are decreasing, widespread adoption requires further reduction.
Talent Shortage: In 2025, demand for quantum-skilled workers is approximately 10,000, but supply is under 5,000. By 2030, the industry expects to create 250,000 new jobs; by 2035, 840,000 jobs (Brian D. Colwell, October 22, 2025).
Unclear Timelines: Predicting when specific quantum advantages will emerge remains difficult. Nvidia's Jensen Huang suggested quantum computing is 15-30 years from being "really useful," sparking debate (Constellation Research, December 29, 2025).
Application Development: Quantum algorithms are fundamentally different from classical algorithms. Developers must learn new programming paradigms, and identifying problems where quantum provides advantage requires expertise.
Infrastructure Requirements
Hybrid Architectures: Most useful quantum applications will combine quantum and classical computing. Organizations need integration strategies, data transfer protocols, and workflow orchestration.
Data Center Integration: Quantum computers benefit from co-location with high-performance computing resources to minimize latency and enable tight integration.
Quantum Internet: Connecting quantum computers requires quantum repeaters, quantum memory, and entanglement distribution—technologies still maturing.
Regulatory and Ethical Considerations
Cryptography Transition: Governments and industries must migrate to quantum-safe cryptography before powerful quantum computers arrive—"Q-Day."
Access and Equity: As quantum technology develops, ensuring broad access rather than concentration among wealthy nations and corporations presents challenges.
Responsible Development: Quantum sensing's surveillance capabilities and quantum computing's code-breaking potential raise ethical questions requiring thoughtful governance.
Market Size and Investment Trends
Global Market Projections
Multiple research firms project robust growth:
McKinsey (June 2025): Global quantum technology market could reach $97 billion by 2035 ($28-72 billion for computing, $11-15 billion for communication, $7-10 billion for sensing) and $198 billion by 2040.
Conservative estimates: $1.88 billion in 2025, growing to $4.89 billion by 2029—a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.7% (SpinQ, 2025).
Aggressive forecasts: $1.8-3.5 billion in 2025, reaching $20.2 billion by 2030 (CAGR of 41.8%) (SpinQ, 2025).
Broader projections: The collective quantum technology market could reach $99.34 billion by 2035 (SpinQ, 2025).
Investment Surge
2024 Investment: Nearly $2 billion poured into quantum technology startups worldwide—a 50% increase from $1.3 billion in 2023 (McKinsey, June 2025).
Private vs Public: Private sector funding (venture capital and private equity) accounted for approximately 66% of total investment, while government funding comprised 34% (McKinsey, June 2025).
Concentration: Two late-stage startups—PsiQuantum and Quantinuum—received half of total 2024 investment, reflecting investor confidence in mature companies (McKinsey, June 2025).
2025 Acceleration: The first three quarters of 2025 saw $1.25 billion in quantum technology investments, more than doubling previous year figures (SpinQ, 2025).
Government Commitments
By April 2025, global public quantum commitments exceeded $10 billion (Quantum Basel, 2025):
Japan: $7.4 billion announced in 2025 (McKinsey, June 2025)
Spain: $900 million commitment in 2025 (McKinsey, June 2025)
Australia: $620 million to PsiQuantum for building a utility-scale quantum computer (McKinsey, June 2025)
United States: Illinois announced $500 million for a quantum park. The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act would authorize $2.7 billion over five years (McKinsey, June 2025; GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025).
Singapore: $222 million investment in quantum research and talent in 2024 (McKinsey, June 2025)
China: Plans to mobilize 1 trillion yuan ($138.01 billion) into quantum and cutting-edge technologies (GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025)
European Union: €1 billion Quantum Flagship program over ten years (SpinQ, 2025)
Regional Distribution
North America leads with over 40% market share, driven by tech giants and government investment (SpinQ, 2025).
Asia-Pacific shows rapid expansion, particularly in China and Singapore. Five of 19 new quantum startups founded in 2024 were Asia-based (McKinsey, June 2025).
