Accelerating the Commercialization of Quantum Computing: Global Market Trends and Investment Outlook for 2026
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Rapid Growth and Commercialization Signals in the Quantum Computing Market
As of early 2026, the global quantum computing market is exhibiting a different trend than before. According to the latest report from market research firm IDC, the global quantum computing market size was $1.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow by 44.4% to $2.6 billion in 2026. This figure more than doubles the $1.25 billion recorded in 2024 within just two years, which industry experts interpret as a signal that quantum computing is entering the practical application phase from the research stage.
Particularly noteworthy is the change in corporate investment patterns. According to a December 2025 report by McKinsey Global Institute, global corporate investments in quantum computing increased by 67% year-over-year to $4.5 billion. The financial services sector accounted for 32% of total investments, emerging as the most active investor, followed by the pharmaceutical and biotech sector at 28%, and the logistics and optimization sector at 21%. This increase in investment indicates that quantum computing technology is beginning to show a practical advantage over traditional computers in solving specific problems.
IBM, headquartered in New York, significantly enhanced the potential for achieving Quantum Advantage with its 1,121-qubit ‘Condor’ processor announced in October 2025. The number of companies participating in IBM’s quantum network increased by 70% from 200 in 2024 to 340 by the end of 2025, with their cumulative investment amounting to $820 million. Jay Gambetta, Vice President of IBM’s Quantum Division, predicted, “2026 will be the first year quantum computing surpasses traditional supercomputers in solving specific practical problems.”
Google, based in Mountain View, California, also made groundbreaking progress in quantum error correction with its ‘Willow’ chip announced in December 2025. Although Google’s Willow chip is smaller at 105 qubits compared to IBM’s, it successfully reduced the error rate by 50%. Hartmut Neven, Director of Google’s AI Quantum Team, stated, “We plan to unveil a next-generation processor with 1,000 qubits in the first half of 2026,” adding that “this will enable practical applications in fields such as cryptography and drug development.”
Strategic Positioning and Competitive Landscape of Global Companies
As competition among companies in the quantum computing market intensifies, each company’s approach and strategy are distinctly differentiated. Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, is focusing on topological qubit technology, setting itself apart. Microsoft’s Azure Quantum cloud service recorded a 180% increase in users to 120,000 in 2025 compared to the previous year, with an average of 3.4 million processing tasks per month. Krista Svore, Vice President of Microsoft’s Quantum Team, announced plans to enhance the stability of quantum computers by 1,000 times by 2027 through the commercialization of topological qubit technology.
Honeywell, now spun off as Quantinuum and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has secured a unique position in ion trap-based quantum computers. Quantinuum’s H-Series quantum computer, though smaller at 56 qubits compared to others, achieved a quantum volume of 65,536, demonstrating superior practical performance. The number of companies partnering with Quantinuum increased by 220% to 89 in 2025 compared to the previous year, generating $230 million in revenue from these partnerships.
Korean companies are also increasing their presence in the quantum computing market. Samsung Electronics, headquartered in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, announced in November 2025 a five-year investment of 1.2 trillion won in developing semiconductor chips for quantum computing. Samsung is developing 3-nanometer process technology for quantum processors in partnership with IBM, aiming for mass production in the second half of 2026. Jeong Eun-seung, President of Samsung’s Semiconductor Division, projected, “The semiconductor market for quantum computing will form a $5 billion annual market by 2030, with Samsung securing over 30% market share.”
Chinese companies are also making notable progress. Baidu, headquartered in Beijing, launched a 36-qubit quantum cloud service with its self-developed ‘Qilian’ quantum computer in August 2025. Within five months of its launch, Baidu’s quantum cloud service was used by over 1,200 companies and research institutions in China, with cumulative processing tasks exceeding 2.8 million. Wei Dong, General Manager of Baidu’s AI Cloud Division, stated, “The Chinese quantum computing market is expected to reach $800 million by 2026, with Baidu aiming for a 25% market share.”
