Quantum Computing Is Moving Beyond the Lab: How a New Tech Industry Is Rapidly Emerging
While artificial intelligence dominates today’s technology headlines, another technological wave is quietly building momentum: quantum technology. Governments, research institutions, and private companies are investing billions into a new computing paradigm that could reshape industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to cybersecurity.
Although still in its early stages, the quantum sector is expanding rapidly and attracting global strategic interest.
A Small Market Growing Very Fast
The quantum computing industry remains relatively small today. Estimates suggest the global market was about $1.4 billion in 2025 and could reach around $19.4 billion by 2035, representing annual growth of roughly 30%.
However, quantum computing is only one part of the broader quantum technology ecosystem, which also includes quantum communication and quantum sensing.
According to industry analysis, the combined quantum technology market could reach up to $97 billion by 2035 and potentially $198 billion by 2040.
These forecasts illustrate why both public and private sectors are accelerating investments in the field.
Three Pillars of the Quantum Industry
The emerging quantum ecosystem rests on three major technological domains.
1. Quantum Computing
Quantum computers use the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways that differ from those of classical computers. Instead of binary bits, they operate with qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously.
This approach could dramatically improve performance for certain computational tasks, such as:
Industries expected to benefit most include chemicals, life sciences, finance, and mobility.
2. Quantum Communication
Quantum communication focuses on ultra-secure data transmission using quantum properties such as entanglement and quantum key distribution.
This area is receiving increased attention because of concerns about “Q-Day”—the moment when quantum computers become powerful enough to break current encryption standards.
The quantum communication market alone could reach $11 billion–$15 billion by 2035.
3. Quantum Sensing
Quantum sensors use quantum phenomena to measure physical quantities with extremely high precision. Potential applications include:
While less visible than quantum computing, sensing technologies could be among the earliest commercially viable quantum applications.
Global Investment Race
Quantum technology has become a strategic priority for governments around the world.
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Public and private funding continues to increase as countries attempt to secure leadership in the field. In 2024 alone, around $2 billion was invested in quantum technology startups globally, with a growing share coming from government funding programs.
Major technology companies and startups are also expanding research programs and partnerships with universities.
At the same time, several dedicated quantum hardware companies are attempting to commercialize early systems. Despite technological progress, many remain in the early commercialization stage with limited revenue, reflecting the technology's long development cycle.
Key Technical Challenges
Despite its promise, quantum computing still faces major scientific and engineering challenges.
Among the most significant obstacles:
These hurdles mean that large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers may still be years or decades away.
Why Quantum Technology Is Becoming Strategically Critical
The quantum ecosystem is growing rapidly for several reasons:
Even though large-scale quantum computers are still under development, the strategic importance of quantum technologies is already clear. For many experts, the current phase resembles the early days of cloud computing or artificial intelligence: limited commercial deployment, but a rapidly forming ecosystem.
Governments view quantum capabilities as critical infrastructure because of their potential impact on encryption, national security, and technological leadership. At the same time, enterprises are exploring early use cases in materials science, drug discovery, and optimization problems that are difficult for classical computers to solve efficiently.
As a result, investment is accelerating across the entire ecosystem, from hardware and algorithms to quantum networking and sensing. This momentum suggests that quantum technologies are gradually transitioning from academic research into an emerging industrial sector.
Quantum technology is unlikely to replace classical computing. Instead, it will likely become a specialized computing layer designed to solve problems that are infeasible for traditional systems.
If current projections prove accurate, the next decade could see quantum technology transition from research laboratories into critical digital infrastructure. In other words, while today’s excitement may revolve around AI, the long-term future of computing may be shaped by quantum physics.
Neven Dujmovic, March 2026
References:
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