The Race to Commercialize Quantum Computing Accelerates: The New Frontline in the 2026 Tech Supremacy Battle
Editor
Reaching the Tipping Point of Quantum Computing Commercialization
As of January 2026, the quantum computing industry is receiving unprecedented attention. Over the past three years, successive technological breakthroughs aimed at achieving quantum supremacy have been realized, shifting the industry’s focus towards practical commercialization. The global quantum computing market is projected to grow from $1.3 billion in 2025 to $8.5 billion in 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 45.2%. Many experts are identifying 2026 as the ‘Year One’ of quantum computing commercialization.
This rapid growth is underpinned by technological advancements in both hardware and software. IBM, headquartered in New York, maintains its lead in quantum computing hardware with its ‘Condor’ processor, achieving 1,121 qubits as announced in December 2025. Meanwhile, Google’s (an Alphabet subsidiary) ‘Willow’ chip has made groundbreaking achievements in quantum error correction technology, claiming a competitive edge in practicality. The technological competition among these companies is significantly enhancing the feasibility of quantum computing commercialization.
Notably, quantum computing applications are beginning to outperform traditional supercomputers in specific fields. The superiority of quantum algorithms in drug discovery, financial risk modeling, encryption, and cybersecurity has been demonstrated, leading to a surge in quantum computing investments by pharmaceutical companies and financial institutions. According to market research firm Gartner, global corporate investments in quantum computing are expected to reach $3.2 billion in the first half of 2026, a 78% increase from the previous year.
Amid these market trends, Korean companies are also making strategic moves to solidify their position in the quantum computing ecosystem. Samsung Electronics announced in November 2025 the establishment of a semiconductor manufacturing line dedicated to quantum processors through its foundry division. SK Hynix also plans to invest 1.2 trillion won over the next three years in developing quantum memory technology. This is interpreted as a strategic move to secure leadership in next-generation quantum hardware, building on Korea’s existing strength in memory semiconductors.
The Competitive Landscape of the Global Quantum Computing Ecosystem
The current quantum computing market is divided into three major technological camps. The first is the superconducting qubit technology camp led by IBM and Google. IBM’s latest quantum processor has achieved a qubit fidelity of 99.9%, surpassing the critical threshold of 99.5% required for practical quantum applications. Google, after first demonstrating quantum supremacy with its Sycamore processor in 2019, has continuously improved hardware performance and maintains a leading position in quantum error correction.
The second camp revolves around ion trap technology. Companies like Maryland-based IonQ and Austria’s Alpine Quantum Computing are notable players, demonstrating excellent performance in qubit connectivity and gate fidelity. IonQ achieved significant commercial quantum application results by implementing 64 algorithmic qubits as of the end of 2025. While the ion trap method offers relatively high gate fidelity and long coherence times, it is considered less scalable compared to the superconducting approach.
The third camp is the photonic quantum computing camp, led by Canada’s Xanadu and the UK’s Oxford Quantum Computing. This approach, which processes quantum information using photons, operates at room temperature, offering competitive advantages in operational costs. Xanadu’s X-Series system supports 216 squeezed photon modes and reportedly achieves processing speeds hundreds of times faster than conventional computers for specific optimization problems.
In this technological competition, the role of cloud service providers is becoming increasingly important. Seattle-based Amazon provides integrated access to various quantum hardware through its AWS Braket service, creating an environment where corporate clients can easily leverage quantum computing. Microsoft also offers quantum development tools and simulators through its Azure Quantum platform, focusing on building a software ecosystem centered around the Q# programming language. The quantum computing service revenue of these cloud providers increased by 156% in 2025 to $470 million and is expected to exceed $1.2 billion in 2026.
Meanwhile, traditional semiconductor companies are also accelerating their entry into the quantum computing market. Intel has significantly improved quantum processor control systems with its Horse Ridge cryogenic control chip, lowering the technical barriers to implementing large-scale quantum systems. Samsung Electronics is developing ultra-precision process technology necessary for manufacturing quantum processors using its advanced foundry technology, contributing to the improvement of quantum qubit quality, especially based on its experience in processes below 5 nanometers. SK Hynix is focusing on developing special memory solutions for quantum memory and high-speed data transmission, playing a key role in optimizing quantum computing system performance.