Europe pursues coordinated efforts through the Quantum Flagship and individual national strategies.
Startup Ecosystem
Start-up creation increased 42% between 2023 and 2024, predominantly in the European Union and Asia (McKinsey, 2025). Venture funding surpassed $2 billion in early 2025.
Notable funding rounds include:
IonQ's $2 billion equity offering to fortify its balance sheet (Constellation Research, December 29, 2025)
Quantum Computing Inc.'s $750 million private placement (Constellation Research, December 29, 2025)
Q-CTRL's $59 million Series B-2 round (GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025)
QSENSATO's €500,000 pre-seed funding (GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025)
Aquark Technologies' €5 million seed funding led by NATO Innovation Fund (GlobeNewswire, August 20, 2025)
Stock Market Performance
Quantum computing stocks saw significant rallies in late 2024 and 2025:
D-Wave: Up 356%
Rigetti: Up 200%
IonQ: Up 50%
(Constellation Research, December 29, 2025)
Revenue Growth
Quantum computing companies generated $650-750 million in 2024 and are expected to exceed $1 billion in 2025—the first time crossing this threshold (McKinsey, June 2025).
Average deal sizes evolved from $48 million in 2021 to $19 million in 2024, indicating market diversification and price normalization (Quantum Basel, 2025).
Myths vs Facts
Myth: Quantum computers will replace classical computers for everyday tasks.
Fact: Quantum computers excel at specific problems—simulation, optimization, cryptography. They won't replace laptops for email, web browsing, or word processing. The future is hybrid: quantum and classical computers working together (California Management Review, July 14, 2025).
Myth: Quantum computing is science fiction and won't arrive for decades.
Fact: Quantum computers exist now. Companies deploy them in commercial applications. Ford Otosan uses D-Wave for production scheduling. HSBC uses IBM's quantum computer for bond trading. While fault-tolerant, large-scale systems remain years away, useful applications are already emerging (Network World, November 19, 2025).
Myth: Quantum supremacy means quantum computers are now superior to classical computers.
Fact: "Quantum supremacy" (or "quantum advantage") means a quantum computer solved a specific problem faster than any classical computer could. It doesn't mean quantum computers are universally faster. Classical computers remain superior for most tasks (NIST, August 2025).
Myth: Quantum computers will instantly break all encryption.
Fact: Quantum computers will eventually threaten certain encryption types (RSA, ECC). But experts estimate this requires fault-tolerant quantum computers with millions of qubits—still years away. Organizations have time to transition to quantum-safe cryptography. Post-quantum cryptography standards are already available from NIST (McKinsey, June 2025).
Myth: Quantum technology is only for tech companies and governments.
Fact: Quantum-as-a-Service platforms from IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and others make quantum computing accessible to any organization via cloud access. Applications span industries from pharmaceuticals to logistics to finance (SpinQ, 2025).
Myth: Quantum sensors are just more accurate versions of classical sensors.
Fact: Quantum sensors measure properties classical sensors can't detect at all. They exploit quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement to achieve sensitivities orders of magnitude beyond classical limits—not just incremental improvements (SpinQ, 2025).
Future Outlook: What's Coming Next
Near-Term (2026-2028)
Error-Corrected Systems: More companies will demonstrate below-threshold error correction, moving toward Level 2 quantum computers (small error-corrected machines) (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025).
Increased Qubit Counts: Fujitsu targets 1,000 qubits by 2026. IBM's roadmap includes multi-chip systems exceeding 4,000 qubits. Neutral-atom platforms may reach thousands of qubits (SpinQ, 2025).
Quantum-Classical Hybrids: Integration between quantum processors, GPUs, and CPUs will tighten. Nvidia's shift toward quantum-GPU hybrids signals this trend (Quantum Basel, 2025).
Industry-Specific Solutions: Expect tailored quantum solutions for pharmaceuticals, finance, logistics, and materials science with demonstrated advantages over classical methods.
