Quantum Computing: Entities and Milestones Shaping the Next Decade Quantum computing is on the cusp of revolutionizing technology and reshaping industries in the coming decade. This report delves into the key entities—people, corporations, and technologies—that are most likely to exert significant influence on this transformative field over the next 10 years. By examining recent breakthroughs, expert predictions, and ongoing research, we forecast likely milestones that will shape the future of quantum computing. Top Research Groups Quantum computing’s rapid evolution is fueled by groundbreaking research conducted by leading academic institutions and driven by visionary individuals. Here are some of the prominent research groups propelling the field forward: IBM Research: Renowned for its pioneering work in quantum computing, IBM Research focuses on developing scalable quantum processors and exploring practical applications. Their achievements include the development of the 127-qubit Quantum Eagle processor and the ambitious goal of a 1,121-qubit Quantum Condor. Google Quantum AI: This division of Google has achieved significant milestones, including the demonstration of quantum supremacy using its Sycamore processor in 2019. Their research continues to push the boundaries of quantum hardware, algorithms, error correction, and quantum machine learning. Microsoft Quantum: Dedicated to developing a scalable quantum computer and a comprehensive quantum ecosystem, Microsoft Quantum explores topological qubits and quantum algorithms. Their Quantum Development Kit, including the Q# programming language, supports quantum programming and simulation. University of California, Berkeley - Quantum Information and Computation Group: This leading academic institution conducts research spanning quantum algorithms, error correction, and hardware, contributing significantly to both theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum computing. Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) - University of Waterloo: A premier research center in Canada, IQC focuses on both theoretical and experimental quantum computing, with research areas including quantum communication, simulation, and materials. Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics (MPQ): Renowned for its research in quantum optics and quantum information, MPQ focuses on developing new quantum technologies and understanding fundamental quantum phenomena. Chinese Academy of Sciences - Institute of Quantum Information and Quantum Science: A leading research institution in Asia, this institute focuses on quantum communication, computing, and measurement. Quantum Technology Hubs (UK): The UK’s Quantum Technology Hubs represent a network of research institutions focused on advancing quantum technologies, including photonic quantum computing. This network plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration and driving innovation in the field. Top Individuals in Quantum Computing In addition to the research groups mentioned above, several individuals are making significant contributions to the advancement of quantum computing: Scott Aaronson: A renowned theoretical computer scientist, Aaronson’s work focuses on the capabilities and limitations of quantum computers. His blog, Shtetl-Optimized, and YouTube videos provide valuable insights into the field. John Martinis: An experimental physicist with extensive experience in quantum computing, Martinis has made significant contributions to Google’s quantum supremacy claim and is now involved with Silicon Quantum Computing. Michelle Simmons: A leading researcher in atomic electronics and quantum computing, Simmons was named Australian of the Year and is a driving force behind Silicon Quantum Computing. Krysta Svore: As the General Manager of Quantum Software at Microsoft, Svore leads the development of algorithms and software for quantum computers, focusing on practical applications. John Preskill: A theoretical physicist renowned for his work on quantum information and computing, Preskill coined the term “quantum supremacy” and directs the Institute for Quantum Information and Matter at Caltech. Top Companies Investing in Quantum Computing The development of quantum computing is heavily reliant on investments from major technology companies. These corporations are not only funding research but also building the infrastructure and platforms that will drive the adoption of quantum technologies: IBM: IBM has been a long-standing investor in quantum computing, with a focus on superconducting transmon qubit technology. They claim to have the “largest quantum computing fleet in the world” with their Qiskit platform. Alphabet (Google): Google’s parent company has a dedicated quantum computing research team and a growing cloud computing segment. Their recent announcement of the Willow quantum chip, which significantly reduces errors as more qubits are used, marks a major milestone. Microsoft: Microsoft is actively developing quantum computers and offers Azure Quantum, a