A New Turning Point in Quantum Computing Commercialization: Strategic Competition Among Global Companies Accelerates by 2026
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A New Phase in the Quantum Computing Commercialization Race
At the beginning of 2026, the quantum computing industry is reaching a historic turning point. After a decade of remaining at the laboratory level, quantum computing technology is finally entering the stage of practical business applications, intensifying the competition among global tech companies to unprecedented levels. According to IDC’s latest report, the global quantum computing market size is projected to grow from $1.8 billion in 2025 to $10.7 billion by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 48.2%. This explosive growth is driven by the increasing practical use cases of quantum computing across various industries such as finance, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and cybersecurity.
A particularly noteworthy change is the significant improvement in the accessibility of quantum computing technology. IBM, headquartered in New York, officially launched its commercial service for the 1,000-qubit quantum processor ‘Condor’ at the end of 2025, with over 200 companies and research institutions worldwide now utilizing quantum computing services through the IBM Quantum Network. Alphabet, the parent company of Google based in Mountain View, California, is also expanding its cloud quantum computing services based on its quantum processor ‘Willow,’ reporting a 340% increase in usage compared to the previous year as of the fourth quarter of 2025. The spread of these cloud-based quantum computing services is allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to benefit from quantum computing at relatively low costs, playing a decisive role in expanding the market base.
One of the key factors driving the practical application of quantum computing technology is the revolutionary advancement in error correction technology. The instability of quantum states and high error rates, which were the biggest limitations of existing quantum computers, are being significantly resolved through new algorithms and hardware improvements. According to a January 2026 analysis by MIT Technology Review, the average error rate of currently commercialized quantum computers has improved to around 0.1%, ensuring sufficient accuracy for solving real business problems. This is more than a tenfold improvement compared to the 1% error rate in 2022, and it is considered a technological breakthrough that greatly enhances the practicality of quantum computing.
Simultaneously, there has been significant progress in the miniaturization and stabilization of quantum computing hardware. Traditionally, quantum computers required extremely low-temperature environments close to absolute zero, but recently, quantum computing technologies that operate at room temperature are emerging. A silicon-based quantum chip developed by a research team at the University of Sydney in Australia can maintain a stable quantum state even at room temperature, demonstrating the possibility of operating quantum computers in data centers or general office environments. This technological advancement significantly reduces the operational costs of quantum computing and increases accessibility, acting as a key driver for accelerating commercialization.
Strategic Positioning and Competitive Landscape of Global Companies
The most intense competition in the quantum computing market is among the major U.S. tech companies. IBM, leveraging the quantum computing ecosystem it has built since 2019, maintains the top position with a 32% market share. IBM’s strategy focuses on quantum computing software and platforms rather than hardware manufacturing, with its Qiskit open-source framework becoming the most widely used tool among quantum computing developers worldwide. According to IBM’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report, revenue related to quantum computing increased by 180% year-over-year to $470 million, with a target to surpass $1 billion in 2026.
Google’s Alphabet is taking a somewhat different approach. After announcing the achievement of ‘quantum supremacy’ in 2019, Google has focused on demonstrating the practicality of quantum computing in specific application areas. In particular, Google’s quantum computers have shown performance thousands of times faster than existing supercomputers in machine learning and optimization problem-solving. Google Cloud’s quantum computing service revenue reached $230 million in 2025, with major clients including global manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Roche, and Bosch. These companies are using quantum computing to solve problems in battery material development, drug discovery, and supply chain optimization.
Microsoft is attempting differentiation through a unique topological quantum computing approach. Based in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft is pursuing a strategy of integrating services from various quantum computing hardware partners through its Azure Quantum cloud platform, rather than developing its own quantum computer hardware. Currently, major quantum computing hardware companies such as IonQ, Rigetti, and Honeywell are participating in the Azure Quantum platform, and as of 2025, the number of companies using the platform increased by 420% year-over-year to 850, according to Microsoft’s announcement.
The rapid rise of Chinese companies is also a noteworthy change. Baidu, headquartered in Beijing, is leading the quantum computing market in China with its self-developed quantum computer ‘Qian Yuan,’ while Alibaba is also increasing accessibility to quantum computing through its cloud services. With strong support from the Chinese government, China’s quantum computing market is showing rapid growth, accounting for 23% of the global market as of 2025. Particularly, the photon-based quantum computer ‘Jiuzhang,’ developed by the University of Science and Technology of China, has emerged as a new variable in the global quantum computing competition by outperforming Google’s quantum computer in specific computational problems.
