Accelerating the Commercialization of Quantum Computing: Analyzing the Industry Turning Point and Investment Opportunities in 2026
Editor
As of February 2026, the quantum computing industry is at a significant turning point. After more than a decade of theoretical research and foundational experiments, quantum computing technology is finally proving its commercial viability and beginning to establish practical business models. According to market research firm Gartner, the global quantum computing market size reached $1.3 billion in 2026, marking a 32% growth from the previous year. It is projected to grow at an annual rate of 38% to reach $6.4 billion by 2030. This rapid growth is driven by improvements in quantum hardware stability, the practical application of quantum algorithms, and the popularization of cloud-based quantum computing services.
Notably, quantum computing is increasingly being recognized as a tool for solving real industrial problems rather than just a field of pure research. A recent report by Goldman Sachs analyzed that quantum computing is delivering performance improvements of 10-100 times over traditional supercomputers in financial portfolio optimization, risk analysis, and high-frequency trading. In the pharmaceutical industry, Roche and Biogen announced that their drug development projects using quantum computing reduced molecular simulation times from six months to two weeks. As these concrete achievements accumulate, corporate investments in quantum computing are rapidly increasing.
The structural changes in the quantum computing ecosystem are also noteworthy. Previously, major tech companies like IBM, Google, and Microsoft focused on developing their own quantum computers. Now, a specialized ecosystem has formed, segmented into hardware manufacturers, software developers, cloud service providers, and application developers. According to IDC’s analysis, the quantum software and services market is expected to grow twice as fast as the hardware market from 2025 to 2026, indicating a shift in the industry’s focus from hardware to software and applications.
IBM, headquartered in Armonk, New York, is currently the leader in the quantum computing market. IBM’s quantum network includes over 200 companies and research institutions worldwide, processing an average of 500,000 quantum tasks per month as of Q4 2025. IBM’s latest quantum processor, ‘Condor,’ features 1,121 qubits and has reduced error rates to one-tenth of previous levels, significantly enhancing the potential for practical quantum computing. IBM announced that its quantum computing-related revenue in Q1 2026 increased by 78% year-on-year to $420 million, accounting for approximately 2.8% of its total revenue.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, is also demonstrating strong competitiveness in the quantum computing field. Google’s Quantum AI team unveiled a new quantum chip called ‘Willow’ in December 2025, claiming it performed 10^25 times faster than the most powerful supercomputers on specific problems. Google integrates quantum computing into the Google Cloud Platform, providing an environment where enterprise customers can easily utilize quantum algorithms. As of 2025, the number of companies using Google’s quantum computing services increased by 150% year-on-year to over 850, with an average service usage fee of $150,000 per month.
Microsoft is pursuing a differentiated approach with topological quantum computing. This method is expected to implement more stable quantum computing in the long term due to its stronger resistance to errors compared to traditional superconducting or ion trap methods. Microsoft offers an integrated platform through Azure Quantum cloud services, allowing access to various quantum hardware partners’ systems. As of Q4 2025, the platform had over 12,000 monthly active users. Microsoft’s Quantum Development Kit (QDK) provides an environment for developers to easily write and test quantum algorithms, contributing to the expansion of the quantum software ecosystem.
The Rise of Cloud-Based Quantum Computing Services
The most significant change in the commercialization of quantum computing is the spread of the cloud service model. Quantum computers require ultra-cold cooling facilities and precise control systems, making it difficult for individual companies to own them directly. However, cloud services allow companies to utilize quantum computing power as needed. Amazon Web Services (AWS) leads this trend with its Braket service, used by over 3,200 companies worldwide as of 2025. AWS partners with various quantum computing hardware providers like IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave, allowing customers to choose quantum systems that suit their needs.
The pricing structure of the cloud-based quantum computing market is also gradually standardizing. Most services currently charge per quantum task, with simple quantum algorithm executions costing $1-10 and complex optimization problem solutions costing $100-1,000. While this is still higher than traditional supercomputer rental costs, it is considered competitive given the overwhelming performance advantage in specific problems. Market experts predict that by around 2027, the cost of quantum computing services will fall to half of the current level.
The spread of cloud-based quantum computing services provides opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups to leverage quantum computing technology. The fintech startup Multiverse Computing signed contracts with major European banks for its portfolio optimization solution using quantum algorithms, recording $28 million in revenue in 2025. The biotech company ProteinQure raised $100 million in a Series B round for its molecular design platform using quantum computing. These cases demonstrate that quantum computing is no longer the exclusive domain of large corporations.