cloud-based quantum computing service. Honeywell: Honeywell co-founded Quantinuum, the world’s largest integrated quantum computing company, with Cambridge Quantum. Honeywell remains a majority shareholder and continues to invest in and supply Quantinuum with hardware and software. IonQ: As the first pure-play publicly traded quantum computing company, IonQ focuses on trapped-ion technology and has partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud. IonQ’s trapped-ion quantum computers are known for their high fidelity and long coherence times. Rigetti Computing: This high-risk, high-reward company aims to be a leader in superconducting quantum computing. D-Wave Quantum: D-Wave focuses on quantum annealing technology and offers its Advantage system, which boasts over 5,000 qubits. They have a substantial customer base, including members of the Forbes Global 2000. Nvidia: Nvidia is emerging as a leader in semiconductor design and software for next-generation computing, including quantum computing applications. Their CUDA Quantum platform enables the integration of quantum processors with classical supercomputers. Intel: Intel is investing heavily in quantum computing, focusing on building scalable, practical quantum computers using silicon spin qubit technology. They recently released Tunnel Falls, their most advanced silicon spin qubit chip. Sealsq: Sealsq is developing quantum-resistant microcontrollers, which are essential for ensuring the security of embedded systems in a post-quantum world. Atos: Atos is a leading provider of quantum computing services and has developed the Atos Quantum Learning Machine (QLM), a powerful quantum simulator that makes quantum computing more accessible to researchers and developers. Most Promising Quantum Computing Technologies Several different quantum computing technologies are vying for prominence. Each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the next decade will likely see a convergence of these technologies: Superconducting Qubits This technology, used by companies like IBM, Google, and Rigetti, leverages superconducting circuits cooled to near absolute zero to create qubits. It offers scalability and relatively mature fabrication processes but faces challenges in coherence times and error correction. IBM has developed the Quantum Hummingbird (65 qubits) and Quantum Eagle (127 qubits) processors, while Google’s Sycamore processor achieved quantum supremacy in 2019. Trapped Ions Companies like IonQ and Honeywell (Quantinuum) utilize trapped ions, where individual ions are manipulated using electromagnetic fields. This approach offers high fidelity and long coherence times but faces challenges in scalability. Honeywell’s H-Series trapped-ion quantum computers have achieved impressive quantum volume, and IonQ’s quantum computers use individual atoms as qubits. Photonic Quantum Computing Companies like Xanadu are exploring photonic quantum computing, which uses photons as the primary medium for quantum computation. This approach offers advantages in room-temperature operation and long coherence times but faces challenges in scalability and photon loss. Xanadu has developed the Borealis system, which demonstrated “quantum advantage” by solving challenging mathematical problems at previously unattainable speeds, and Aurora, a quantum system that uses light-based qubits for quantum processing. There are several paradigms of photonic qubits currently being researched, including: Squeezed states: These trade off Heisenberg uncertainty, decreasing uncertainty for some phases at the expense of increasing uncertainty for other phases. Dual-rail encoding: This uses two paths, aka “modes,” one designated 0 and one designated 1, and the paths the photons take determine the measurement outcomes. Qumodes: These use integrated optics and waveguides and rely on quantum tunneling to allow photons to pass from one waveguide to another. Silicon Spin Qubits Intel is pursuing silicon spin qubits, which leverage the spin of electrons in silicon quantum dots. This approach offers potential for scalability and integration with existing semiconductor manufacturing processes. Intel recently released Tunnel Falls, its most advanced silicon spin qubit chip. Neutral Atoms Infleqtion is developing quantum computing technologies based on neutral atoms, which offer advantages in scalability and coherence times. Topological Qubits Microsoft is focusing on topological qubits, which are theoretically more stable and less prone to errors than other types of qubits. Insights: The diversity of quantum computing technologies highlights the dynamic nature of this field. While superconducting qubits and trapped ions are currently the most mature technologies, photonic quantum computing, silicon spin qubits, and neutral atoms are rapidly gaining traction. The ultimate success of each technology will depend on factors such as scalability, coherence times, error correction capabilities, and the ability to integrate with existing infrastructure. Recent Breakthroughs