Quantum Sensing Commercialization: Room-temperature quantum sensors will expand into automotive, biomedical, and geological applications (TQI, December 30, 2025).
Post-Quantum Cryptography Adoption: Organizations will accelerate migration to quantum-safe encryption algorithms to prepare for Q-Day.
Medium-Term (2029-2035)
Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers: IBM targets 200 logical qubits by 2029. Google aims for error-corrected systems by 2029. These machines will tackle commercially relevant problems unfeasible for classical computers (SpinQ, 2025).
Quantum Internet: Networks will connect quantum computers, enabling distributed quantum computing and secure communication. Quantum repeaters and memory will mature (ScienceDirect, March 14, 2025).
$100 Billion Market: McKinsey projects the quantum technology market could reach $97 billion by 2035 across computing, sensing, and communication (McKinsey, June 2025).
Workforce Expansion: The industry expects to create 250,000 jobs by 2030 and 840,000 by 2035 (Brian D. Colwell, October 22, 2025).
Regulatory Frameworks: Governments will implement standards for quantum technology, addressing security, privacy, and ethical concerns.
Long-Term (2035-2040+)
Universal Quantum Computers: Million-qubit, fault-tolerant systems capable of running arbitrary quantum algorithms at scale.
$198 Billion Market: McKinsey projects the total quantum technology market could reach $198 billion by 2040 (McKinsey, June 2025).
Scientific Breakthroughs: Quantum computers will solve problems currently beyond imagination—designing new materials, understanding complex biological systems, simulating quantum chemistry, and advancing fundamental physics.
Quantum AI: Deep integration between quantum computing and artificial intelligence could revolutionize machine learning, enabling breakthroughs in natural language processing, computer vision, and decision-making.
Climate Solutions: Quantum technology might contribute to solving climate change through better carbon capture materials, optimized renewable energy systems, and accurate climate modeling.
Expert Perspectives
Fred Chong (University of Chicago): "I think we're very comfortably in the era of escape velocity" regarding quantum error correction progress (Network World, November 19, 2025).
David Awschalom (University of Chicago): "This transformative moment in quantum technology is reminiscent of the transistor's earliest days. The foundational physics concepts are established, functional systems exist, and now we must nurture the partnerships and coordinated efforts necessary to achieve the technology's full, utility-scale potential" (ScienceDaily, January 27, 2026).
McKinsey: "For the first time since McKinsey began monitoring the QT market four years ago, we see a shift from development to deployment" (McKinsey, June 2025).
FAQ
1. What is quantum technology in simple terms?
Quantum technology uses quantum mechanics principles—like superposition (existing in multiple states at once) and entanglement (instant connections between particles)—to create devices that process information, sense physical properties, and communicate data in ways impossible for classical technology.
2. How does quantum computing differ from classical computing?
Classical computers use bits that are either 0 or 1. Quantum computers use qubits that can be 0, 1, or both simultaneously (superposition), enabling parallel processing of multiple calculations. This exponential capacity makes quantum computers vastly faster for specific problems like simulation and optimization.
3. Are quantum computers available now?
Yes. Companies including IBM, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, IonQ, D-Wave, and others offer cloud-based access to quantum computers. Several organizations have deployed quantum systems on-premises. However, current systems are still limited in capability compared to future fault-tolerant quantum computers.
4. What problems can quantum computers solve that classical computers cannot?
Quantum computers excel at: simulating molecular interactions for drug discovery and materials science; solving complex optimization problems with millions of variables; breaking certain encryption schemes (prompting quantum-safe cryptography); and accelerating machine learning training. They don't replace classical computers but complement them for specialized tasks.
5. When will quantum computers break current encryption?
Experts estimate that breaking widely-used encryption (RSA, ECC) requires fault-tolerant quantum computers with millions of qubits—likely 5-15 years away. Organizations have time to transition to post-quantum cryptography. NIST released quantum-resistant encryption standards in 2024.