In Europe, Germany and the Netherlands are leading the development of quantum computing technology. IQM Finland, based in Munich, Germany, has grown into the largest quantum computing hardware company in Europe, while QuTech, headquartered in Delft, the Netherlands, possesses world-class competitiveness in silicon-based quantum chip technology. The European Union is accelerating the establishment of a quantum computing ecosystem in Europe through the ‘Quantum Flagship’ program, which began in 2021 with a 10-year investment of 1 billion euros.
Strategies and Market Opportunities for Korean Companies in Quantum Computing
In Korea, interest and investment in the field of quantum computing are rapidly increasing. Samsung Electronics began full-scale quantum computing research and development in 2024, focusing on the development of quantum chips utilizing its semiconductor manufacturing technology. Samsung Electronics’ DS (Device Solutions) division invested 320 billion won in quantum computing R&D in 2025, a 250% increase from the previous year, and is promoting the development of next-generation quantum processors through joint research with Stanford University and MIT in the United States. A Samsung Electronics official predicted, “If we apply the precision and scaling technology of existing semiconductor manufacturing processes to the field of quantum computing, we can secure a significant competitive advantage.”
SK Hynix is also developing special memory for quantum computing based on its memory semiconductor technology. Quantum computers require a completely different type of memory system than existing computers, and SK Hynix is attempting to secure new growth drivers through the development of ultra-fast, ultra-low-power quantum memory. According to the roadmap announced by SK Hynix in 2025, the company aims to commercialize special memory for quantum computing by 2027, with plans to invest 180 billion won over the next three years.
The Korean government is also recognizing quantum computing as a next-generation growth engine and is implementing active support policies. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it would invest a total of 480 billion won by 2031 through the ‘Quantum Computing Technology Development Project,’ which began in 2022, with 68 billion won to be invested in 2026, a 40% increase from the previous year. The core goals of this project are the development of a 1,000-qubit quantum computer by 2030 and the training of 1,000 quantum computing specialists. Major universities such as KAIST, Seoul National University, and POSTECH are currently establishing quantum computing research centers and focusing on training related personnel.
Korea’s quantum computing startup ecosystem is also showing active movements. Quantum computing startup ‘Qubridge,’ founded in 2023, raised 15 billion won in Series A funding and is focusing on developing quantum encryption solutions for the financial sector. Another startup, ‘Quniverse,’ is supporting the adoption of quantum computing by domestic companies through the development of quantum computing simulation software, achieving 5 billion won in revenue in 2025 and showing rapid growth. The growth of these startups indicates that while Korea is a latecomer in the field of quantum computing, there is potential to secure competitiveness in specific areas.
Particularly, the field that Korean companies are focusing on is the convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Samsung Electronics is promoting the development of a ‘Quantum-AI Hybrid Chip’ that combines its AI semiconductor technology with quantum computing, expecting to dramatically enhance existing AI processing performance. Naver is also considering integrating quantum computing services into its cloud platform, with a goal to launch a beta service in the second half of 2026. These movements show that Korean IT companies are recognizing quantum computing as a practical business opportunity rather than just a research topic.
With the rapid growth of the quantum computing industry, new challenges are also emerging. The biggest issue remains the high technical complexity and shortage of specialized personnel. Globally, the number of quantum computing specialists is estimated to be around 15,000, but market demand already far exceeds this. According to McKinsey’s 2025 report, approximately 50,000 quantum computing specialists will be needed worldwide by 2030, but the current education system is unlikely to meet this demand. This shortage of personnel is causing the salaries of quantum computing technicians to rise rapidly by 15-20% annually, intensifying the competition among companies to secure talent.
Another important challenge is the security vulnerability of quantum computing. The powerful computational capabilities of quantum computers can render existing encryption systems ineffective, posing a new threat in the field of cybersecurity. Although the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the Post-Quantum Cryptography standard in 2024, actual implementation and application are expected to require considerable time and cost. These security issues are particularly delaying the adoption of quantum computing in fields where security is crucial, such as finance, defense, and healthcare. However, with the advancement of quantum encryption communication technology, there is also a growing possibility of resolving these issues, necessitating balanced development across the entire quantum computing ecosystem.
Going forward, the quantum computing industry is expected to develop in a more segmented and specialized direction. In the financial sector, specialized quantum computing solutions are emerging for portfolio optimization and risk analysis, in the pharmaceutical sector for drug discovery and molecular simulation, and in the logistics sector for route optimization and supply chain management. This vertical specialization is expected to increase the maturity of the quantum computing market and act as a key driver for accelerating the creation of real business value. As of 2026, the quantum computing industry stands at a turning point from technological possibility to commercial reality, and the pace and direction of development in this field over the next five years are expected to lead changes in the global technological paradigm.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or solicitation. Investment decisions should be made based on individual judgment and responsibility.