Intel holds a unique position in the quantum computing hardware field. Intel’s ‘Horse Ridge’ quantum control chip acts as a classical electronic device that controls quantum qubits, significantly improving the scalability of quantum computers. Intel is also developing silicon-based quantum qubit technology, which has the advantage of utilizing existing semiconductor manufacturing processes. This is considered a factor that increases the potential for mass production of quantum computers. Intel’s quantum computing-related R&D investment in 2025 increased by 45% year-on-year to $600 million.
Current Status of Quantum Computing Adoption by Industry and Investment Outlook
The financial services industry is emerging as the most proactive early adopter of quantum computing. JPMorgan Chase has been operating a risk analysis system using quantum computing since 2024, achieving a 90% reduction in computation time compared to traditional Monte Carlo simulations. Wells Fargo announced that it generated an additional $120 million in annual revenue through credit portfolio optimization using quantum algorithms. Buoyed by these achievements, global investment banks’ quantum computing investments exceeded $800 million in 2025, a 65% increase from the previous year.
The use of quantum computing is also becoming more prevalent in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. Quantum computing is demonstrating performance that surpasses the limitations of existing computing methodologies in areas such as molecular simulation, protein folding prediction, and drug candidate screening. Pfizer invested $300 million in a quantum computing-based drug development program in 2025 and announced significant progress in developing Alzheimer’s treatments. Johnson & Johnson invested $250 million in personalized medicine research using quantum computing. Industry experts predict that quantum computing could reduce drug development times from the current 10-15 years to 5-7 years.
The potential of quantum computing is also being proven in logistics and supply chain optimization. Volkswagen achieved a 20% reduction in traffic congestion in Beijing through a traffic flow optimization project using quantum computing. FedEx reported a 15% annual fuel cost reduction through quantum algorithm-based delivery route optimization. Amazon improved operational efficiency by 12% by adopting quantum computing for inventory management and delivery optimization in its logistics centers. As these real-world achievements accumulate, global logistics companies’ investments in quantum computing are soaring.
The application of quantum computing is expanding in the energy sector as well. Shell announced a 30% increase in oil discovery probability through quantum computing-based oil exploration data analysis. TotalEnergies significantly improved grid stability with a quantum algorithm-based renewable energy generation forecasting system. The use of quantum computing in battery material development is particularly noteworthy, with Tesla announcing that it reduced the development time for next-generation battery materials from three years to 18 months through quantum simulation. Energy industry investments in quantum computing exceeded $400 million in 2025 and are expected to increase by more than 50% in 2026.
However, the quantum computing industry faces several challenges. The most significant issues are the still high error rates and short coherence times. Even the highest-performing quantum computers currently have error rates of 0.1-1%, falling short of the sub-0.01% level required for practical quantum applications. Massive investments are being made in developing Quantum Error Correction technologies to address this, but a complete solution is expected to take another 3-5 years. Additionally, the shortage of quantum computing professionals is a serious issue, with only about 5,000 experts worldwide, posing a barrier to industry expansion.
From an investment perspective, the quantum computing market is still in its early stages but is considered to be on a clear growth trajectory. Venture capital and private equity investments in quantum computing startups reached $3.2 billion in 2025, a 28% increase from the previous year. Investments in quantum software and applications are surging, indicating a shift in investment patterns from hardware to software and services. Goldman Sachs recently evaluated that the valuations of publicly listed quantum computing companies remain attractive, projecting a potential annual stock price increase of 25-30% over the next 2-3 years.
Several important milestones are expected in the quantum computing industry in the second half of 2026. IBM has announced the launch of a 5,000-qubit quantum processor, and Google plans to unveil a commercial application that can demonstrate practical quantum advantage. Microsoft aims for the first commercial implementation of topological qubits. If these technological breakthroughs are realized, the growth acceleration of the quantum computing market is expected to increase further. Meanwhile, national strategies for quantum computing in China and the European Union are being formalized, intensifying global competition. For investors, it is a time to consider a portfolio strategy that balances technological risks and market opportunities.
—
*This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment solicitation or advice. Investment decisions should be made based on individual judgment and responsibility.*