and Milestones The field of quantum computing has witnessed remarkable breakthroughs and milestones in recent years, paving the way for future advancements: Google’s Willow Chip: Google’s announcement of its Willow quantum chip, which reduces errors exponentially as more qubits are used, marks a significant step toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. Microsoft’s Topological Qubit: Microsoft’s development of the world’s first topological qubit, with its potential for increased stability and scalability, is a major breakthrough. IBM’s Condor Processor: IBM’s achievement of a 1,121-qubit processor demonstrates progress in scaling up superconducting qubit technology. Infleqtion’s Neutral Atom Advancements: Infleqtion’s research on neutral atom qubits, achieving record-setting fidelities and non-destructive readout techniques, shows promise for scalable and efficient quantum computing. Quantum Error Correction Advancements: Significant progress has been made in quantum error correction (QEC). Google demonstrated a quantum memory with below-threshold error rates and doubled coherence lifetimes compared to physical qubits. Microsoft and Quantinuum entangled 12 logical qubits, showcasing improved error mitigation. Expert Predictions and Roadmaps Experts in the field of quantum computing have offered various predictions and roadmaps for the future: Focus on Logical Qubits: There is a growing emphasis on developing and experimenting with logical qubits, which are encoded in multiple physical qubits to improve error correction and stability. Specialized Quantum Computers: While universal quantum computers remain the ultimate goal, companies are developing specialized quantum computers for specific problems to achieve earlier commercial value. For example, Bleximo is building full-stack superconducting application-specific systems. Networking NISQ Devices: Connecting multiple noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices together is seen as a way to increase computational power and explore new applications. Software Abstraction: Companies are developing software interfaces that abstract away the complexities of quantum computing, making it more accessible to users without specialized knowledge. For example, Multiverse Computing’s Singularity platform uses a spreadsheet to abstract away whether it is using quantum or quantum-inspired computing to solve optimization problems. Hybrid Quantum-Classical Applications: The integration of quantum and classical algorithms is expected to lead to practical applications in the near future. Quantum Advantage in Specific Tasks: Experts predict that quantum computers will demonstrate clear advantages over classical computers for specific tasks by 2025. Quantum-Inspired Algorithms: Multiverse Computing is actively developing quantum-inspired algorithms for optimization and machine learning, offering improved efficiency and performance without the need for actual quantum hardware. More Expert Predictions and Timelines: Increased Commercial Investment: Private companies are expected to show increased interest in quantum computing by 2025, with a surge in funding accelerating the quantum race. Standardization: Building common protocols and APIs for quantum computing is expected to gain more traction by 2026. Early Quantum Advantage: The first hints of quantum computers outperforming classical machines for specific tasks might be seen by 2025, with the likelihood increasing by 2026. Fault Tolerance: Techniques for fault-tolerant quantum computers might gain traction by 2027. Quantum Usefulness: Conquering specific commercial problems with quantum computing might take until the late 2020s or the beginning of the 2030s. Another Round of Quantum IPOs: The quantum computing industry may see another round of IPOs in 2025. Quantum Investment Benefits from AI Fatigue: Investors may shift their focus from AI to quantum computing in 2025. Wildcard Quantum Advantage: There is a possibility of unexpected breakthroughs in quantum advantage in 2025. The Convergence of Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence One of the most significant trends in quantum computing is its increasing convergence with artificial intelligence (AI). This convergence has the potential to unlock new capabilities and accelerate the development of both fields. Quantum computers can potentially enhance AI algorithms by: Speeding up machine learning: Quantum algorithms can potentially accelerate the training and execution of machine learning models. Improving optimization: Quantum computers can be used to solve complex optimization problems that are intractable for classical computers, leading to more efficient AI systems. Enabling new AI applications: Quantum computing could enable new AI applications in areas such as drug discovery, materials science, and financial modeling. Insights: The convergence of quantum computing and AI is still in its early stages, but it holds immense promise for the future. As quantum computers become more powerful and