Acceleration of Quantum Computing Commercialization: Technological Innovations and Market Outlook for 2025
Editor
As of December 2025, the quantum computing industry is experiencing unprecedented technological breakthroughs. Following Google’s (California, USA) unveiling of the next-generation quantum chip ‘Willow’ in November, IBM (New York, USA) announced it would accelerate its roadmap for developing a 1,000-qubit quantum processor. These successive technological innovations are clear indicators that quantum computing is transitioning from the laboratory to the commercialization stage. According to market research firm McKinsey, the global quantum computing market size is expected to grow from $1.3 billion in 2024 to $10.6 billion in 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 34.8%.
Google’s Willow chip has achieved groundbreaking results in the field of quantum error correction. It has significantly improved the ‘quantum noise’ and ‘decoherence’ issues, which were the biggest hurdles for existing quantum computers, achieving a ‘sub-threshold’ state where the error rate decreases as the number of qubits increases. This is considered the first practical implementation of the quantum error correction theory proposed by Peter Shor in 1995. Google announced that using Willow, it completed calculations in just 5 minutes that would take billions of years with existing supercomputers, clearly demonstrating Quantum Supremacy.
Meanwhile, IBM announced plans to usher in the era of 1,000 qubits with its ‘Flamingo’ processor, scheduled for release in the first half of 2025. According to IBM’s quantum roadmap, they are pursuing a phased development from the 127-qubit ‘Eagle’ processor in 2024 to the 433-qubit ‘Osprey’, and then to the 1,121-qubit Flamingo. Particularly, IBM is focusing on developing practical quantum applications through a quantum-classical hybrid computing approach and has already established quantum computing partnerships with over 100 companies, including JPMorgan Chase, Daimler, and Roche.
Global Quantum Computing Competitive Landscape
The competition in the field of quantum computing is intensifying, primarily between the United States and China. In the US, major tech companies like IBM, Google, Microsoft (Washington), and Intel (California) are developing quantum computing technologies using different approaches. Microsoft is focusing on topological qubit technology and providing quantum computing services through its Azure Quantum cloud platform. As of 2024, Microsoft’s quantum computing division recorded a 65% increase in revenue from the previous year, reaching $420 million.
China is accelerating the development of quantum computing technology through large-scale state-led investments. The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) announced the 144-qubit photonic quantum computer ‘Jiuzhang 3.0’ at the end of 2024, claiming it achieved performance 10^24 times faster than existing supercomputers for specific problem-solving. Additionally, the Chinese government announced plans to invest $15 billion in the quantum technology sector from 2025 to 2030, significantly exceeding the US National Quantum Initiative (NQI) budget of $1.2 billion.
The European Union is also investing €1 billion over ten years through the ‘Quantum Flagship’ program to build a quantum technology ecosystem. Germany’s IQM (based in Helsinki, Finland) has commercialized a 20-qubit quantum processor, and the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is taking a leading position in developing diamond NV center-based quantum computers. The UK’s Oxford Ionics announced it achieved a 99.8% gate fidelity with its ion trap technology-based quantum computer.
South Korea is also showing rapid progress in the field of quantum computing. Samsung Electronics made significant advancements in quantum dot-based qubit technology in 2024 and aims to develop a prototype 5-qubit quantum processor by 2025. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have jointly embarked on developing an ion trap quantum computer, and the government has set a goal to develop a 1,000-qubit quantum computer by 2035 through the ‘K-Quantum Project’. SK Telecom has partnered with ID Quantique (Switzerland) to focus on commercializing quantum cryptography communication.
Commercialization Prospects and Industrial Applications
The commercialization of quantum computing is expected to bring transformative changes across various industries. In the financial services sector, quantum computing is being utilized for portfolio optimization, risk analysis, and derivative pricing. JPMorgan Chase, in collaboration with IBM, developed a quantum-based portfolio optimization algorithm, reducing calculation time by 90% compared to traditional methods. Goldman Sachs improved option pricing accuracy by 15% by running Monte Carlo simulations on a quantum computer.
In the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, the use of quantum computing is rapidly expanding in drug development and molecular simulation. Roche, in partnership with IBM, is using quantum computing for Alzheimer’s drug development, reducing candidate screening time by 70% compared to traditional methods. BASF collaborated with Google to apply quantum simulations in developing ammonia synthesis catalysts, successfully discovering new catalyst candidates. According to market research firm BCG, the economic impact of quantum computing on drug development is estimated to reach $60 billion annually by 2040.
The practical application of quantum computing is also expanding in logistics and optimization. Volkswagen used D-Wave’s (British Columbia, Canada) quantum annealer for a traffic optimization project in Beijing, achieving a 20% reduction in average travel time. Airbus developed an aircraft fuel efficiency optimization system using quantum computing, reducing annual fuel costs by 8%. Logistics giants like UPS and DHL are also adopting quantum algorithms for route optimization, significantly improving operational efficiency.
The cybersecurity field is expected to undergo the most significant changes due to quantum computing. Concerns have been raised that quantum computers could render existing RSA encryption ineffective, making the development of post-quantum cryptography an urgent task. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024, and major tech companies have begun adopting them. Microsoft plans to gradually apply post-quantum cryptography to its Azure cloud services starting in 2025, and Apple has introduced a post-quantum encryption protocol in iMessage.
However, there are still significant technical challenges to the commercialization of quantum computing. The most significant issues are the instability of quantum states and high error rates. Currently, the best quantum computers have gate error rates of 0.1-1%, which need to be reduced to below 0.01% for practical quantum algorithm execution. Additionally, the cryogenic cooling systems and precise control equipment required for operating quantum computers result in very high operational costs. The annual operating cost of a single IBM 127-qubit quantum computer is approximately $15 million, which acts as a major hurdle to commercialization.
The lack of talent is also a constraint on the development of the quantum computing industry. According to a McKinsey report, there are only about 3,000 quantum computing experts worldwide, with an estimated need for 20,000 by 2030. Consequently, major companies are competing to secure quantum computing talent, with the average salary for Ph.D.-level quantum computing researchers soaring to $200,000-$300,000. Google and IBM are each working to train quantum computing developers through their Quantum AI and Qiskit education programs.
From an investment perspective, the quantum computing field contains both high growth potential and significant risks. As of 2024, venture capital investment in quantum computing startups increased by 40% from the previous year, reaching $2.4 billion. IonQ (Maryland, USA), a leading quantum computing startup, recorded $11.8 million in revenue in 2024, growing 77% from the previous year, but still recorded an annual loss of $65 million. Other quantum computing companies like Rigetti Computing (California) and D-Wave Systems are in similar situations.
As of the end of 2025, the quantum computing industry stands at a crucial turning point where technological breakthroughs and the early stages of commercialization intersect. Alongside hardware innovations represented by Google’s Willow chip and IBM’s Flamingo processor, rapid progress is being made in quantum software and algorithm development. Quantum computing is expected to begin creating commercial value in specific fields over the next 3-5 years, heralding a fundamental shift in the overall computing paradigm. However, the speed at which technical limitations, high costs, and talent shortages are addressed will be key variables for successful commercialization.