These diverse technological approaches and competition among companies are accelerating the development of quantum computing technology while also reducing commercialization costs. In fact, the hourly usage fee for quantum computing systems decreased by 35% compared to 2024, creating an environment where more companies can experiment with and adopt quantum technology. With the demand for quantum applications in financial services, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and logistics optimization surging, the utilization rate of quantum computing services in the first half of 2026 increased by 220% compared to the same period the previous year.
Practical Applications and Market Opportunities
The financial services industry is the field where quantum computing commercialization is progressing most rapidly. Global investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Deutsche Bank are applying quantum algorithms to portfolio optimization, risk analysis, and derivatives pricing, reporting speed improvements of over 100 times compared to traditional Monte Carlo simulations. JP Morgan, in particular, has integrated IBM’s quantum processors into its trading system since the second half of 2025 for real-time risk calculations, announcing an annual operational cost reduction of approximately $200 million.
The pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors are also rapidly expanding the use of quantum computing. Global pharmaceutical companies like Roche, Novartis, and Bayer are applying quantum algorithms to molecular simulations and protein folding predictions in drug development, achieving computation speeds 10-15 times faster than before. Novartis, using Google’s quantum processors, reduced the analysis time for molecular interactions in Alzheimer’s treatment development from six months to two weeks. These innovative achievements demonstrate the potential to reduce drug development costs by an average of 30% and shorten development periods by 2-3 years.
The practical value of quantum computing is also being proven in logistics and supply chain optimization. Global logistics companies such as Amazon, UPS, and DHL are implementing quantum optimization algorithms in delivery route optimization, warehouse operation efficiency, and inventory management, achieving operational cost reductions of 15-25%. Amazon reported an annual cost-saving effect of $800 million by applying AWS quantum computing services to its logistics network. Quantum algorithms play a crucial role in maximizing delivery efficiency during peak times like Black Friday and Christmas.
In the field of cybersecurity and encryption, quantum computing acts as a double-edged sword. On one hand, the potential implementation of Shor’s algorithm poses a threat to the currently used RSA encryption system, but on the other hand, next-generation security solutions through quantum encryption technology are rapidly advancing. China’s University of Science and Technology and Austrian research teams have successfully implemented secure communication over a distance of 1,200 km using satellite-based quantum encryption, demonstrating the potential of the quantum internet. Consequently, investments in quantum security technology by government and financial institutions are surging, with the quantum encryption market size expected to reach $1.4 billion in 2026.
The automotive industry is also expanding the use of quantum computing. Volkswagen has been applying quantum computing to traffic flow optimization and autonomous driving algorithm development since 2025, while Toyota and BMW are utilizing quantum simulations in battery material research and lightweight design. Quantum computing plays a key role in improving the energy density and charging speed of electric vehicle batteries, potentially shortening the development period for next-generation battery technology from 5-7 years to 2-3 years.
The achievements in these various application fields are supporting the rapid growth of the quantum computing market. The total investment in the quantum computing sector, including venture capital and government investment, is expected to increase by 55% from $4.7 billion in 2025 to $7.3 billion in 2026, with the hardware sector accounting for 42% of the total investment. The software and application sector accounts for 35%, and the service sector accounts for 23%, showing balanced growth. This increase in investment is expected to further accelerate the commercialization of quantum computing technology and the expansion of commercial services.
As of 2026, the quantum computing industry has surpassed the technological tipping point and entered a stage of proving its practical value. Alongside global big tech companies like IBM, Google, and Amazon, Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are solidifying their positions in this new market based on their respective technological strengths. With the practical value of quantum computing being proven in key industries such as finance, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and security, this market is expected to continue its exponential growth over the next 3-5 years.
However, there are still technical challenges to be addressed for the complete commercialization of quantum computing. Improving qubit stability, perfecting quantum error correction technology, and ensuring the scalability of large-scale quantum systems remain key challenges, and the technological competition among global companies to solve these issues is expected to intensify. At the same time, the training of quantum computing specialists and the establishment of related ecosystems are emerging as urgent tasks, requiring a collaborative approach between governments and companies.
*This article is intended for general informational purposes and is not a solicitation for investment or a recommendation of specific stocks. Investment decisions should be made at the reader’s discretion and responsibility.*
