Quantum Computing: Next Big Tech Revolution
Quantum computing is evolving from research to commercial reality. Market analyses predict significant value creation, while hyperscalers are industrializing cloud access. Companies are reporting initial productive applications. The pace of announcements is increasing: error correction breakthroughs, more mature cloud services, and initial “production deployments” point to a future investment theme.
Source: Own representation
Quantum Computing: Overview
McKinsey's “Quantum Technology Monitor 2025” calls 2024 a turning point. The focus is shifting from counting qubits to stabilizing them and error correction. This is a signal to industries with high availability requirements ( McKinsey). As early as April 2024, the industry showed a potential economic potential of up to ~2 trillion US dollars by 2035 ( McKinsey). BCG forecasts long-term value creation of US$450–850 billion and points to over 100 documented enterprise PoCs in 2023/24 ( BCG, BCG).
Unlike artificial intelligence, which optimizes decisions on classical hardware, quantum computing is a new computing paradigm. It is based on qubits, superposition, and interference and is predestined for extremely complex combinatorial and quantum mechanical problems ( IBM). While AI recognizes and predicts patterns, quantum computing promises true computational advantages over supercomputers for certain tasks, such as quantum simulations or specific optimizations ( IBM, arXiv).
Technological Advancements
Microsoft is integrating “logical qubits” and error correction advancements into Azure Quantum Elements. In 2024, Microsoft, together with Atom Computing, announced entanglement scaling to dozens of logical qubits, including correction and Azure integration ( Microsoft, Azure).
In December 2024, Google reported error correction “below the threshold” for the first time in Nature, leading to exponentially better error-corrected qubits. In 2025, algorithmic milestones (“Quantum Echoes”) followed on the Willow chip ( Nature, Google Research, Google Blog).
Amazon is expanding Braket as a fully managed access to QPUs. This includes simulation and hybrid workflows as well as new features like Program Sets and budget limits for QPU runs ( AWS Braket, AWS Blog, AWS What's New).
IBM is providing productively accessible superconducting systems and Qiskit runtimes with the IBM Quantum Platform and is driving a roadmap towards “Quantum Advantage”. Most recently, new processor designs (“Nighthawk”, “Loon”) and platform updates were announced ( IBM Quantum, Reuters, IBM Quantum Announcements).
Oracle is positioning itself for hybrid scenarios through partners, e.g., via OCI collaborations with QMware and NVIDIA CUDA-Q for enterprise workflows ( The Quantum Insider, NVIDIA).
Meta is addressing Quantum Impact through Post-Quantum Cryptography and is beginning the transition in its own infrastructure ( Meta Engineering).
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Quantum Computing: A glimpse into the future of technology.
Application Areas and Potentials
In optimization, automotive, logistics, and manufacturing companies are showing early successes. Volkswagen already demonstrated traffic flow optimization on a D-Wave annealer in 2017 ( Volkswagen Group, Frontiers in ICT). Ford Otosan introduced a hybrid quantum production system for production sequencing in 2025 and massively reduced runtime ( D-Wave Newsroom, The Quantum Insider). BMW is addressing robotics and manufacturing optimization with partners, as well as its own use cases through challenges and PoCs ( D-Wave Resources, AWS Blog, BMW Group).
In the financial industry, Monte Carlo tasks are considered candidates for quadratic speedups: JPMorgan researchers demonstrated option pricing via amplitude estimation on gate-based hardware ( Quantum Journal, arXiv). For material and chemistry simulations, Google and D-Wave report verifiable progress: error-corrected gates on Willow and an annealing-based simulation published in Science that goes beyond classical supercomputers ( Nature, Science). Airbus is using competitions to address specific aviation problems – from loading to flight dynamics ( Airbus, Quantum Zeitgeist).
Since August 13, 2024, the first final NIST standards for Post-Quantum Cryptography have been available (FIPS 203 ML-KEM, FIPS 204 ML-DSA, FIPS 205 SLH-DSA). This is the starting gun for broad migrations ( NIST News, NIST CSRC, NIST PQC). The EU, with its “Coordinated Implementation Roadmap,” recommends a coordinated approach by 2035; companies should now establish inventories and migration paths ( EU Digital Strategy, TNO). Meta is publicly reporting on its own PQC implementation and sharing lessons learned ( Meta Engineering).
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Quantum Computing: A technology with the potential to fundamentally change our world.
Investment Landscape
Error correction breakthroughs and cloud accessibility are lowering entry barriers. Google's Willow results and Microsoft's logical qubits indicate more realistic paths to reliable computing. AWS, IBM and partners are providing ecosystems for developers and companies ( Google Research, Nature, Microsoft Blog, AWS Braket, IBM Quantum). At the same time, initial productive deployments are emerging – from traffic to factory floors – which supports investment willingness ( Volkswagen Group, D-Wave Newsroom).
Publicly traded “pure plays” are rare and volatile. IonQ reported strong revenue growth in November 2025 and raised its annual forecast; valuation remains speculative ( IonQ Investors, IonQ Financials, Financial Times). Rigetti is struggling with low revenues and fluctuating performance but is working on roadmaps beyond 150+ qubits ( Rigetti Investors, Nasdaq). D-Wave is communicating a “Beyond-Classical” result validated in Science in 2025 and reports initial production deployments; the scientific community is discussing details and scope of the claim, which highlights investor risks ( Science, Financial Times, HPCwire). For diversified exposure, there are thematic ETFs such as the Defiance QTUM, which, however, mixes machine learning stocks with quantum – thus not offering pure quantum exposure ( Defiance ETFs, Defiance FactSheet). Large tech corporations often drive quantum as part of broader R&D portfolios; their stocks are not “pure” quantum lever products ( IBM Quantum, Google Research, Microsoft Blog, AWS Braket).
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Insight into the complex architecture of a quantum computer that forms the basis for the next technological revolution.
Strategic Recommendations
Recent work shows real progress in error-corrected qubits and verifiable advantages. However, general, fault-tolerant systems remain a multi-year path with millions of stable qubits as the target metric ( Nature, Google Blog, Reuters). McKinsey emphasizes that in 2024, the shift to qubit stability is lowering entry barriers for critical industries – but the roadmaps remain technically demanding ( McKinsey). For companies, this means starting today with PQC migration and pilot cases with clear benefits. For investors, it is important to soberly weigh opportunities and technical milestones against each other ( NIST PQC, EU Digital Strategy).
Quantum computing is developing into the “next big technology” beyond AI: clear progress in error correction, robust cloud offerings, initial productive applications, and a regulatory-driven cryptography migration. At the same time, hardware scaling, availability, and business models are still under development. Companies starting today should plan PQC comprehensively and test targeted quantum pilot projects with cloud access. Investors should view the topic as a long-distance race – exciting, but volatile and data-driven ( McKinsey, AWS Braket, Google Research, Science).