reliable, they are likely to play an increasingly important role in the development and deployment of AI systems. Geopolitical Implications of Quantum Computing The development of quantum computing has significant geopolitical implications. Countries around the world are investing heavily in quantum research and development, recognizing its potential to disrupt industries and national security. Competition between nations: The US, China, and Europe are leading the race in quantum computing, with each region investing heavily in research and development. National quantum initiatives: Many countries have launched national quantum initiatives to support research, development, and commercialization of quantum technologies. Quantum technology and national security: Quantum computing has the potential to break current encryption methods, posing a threat to national security. This has led to increased investment in quantum-resistant cryptography and the development of quantum technologies for defense applications. Insights: The geopolitical landscape of quantum computing is complex and evolving. As the technology matures, it is likely to become a key area of competition and cooperation between nations. Entities and Milestones: A 10-Year Forecast Based on the research and analysis presented above, here is a forecast of the entities and milestones likely to shape quantum computing over the next 10 years: | Entity Type | Name | Likely Influence | Works cited 1. Breakthroughs in Quantum Computing - Wevolver, https://www.wevolver.com/article/breakthroughs-in-quantum-computing 2. Top Quantum Computing Research Institutes in 2024 - IndustryWired, https://industrywired.com/top-quantum-computing-research-institutes-in-2024/ 3. Top 11 Companies Working on Quantum Computers [2025 Updated], https://www.spinquanta.com/newsDetail/abd24f69-bb63-4d88-aeaf-0fde297b9782 4. 6 Companies Working With Photonic Quantum Computing Technology in 2024, https://thequantuminsider.com/2022/03/24/6-quantum-computing-companies-working-with-photonic-technology/ 5. Influencers of Quantum Tech: 11 Influential People You Should Probably be Following, https://thequantuminsider.com/2021/04/23/influencers-of-quantum-tech-11-influential-people-you-should-probably-be-following/ 6. Which Quantum Computing Stocks Are Most Likely to Make You a ..., https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/02/02/which-quantum-computing-stocks-are-most-likely-to/ 7. 8 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in 2025 | The Motley Fool, https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/information-technology/ai-stocks/quantum-computing-stocks/ 8. www.fool.com, https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/02/02/which-quantum-computing-stocks-are-most-likely-to/#:~:text=High%2Drisk%20and%20potentially%20high,theoretically%20be%20a%20millionaire%20maker. 9. Top 10: Quantum Computing Companies | Technology Magazine, https://technologymagazine.com/top10/top-10-quantum-computing-companies 10. ATOS on quantum technologies - Université Paris-Saclay, https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en/atos-quantum-technologies 11. 10 Leading Quantum Computing Companies at the Forefront, https://www.bluequbit.io/quantum-computing-companies 12. What are Photonic Qubits ? - QuEra Computing, https://www.quera.com/glossary/photonic-qubits 13. 5 Best Quantum Computing Companies of 2025 - Securities.io, https://www.securities.io/quantum-computing-companies-2025/ 14. Top 10 Quantum Technology Business Stories of 2024, https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/19/top-10-quantum-technology-business-stories-of-2024/ 15. www.darkreading.com, https://www.darkreading.com/cyber-risk/quantum-computing-advances-2024-security-spotlight#:~:text=The%20quest%20to%20create%20a,advance%20toward%20advanced%20quantum%20computing. 16. Microsoft unveils Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum processor powered by topological qubits, https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/quantum/2025/02/19/microsoft-unveils-majorana-1-the-worlds-first-quantum-processor-powered-by-topological-qubits/ 17. Topological quantum processor marks breakthrough in computing | The Current, https://news.ucsb.edu/2025/021760/topological-quantum-processor-marks-breakthrough-computing 18. Quantum computing’s six most important trends for 2025 - Moody’s, https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/insights/quantum/quantum-computings-six-most-important-trends-for-2025.html 19. 10 Quantum Computing Predictions for 2024, https://www.quantum-machines.co/blog/quantum-computing-predictions-for-2024/ 20. Product - Singularity - Multiverse Computing, https://multiversecomputing.com/product 21. TQI’s 2025 Predictions For The Quantum Industry, https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/30/tqis-2025-predictions-for-the-quantum-industry/ 22. Quantinuum Touts Generative Quantum AI’s Massive Commercial Potential, https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/02/04/quantinuum-touts-g