Turning Point in the Commercialization of Quantum Computing: Industry Ecosystem Analysis and Investment Outlook for 2025
Editor
Acceleration of Quantum Computing Industry Commercialization
As of December 2025, the quantum computing industry is at a historic turning point, transitioning from laboratory research to commercial applications. The global quantum computing market size grew by 30.8% from $1.3 billion in 2024 to $1.7 billion in 2025, and it is expected to reach $6.4 billion by 2030 with an average annual growth rate of 32.1%. This rapid growth signifies that quantum computing is beginning to be used for solving real business problems, beyond mere technological advancement.
IBM, based in New York, is leading the industry by unveiling commercial use cases for its 1,121-qubit Condor processor in October 2025. Notably, in collaboration with JPMorgan Chase, they announced achieving a processing speed 1,000 times faster than existing supercomputers in portfolio optimization algorithms. This is considered concrete evidence of quantum computing transitioning from theoretical superiority to actual performance enhancement. IBM’s quantum computing division reported a 287% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching $423 million in the third quarter of 2025.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google based in Mountain View, California, shocked the industry with the announcement of the Willow quantum chip on December 9. Although Willow consists of 105 qubits, it has made groundbreaking advancements in quantum error correction technology. Google claims that Willow can complete a calculation in 5 minutes that would take the world’s fastest supercomputer 10^25 years (10 to the power of 25 years) to solve. More importantly, it has achieved the ‘quantum error correction threshold,’ where the error rate decreases as the number of qubits increases. This is regarded as solving a 30-year challenge in the development of practical quantum computers.
Korea’s quantum computing ecosystem is also rapidly advancing. Samsung Electronics, based in Suwon, unveiled its self-developed quantum dot-based qubit technology in September 2025, presenting a differentiated approach from the existing superconducting method. Samsung’s quantum dot qubits can operate at room temperature, reducing cooling system costs by 90%. Samsung Electronics is investing $1.5 billion annually with the goal of commercializing a 100-qubit quantum processor by 2026. SK Hynix is also focusing on developing quantum memory technology, announcing that it has developed technology to extend quantum information storage time by 100 times compared to existing methods.
The key application areas driving the commercialization of quantum computing are financial services, drug development, and logistics optimization. In the financial sector, quantum superiority is clearly demonstrated in risk modeling and portfolio optimization. Goldman Sachs improved the accuracy of option pricing models by 15% using IBM’s quantum systems and reduced calculation time by one-tenth. Barclays reported a 23% improvement in predicting bad debts by introducing quantum algorithms in credit risk analysis. These achievements act as a catalyst for accelerating quantum computing investments by financial institutions.
The use of quantum computing in the pharmaceutical industry is even more revolutionary. Roche, based in Basel, Switzerland, announced that it reduced the time for molecular structure analysis from 6 months to 2 weeks using quantum simulations. The superiority of quantum computers is particularly evident in solving protein folding problems. In November 2025, Pfizer in the United States announced that it discovered a candidate substance for Alzheimer’s treatment using IonQ’s quantum system, reducing a process that would take 10 years with existing methods to 18 months. Investments in quantum computing by global pharmaceutical companies reached $2.8 billion in 2025, a 340% increase from the previous year.
Competitive Landscape and Technological Differentiation Strategies
The competitive landscape of the quantum computing market is largely divided into three categories based on technological approaches. First, the superconducting method led by IBM and Google is currently considered the most mature technology. IBM’s Condor processor has achieved 1,121 qubits, aiming for the commercialization of a 10,000-qubit system by 2026. Google’s Willow has fewer qubits but has made breakthroughs in error correction technology. Both companies require extremely low-temperature environments near absolute zero, but currently offer the most stable performance.
Second, the ion trap method represented by IonQ in Maryland boasts high accuracy and long coherence. IonQ’s Forte system has 32 qubits, fewer than IBM, but shows superiority in connectivity per qubit. All qubits can be interconnected, favoring the implementation of complex quantum algorithms. IonQ reported a 102% year-over-year increase in third-quarter revenue, reaching $12.4 million, and is expanding its market through cloud services with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.