6. What is quantum sensing used for?
Quantum sensing achieves ultra-precise measurements of magnetic fields, gravity, time, temperature, and rotation. Applications include medical brain imaging, geological surveys for minerals and water, GPS-denied navigation, fundamental physics research, and underground structure detection.
7. How does quantum communication provide unbreakable security?
Quantum key distribution (QKD) uses quantum particles (typically photons) to create encryption keys. The laws of quantum mechanics ensure any eavesdropping attempt disturbs the quantum states, revealing the intrusion. This provides security guaranteed by physics, not just mathematical complexity.
8. How much does quantum technology cost?
Costs vary widely. Quantum computers range from millions for small research systems to tens of millions for large installations. However, Quantum-as-a-Service platforms offer cloud access starting at hundreds or thousands of dollars per hour, making experimentation affordable. Quantum sensors vary from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on application.
9. What companies lead in quantum technology?
Major players include IBM, Google, Microsoft, Amazon (cloud access), IonQ (trapped ions), Rigetti (superconducting), D-Wave (annealing), Quantinuum (trapped ions), PsiQuantum (photonics), Atom Computing (neutral atoms), QuEra (neutral atoms), Q-CTRL (quantum control software), and numerous startups.
10. Can I learn quantum computing without a physics degree?
Yes. Many online courses, tutorials, and platforms (IBM Quantum Experience, Microsoft Azure Quantum, Amazon Braket) provide accessible introductions. Programming quantum computers uses frameworks like Qiskit, Cirq, and Q# that don't require deep physics knowledge to start. Understanding improves with practice and study.
11. What is the 2025 International Year of Quantum?
The United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, celebrating 100 years since quantum mechanics' initial development. The year-long initiative included global activities to raise awareness of quantum science's importance and impact (IYQ 2025, August 19, 2025).
12. What is a qubit?
A qubit (quantum bit) is the basic unit of quantum information. Unlike a classical bit (0 or 1), a qubit can exist in superposition—0, 1, or both simultaneously. Qubits can be implemented using various physical systems including superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral atoms, photons, or electron spins.
13. What is quantum entanglement?
Quantum entanglement occurs when quantum particles become linked so that measuring one instantly affects the other, regardless of distance. This "spooky action at a distance" enables quantum communication security and coordinated operations across multiple qubits in quantum computers.
14. What industries will quantum technology impact most?
Early impacts appear in pharmaceuticals (drug discovery), finance (risk modeling, portfolio optimization), logistics (scheduling, routing), materials science (new materials design), cybersecurity (quantum-safe encryption), and defense (secure communications, sensing). Healthcare, climate science, and artificial intelligence will also see significant effects.
15. How long before quantum technology affects everyday life?
Some impacts are already here: quantum sensors in navigation systems, quantum-inspired optimization in logistics, and early quantum computing applications in specialized industries. Widespread impact on everyday life—like quantum-secured internet banking or quantum-designed pharmaceuticals—will arrive gradually over the next 5-15 years.
16. What is quantum error correction?
Quantum error correction uses multiple physical qubits to encode each logical qubit, detecting and correcting errors without destroying quantum information. Recent breakthroughs showed error rates decreasing as more physical qubits are added—"below threshold" error correction—proving fault-tolerant quantum computers are achievable (IEEE Spectrum, December 26, 2025).
17. Can quantum computers run traditional software?
No. Quantum computers require quantum algorithms specifically designed for quantum mechanics principles. However, hybrid systems combine quantum and classical computing, using each for tasks where it excels. Most practical applications will use this hybrid approach.
18. What is Quantum-as-a-Service?
Quantum-as-a-Service (QaaS) provides cloud-based access to quantum computers without buying hardware. Users access quantum processors through platforms like IBM Quantum, Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure Quantum, or Google Cloud, paying for usage time. This democratizes quantum computing access.
