The newly-released IDTechEx report "Quantum Computing Market 2026-2046: Technology, Trends, Players, Forecasts" covers the hardware poised to revolutionize modern computing and create a market forecast to surpass US$21 billion by 2046 with a CAGR of 26.7%. Recent breakthroughs have pushed quantum computing closer to unlocking critical computational problems including faster drug discovery, battery chemistry development, materials simulations, multi-variable logistics, fraud detection, and much more. Drawing on extensive primary and secondary research, including interviews with companies and attendance at multiple global conferences, this report provides an in-depth evaluation and market forecasts for the eight leading quantum computing technologies: superconducting, silicon-spin, photonic, trapped ion, neutral atom, topological, diamond defect and annealers.
Quantum computing is a high-profile emerging technology frequently discussed but often misunderstood. The last ten years have seen rapid development of hardware designs and manufacturing techniques, with the aim of building a commercially relevant quantum computer. The industry is now at an inflection point, where within the next few years, the technology must demonstrate scalability, realize use-cases, and secure early adopters to return value on the billions of US dollars already invested. Development roadmaps have accelerated, with several market leaders now predicting that commercially relevant quantum computing will arrive before 2030.
To avoid the pitfalls of overloaded quantum jargon, the insights of this report are condensed into digestible roadmaps, SWOT analyses, quantitative forecasts, and benchmarks such as the quantum commercial readiness level (QCRL) developed by IDTechEx. This benchmark measures the progress of the industry from an end-user perspective, comparing the progress of quantum computing to the transition of classical computing from vacuum tubes to mobile phones, highlighting at which point value will be created from quantum computing for various different industries. As seen in the figure, quantum computers are expected to reach QCRL 4 before the end of the decade, representing the first application-specific commercial use cases, and reach versatile deployment by approximately 2034. The QCRL scale, along with a historical database created from IDTechEx research in the industry, forms the basis of this report's 20-year market forecasts, which break down both the volume and revenue generated by each of the leading quantum computer hardware types.
Key questions answered in this report include:
- What is quantum computing and what is the state of the industry?
- Which applications and industries will be the first to benefit from quantum computing?
- How is quantum computing benchmarked? What is the current and future status of the key players and competing quantum computing technologies?
- How can the commercial potential of quantum computer hardware be assessed?
- What are the competing quantum computing technologies, how do they work and what are the opportunities and challenges ahead?
- What are the underlying platforms and infrastructure needs of quantum computers, including thermal management systems? How will this affect data centers and HPC facilities?
- What is the relationship between quantum computing and AI?
- How will the market evolve both short, medium, and long term - and when are inflexion points for commercial value and on-premises ownership anticipated?
Key aspects of this report:
- A comprehensive introduction to the quantum computing sector, accessible to those with and without a background in quantum technology.
- Evaluation of how the quantum computing commercial landscape will evolve, including business models, national strategies, and the role of cloud services.
- A set of benchmarking tools for comparing different quantum computing technologies, including those commonly adopted within the sector, and the QCRL scale specifically developed for assessing commercial potential.
- Explanation of the differences between the eight core methods (qubit modality) for developing quantum computers, covering: technology principles, key companies, SWOT analysis and benchmarking, and specific material requirements. This includes superconducting (gate-based), photonic, silicon-spin, neutral atom, and trapped ion platforms, diamond-defect, topological (Majorana), and annealing.
- 40+ company profiles available on the IDTechEx portal. The roadmaps and accomplishments of key players are mapped out and compared in this report.
- Overview of infrastructure requirements for quantum computing, including cryogenics and thermal management.
- Discussion of how quantum computers will be physically deployed, including their role in the data center industry.
- Analysis of the intersection between quantum computing and AI.
- Key applications of quantum computers, and the industries which are most likely to be the first to benefit.
- Overview of the materials and components used in quantum computing, including superconductors, photonics, 2D materials, and artificial diamond.
- 20-year market forecasts for quantum computer hardware by volume (i.e., number of systems sold) and revenue. Individual forecast lines are available for eight different technology categories including superconducting, photonic, trapped-ion, neutral atom, silicon spin, topological, diamond defect, and annealers.
- 60-year projections for meta-trends for quantum computer adoption, going beyond the horizon of a realized versatile computer and looking ahead to mass-market adoption.
For the full report details and sample pages reach out to our team at research@IDTechEx.com, or visit www.IDTechEx.com/QuantumComputing.