Third, in the photonic quantum computing field, Xanadu in Toronto, Canada, and Orca Computing in Cambridge, UK, are gaining attention. Photon-based quantum computers can operate at room temperature and have excellent network scalability. Xanadu’s X-Series offers 216 qubit modes and is particularly specialized in solving optimization problems. However, it is still limited to specific applications, not yet suitable for general-purpose quantum computing.
Korean companies’ differentiation strategies focus on hardware innovation leveraging semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. Samsung Electronics’ quantum dot technology is silicon-based, highly compatible with existing semiconductor manufacturing processes, and advantageous for mass production. SK Hynix specializes in quantum memory and control systems, focusing on building an ecosystem that supports the performance of quantum processors. This is a differentiated approach from Western companies that focus on increasing the number of qubits.
From an investment perspective, global venture investment in the quantum computing sector totaled $4.7 billion in 2025, an 89% increase from the previous year. The largest investment was concentrated on hardware development (52% of the total), followed by software and algorithm development (31%), and application services (17%). By region, North America attracted 56% ($2.6 billion), Europe 28% ($1.3 billion), and Asia 16% ($800 million). Korea accounted for 37% of Asia’s investment, receiving $300 million, second only to China (45%).
In the IPO market, quantum computing companies are also active. In the first half of 2025, IonQ’s stock price rose 340% following the announcement of quantum error correction technology. Rigetti Quantum Computing’s stock surged 180% after announcing a contract with NASA. These stock price increases reflect investors’ expectations for the commercial potential of quantum computing. However, there is also significant volatility due to technological uncertainty and commercialization delay risks.
Future Outlook and Investment Opportunities
The outlook for the quantum computing industry over the next five years is expected to be determined by the maturity of the technology and the spread of commercial applications. By 2026, the paradigm is expected to shift from ‘quantum supremacy’ to ‘quantum practicality.’ It is anticipated to develop from surpassing existing computers in specific problems to providing economic value in solving actual business problems. McKinsey estimates that the economic value generated by quantum computing could reach $850 billion by 2030.
The first area expected to be commercialized is risk management and optimization problems in financial services. By 2026, 80% of major investment banks are expected to adopt quantum algorithms. In the pharmaceutical industry, drug development through quantum simulations is expected to become full-scale by 2027. The logistics and supply chain optimization sector is analyzed to begin large-scale adoption around 2028. This is because the complexity of problems in these fields and the effectiveness of quantum algorithms match well.
From an investment perspective, the most noteworthy area is the quantum software and middleware market. As hardware matures, the importance of software that can utilize it increases. The current quantum software market size is around $300 million, but it is expected to grow to $4.3 billion by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 68%. The quantum cloud service market, led by AWS, Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud, is expected to grow from $800 million in 2025 to $3.2 billion by 2030.
For Korean companies, there are significant opportunities to enter the quantum hardware supply chain leveraging the semiconductor ecosystem. Quantum computers require various components such as ultra-low temperature cooling systems, precision control electronics, and special materials. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix can apply memory semiconductor technology to quantum systems to secure new growth drivers. The quantum memory and control chip market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 45% to reach $7.8 billion by 2030.
However, there are considerable risks in investing in quantum computing. Technological uncertainty is the biggest risk factor. Current quantum computers still have high error rates and lack stability. If commercialization is delayed beyond expectations, the investment recovery period may be prolonged. Additionally, there is increasing regulatory risk due to security concerns that quantum computing could render existing encryption systems ineffective. The risk of supply chain fragmentation due to the technological hegemony competition between the US and China should also be considered.
In conclusion, as of the end of 2025, the quantum computing industry is at a crucial inflection point, transitioning from research and development to commercial applications. The technological breakthroughs by leading companies like IBM, Google, and IonQ, and the tangible achievements in the financial and pharmaceutical sectors are boosting market confidence. Korean companies are also expected to play a significant role in the quantum hardware ecosystem based on their semiconductor capabilities. Investors need a balanced approach to not miss the opportunity for industrial innovation that quantum computing will bring over the next decade, while adequately considering technological risks.
This analysis is based on publicly available information and industry trends, and additional due diligence and expert consultation are recommended when making investment decisions.