19. How accurate are current quantum computers?
Current quantum computers (NISQ era—Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) have error rates limiting calculation length and complexity. However, recent breakthroughs achieved error rates as low as 0.000015% per operation (SpinQ, 2025). Error-corrected systems arriving in 2026-2027 will dramatically improve reliability.
20. Should my organization invest in quantum technology now?
Organizations should start preparing even if commercial quantum advantage seems years away. Actions include: understanding which problems quantum might solve in your industry; experimenting with cloud quantum platforms; training staff in quantum concepts; partnering with quantum companies; and transitioning to quantum-safe cryptography. Early preparation provides competitive advantage when quantum technology matures (IBM, December 8, 2025).
Key Takeaways
Quantum technology harnesses quantum mechanics to create devices fundamentally different from classical technology, offering exponential computational power, ultra-precise sensing, and unbreakable communication security.
Three pillars—quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication—are all progressing rapidly, with the market projected to reach $97 billion by 2035 and $198 billion by 2040 according to McKinsey.
Real commercial applications already exist: Ford Otosan reduced scheduling time 360-fold, HSBC improved bond trading predictions by 34%, and IonQ achieved 12% advantage in medical device simulation over classical methods.
Major breakthroughs in 2025 included Google's below-threshold error correction (Willow chip), room-temperature quantum communication devices (Stanford), and the first commercial quantum sensing advantage (Q-CTRL's GPS-denied navigation).
Investment surged to nearly $2 billion in 2024 (50% increase) with another $1.25 billion in early 2025. Governments committed over $10 billion by April 2025, led by Japan's $7.4 billion and Australia's $620 million investments.
Current limitations include fragile quantum states requiring extreme cooling, high error rates needing correction, talent shortages (10,000 workers needed but only 5,000 available), and uncertain timelines for some applications.
Organizations should prepare now through cloud experimentation, staff training, partnerships with quantum companies, and transitioning to post-quantum cryptography—well before fault-tolerant quantum computers arrive.
The United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, celebrating 100 years of quantum mechanics and raising global awareness of the field's importance.
Quantum-as-a-Service platforms from IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and others democratize access, allowing any organization to experiment with quantum computing without massive hardware investments.
The technology has reached its "transistor moment"—foundational physics established, functional systems exist, and commercial deployment is beginning, though widespread transformation still requires years of development.
Actionable Next Steps
Assess Relevance to Your Industry: Research how quantum technology might impact your sector. Industries like pharmaceuticals, finance, logistics, materials science, and cybersecurity are seeing early applications. Identify specific problems quantum might solve better than classical approaches.
Experiment with Cloud Platforms: Access IBM Quantum Experience, Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure Quantum, or Google Cloud quantum services. Run basic quantum algorithms to understand capabilities and limitations firsthand. Many platforms offer free tiers for experimentation.
Begin Quantum-Safe Cryptography Transition: Audit your organization's encryption methods. Implement NIST's post-quantum cryptography standards for long-term data protection. Even if Q-Day is years away, data encrypted today could be vulnerable when quantum computers mature.
Invest in Education and Training: Enroll technical staff in quantum computing courses (Qiskit, Cirq, Microsoft's Q#). Build internal knowledge before quantum advantage arrives in your industry. Consider hiring quantum specialists or partnering with universities.
Join a Quantum Ecosystem: Explore IBM's Quantum Network, participate in quantum conferences, or engage with quantum startups. Ecosystems provide early access to developments, collaboration opportunities, and industry insights.
Monitor Technology Progress: Follow quantum technology news through sources like The Quantum Insider, McKinsey's Quantum Technology Monitor, and company announcements. Track which problems quantum computers solve first—these indicate where commercial value emerges.
Pilot Small Projects: Identify a specific problem suitable for quantum approaches (optimization, simulation, machine learning). Run a pilot comparing quantum and classical solutions. Measure performance, cost, and practical implementation challenges.