Expansion of Practical Applications and Investment Opportunities
As the practical applications of quantum computing become visible, specific industries are showing tangible results. In the financial sector, JPMorgan Chase began applying a portfolio optimization system utilizing IBM’s quantum computer in September 2025. This system analyzes over 10,000 financial products simultaneously to calculate the optimal investment combination, reducing processing time by 75% compared to traditional supercomputers. Marco Pistoia, Head of JPMorgan’s Quantum Research Lab, explained, “The accuracy of risk calculations through quantum computing has improved by 40% compared to the past,” adding that “15% of total trading volume will be processed using quantum algorithms by 2026.”
Innovative results are also emerging in the pharmaceutical sector. Roche, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is conducting a project to discover candidate substances for Alzheimer’s treatment using Google’s quantum computer. This project, which began in June 2025, has analyzed 12 million molecular structures to date, selecting 15 promising candidates at a speed 100 times faster than traditional methods. James Sabba, Vice President of Roche’s Research and Development Division, predicted, “Quantum computing could reduce the drug development period by an average of three years, resulting in an annual cost-saving effect of $5 billion.”
In the logistics optimization field, DHL, headquartered in Bonn, Germany, is showing remarkable results. DHL has built a global delivery route optimization system using Microsoft’s Azure Quantum and has been piloting it on the Asia-Europe route since October 2025. This system analyzes over 50,000 delivery routes simultaneously to propose the optimal route, reducing average delivery time by 12% and fuel costs by 18%. Matthias Heitmann, DHL’s Global CTO, announced plans to expand the quantum optimization system to major global delivery networks by 2026, targeting an annual cost saving of $800 million.
The impact of these practical achievements on the investment market is also significant. According to an analysis by venture capital specialist CB Insights, total investment in quantum computing startups reached $2.3 billion in 2025, an 89% increase from the previous year. Investments in quantum software and algorithm development companies accounted for 45% of the total, the most active, followed by quantum hardware companies at 35% and quantum cloud service companies at 20%. Silicon Valley’s leading VC, Andreessen Horowitz, announced the creation of a $1.5 billion fund dedicated to quantum computing in December 2025, with partner Martin Casado predicting, “Quantum computing will enter a full-scale monetization phase from 2026.”
Government support is also expanding. The U.S. government announced in November 2025 that it would invest $12 billion in federal budgets for quantum technology development over the next five years through the ‘National Quantum Initiative 2.0’. The Chinese government also decided to invest $15 billion in quantum technology as part of its 14th Five-Year Plan, while the European Union plans to invest €10 billion through the ‘Quantum Flagship’ program. The Korean government announced the ‘K-Quantum 2030’ plan in December 2025, aiming to invest 2 trillion won over 10 years to become a quantum computing powerhouse.
However, challenges remain alongside the growth of the quantum computing market. The biggest hurdles are still high error rates and short coherence times. The average error rate of currently commercialized quantum computers is between 0.1% and 1%, and experts agree that it needs to be reduced to below 0.01% for practical applications. Additionally, the cost of maintaining the ultra-low temperature environment (-273°C) required for operating quantum computers amounts to millions of dollars annually, making economic viability a crucial issue. Professor Peter Shor of MIT’s Quantum Engineering Center analyzed, “With the current level of technology, it is difficult for quantum computers to replace traditional computers in all fields,” suggesting that they are more likely to develop in a form specialized for solving specific problems.
The shortage of talent is also a serious issue. According to a 2025 survey by Deloitte, the global demand for quantum computing professionals is estimated at around 150,000, but the actual supply is only about 25,000, showing a sixfold shortage. As a result, the average salary for quantum computing experts has risen to $250,000 in the U.S., and major companies are competing to secure talent. IBM has formed partnerships with 100 universities worldwide for quantum computing education programs in 2025, while Google is training 200 quantum computing experts annually through its own ‘Quantum AI Residency’ program.
In summary, despite technical limitations, the outlook for the quantum computing market in 2026 suggests that market growth will accelerate as practical applications in specific fields become more widespread. Gartner predicted that by the end of 2026, 40% of the global top 500 companies will use quantum computing technology in some of their operations, a significant increase from 15% in 2025. Innovative solutions leveraging quantum advantage are expected to emerge, particularly in the finance, pharmaceutical, logistics, and energy sectors, which is likely to have a positive impact on the stock prices of related companies. For investors, it will be important to carefully analyze the pace of quantum computing technology commercialization, the technical competitiveness of each company, and the potential for actual monetization when making investment decisions.
