A new 2026 industry report shows quantum technology investment has surged 6.3x year over year, as the sector races toward an estimated $1.3–$2.7 trillion in value by 2035.
Quantum technology is shifting from research-lab curiosity to a line item on corporate budgets. A new 2026 industry report tracking the quantum computing (QC), quantum communication (QComm), and quantum sensing (QS) sectors — with data captured through March 2026 — shows investment, revenue, and government funding all accelerating sharply, even as the technology remains years away from full commercial maturity.
Investments Hit $12.6 Billion in 2025 — Up 6.3x From Just $2 Billion in 2024
Total start-up investment in quantum technology reached $12.6 billion in 2025, up from roughly $2.0 billion in 2024 — a 6.3x jump in a single year. More than 90% of that investment flowed into quantum computing specifically, reflecting where investors currently see the clearest path to commercialization. The report notes this capital is spread across the full value chain — hardware, control systems, and software — as investors hedge against uncertainty over which technical approach will ultimately win.
300+ Companies Are Already Paying for Quantum Computing Projects
Commercial adoption has moved well past pilot programs. The report counts more than 300 industry players now collaborating directly with leading quantum computing companies, many of them funding paid, coinvested research and development rather than one-off proof-of-concept demonstrations. Among quantum computing customers surveyed, about a third have dedicated annual QC budgets of at least $10 million, and 7% already allocate more than $50 million a year, with the single largest reported budget reaching $200 million. The average customer budget for use-case development sits around $6 million, while the average stated willingness to pay for a working use case is closer to $13 million.
Quantum Computing Revenue Could Nearly Quadruple by 2028
Revenue for quantum computing companies topped $1 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at roughly 47% a year, reaching $3.2–$4.4 billion by 2028. Looking further out, the report estimates the overall quantum computing market could reach $25–$34 billion by 2030 and $43–$71 billion by 2035 — up from an estimated $15 billion in 2025. Quantum sensing and quantum communication are smaller but growing fast too: quantum sensing is projected to go from $2.8–$3.1 billion in 2025 to $7.1–$10.1 billion by 2035, while quantum communication could grow from $1.3–$1.6 billion to $11–$15 billion over the same period.
The Bigger Number: Up to $2.7 Trillion in Value at Stake by 2035
Beyond direct market revenue, the report frames quantum technology’s economic impact across three “pools” of value by 2035: $1.3–$2.7 trillion in value at stake for industries adopting quantum computing (excluding sensing and communication), $1.2–$2 trillion in valuation gains for investors in quantum technology companies (assuming a roughly 20x valuation multiple), and $60–$100 billion in direct product and service revenue for quantum technology companies themselves.
Governments Have Pledged Roughly $55 Billion to Quantum Technology Worldwide
National governments are a major force behind the buildout. Announced national investments in quantum technology total roughly $55 billion to date, led by China (~$15.3 billion), the United States (~$6.0 billion), Japan (~$9.2 billion), the United Kingdom (~$5.6 billion), and Germany (~$5.2 billion). In 2025 alone, government announcements reached $11.4 billion across the countries tracked, with Japan’s $7.4 billion pledge — covering both quantum technology and next-generation chip design — standing out as the single largest. India’s cumulative national investment stands at roughly $1.7 billion, including a $700 million commitment announced in 2025. The report notes that despite the scale of public funding, most government money is directed toward academic research rather than directly into start-ups.
Real Progress From Real Companies in 2025
The report highlights several concrete technical milestones from 2025 as evidence commercialization is accelerating rather than staying theoretical. One quantum computing company launched a system it described as the most accurate commercial general-purpose quantum computer available, citing 99.921% two-qubit gate fidelity across 98 physical qubits. Another announced a roadmap to reach 2 million physical qubits (80,000 logical qubits) by 2030, alongside plans for the first space-based quantum key distribution network in partnership with a satellite company. A third detailed concrete engineering plans to build a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029. On the sensing side, one company is investing €152 million in what it says is the first production-scale facility dedicated to quantum-diamond-based chip inspection, based in Munich, Germany, while another was awarded US government contracts to build quantum sensor-based navigation systems for GPS-denied environments.
Where Quantum and AI Actually Meet
The report also maps out how quantum computing and AI are likely to intersect over time. In the near term, quantum computing is expected to help train AI models on problems too complex for classical computers alone. Further out, it could serve as a lower-cost alternative for select AI workloads, and — in a longer-term scenario — potentially reduce demand on AI data centers altogether by handling certain computing tasks more efficiently than classical infrastructure.
Why the “Window of Opportunity” Argument Matters
The report’s central strategic argument is timing: unlike AI, where leadership positions have already consolidated around a handful of dominant players, quantum technology does not yet have a clear winner across hardware, software, or use cases. That, the report argues, creates a temporary window for early movers to shape standards and capture disproportionate value — but a window it says is narrowing as capital, cutting-edge hardware access, and specialized talent all become scarcer and more expensive.
Based on a report by Mckinsey
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