Establish Quantum Governance: Form a cross-functional team (IT, data science, business strategy) to develop your organization's quantum strategy. Define timelines, budget allocations, and success metrics. Align quantum initiatives with business objectives.
Explore Partnerships: Consider collaborations with quantum companies, cloud providers, or research institutions. Partnerships reduce risk, provide expertise, and accelerate learning without requiring massive internal investment.
Stay Informed on Standards: Follow quantum technology standardization efforts from organizations like NIST, IEEE, and ETSI. Standards will shape interoperability, security, and best practices as the field matures.
Glossary
Qubit (Quantum Bit): The basic unit of quantum information. Unlike a classical bit (0 or 1), a qubit can exist in superposition—0, 1, or both simultaneously.
Superposition: A quantum property where particles exist in multiple states simultaneously until measured. This enables quantum computers to process many calculations in parallel.
Entanglement: A quantum phenomenon where particles become correlated such that measuring one instantly affects the other, regardless of distance.
Quantum Computing: Technology that uses quantum mechanics principles to process information and solve specific problems exponentially faster than classical computers.
Quantum Sensing: Devices that exploit quantum properties to measure physical quantities (magnetic fields, gravity, time, temperature) with extreme precision.
Quantum Communication: Secure information transmission using quantum properties, particularly quantum key distribution (QKD) that detects eavesdropping attempts.
Decoherence: The loss of quantum properties when a quantum system interacts with its environment, causing errors in quantum computation.
Quantum Error Correction: Techniques using multiple physical qubits to encode each logical qubit, detecting and correcting errors without destroying quantum information.
Logical Qubit: An error-corrected qubit encoded using multiple physical qubits, enabling longer, more accurate quantum calculations.
Physical Qubit: The actual hardware qubit (superconducting circuit, trapped ion, neutral atom, etc.) that's error-prone and requires error correction.
Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing: Quantum computers with error correction sufficient to run long, accurate calculations despite imperfect hardware.
NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum): Current-generation quantum computers with hundreds to thousands of qubits but high error rates limiting calculation complexity.
Quantum Advantage (Quantum Supremacy): When a quantum computer solves a problem faster than any classical computer could, demonstrating quantum computing's potential.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): A secure communication method using quantum states to create encryption keys that reveal eavesdropping attempts.
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): Encryption algorithms designed to resist attacks from quantum computers, running on classical hardware.
Q-Day: The hypothetical future date when quantum computers become powerful enough to break widely-used encryption schemes like RSA and ECC.
Quantum Annealing: A specialized quantum computing approach optimized for solving optimization problems, used by D-Wave systems.
Quantum Algorithm: A step-by-step procedure designed to run on quantum computers, exploiting quantum properties like superposition and interference.
Coherence Time: How long a quantum system maintains superposition before decoherence occurs. Longer coherence times enable more complex calculations.
Quantum Gate: An operation that transforms qubit states, analogous to logic gates in classical computers but using quantum mechanics principles.
Bell's Inequality: A mathematical theorem that distinguishes quantum correlations from classical correlations, used to verify entanglement.
Quantum Interference: The amplification or cancellation of quantum states, used in quantum algorithms to enhance correct answers while suppressing incorrect ones.
Quantum-as-a-Service (QaaS): Cloud-based access to quantum computers without purchasing hardware, offered by IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and others.
Superconducting Qubit: A qubit implemented using superconducting circuits cooled to near absolute zero, used by IBM, Google, and Rigetti.
Trapped Ion Qubit: A qubit using individual ions confined by electromagnetic fields, used by IonQ and Quantinuum.
Neutral Atom Qubit: A qubit using neutral atoms trapped by optical tweezers, used by Atom Computing and QuEra.
Topological Qubit: A theoretical qubit type based on exotic particles called anyons, potentially offering extreme stability. Microsoft's Majorana 1 chip represents progress in this approach.
Sources & References
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