State Of An Emerging Quantum Computing Technology Ecosystem And Areas Of Business Applications.

Quantum Computing Hardware.

The ecosystem's hardware is a major barrier. The problem is both technical and structural in nature. 

• The first issue is growing the number of qubits in a quantum computer while maintaining a high degree of qubit quality. 

• Hardware has a high barrier to entry because it requires a rare mix of cash, experimental and theoretical quantum physics competence, and deep knowledge—particularly domain knowledge of the necessary implementation possibilities. 

Several quantum-computing hardware platforms are presently in the works. 

The realization of completely error-corrected, fault-tolerant quantum computing will be the most significant milestone, since a quantum computer cannot give precise, mathematically accurate outputs without it. 

• Experts argue over whether quantum computers can provide substantial commercial value until they are entirely fault resilient. 

• Many argue, however, that a lack of fault tolerance does not render quantum-computing systems unworkable. 

When will we be able to tolerate flaws as in produce viable fault-tolerant quantum computing systems? 

Most hardware companies are cautious to publish their development intentions, although a handful have done so openly. 

By 2030, five manufacturers have said that they will have fault-tolerant quantum computing hardware. 

If this timeframe holds true, the industry will most likely have established a distinct quantum advantage for many applications by then. 

Quantum Computing Software.

The number of software-focused startups is growing at a higher rate than any other part of the quantum-computing value chain. 

• Sector players in the software industry today provide bespoke services and want to provide turnkey services as the industry matures. 

• Organizations will be able to update their software tools and ultimately adopt completely quantum tools as quantum-computing software develops. 

• Quantum computing, in the meanwhile, necessitates a new programming paradigm—as well as a new software stack. 

• The bigger industry players often distribute their software-development kits for free in order to foster developer communities around their goods. 

Quantum Computing Cloud-Based Services. 

In the end, cloud-based quantum-computing services may become the most important aspect of the ecosystem, and those who manage them may reap enormous riches. 

• Most cloud computing service providers now give access to quantum computers on their platforms, allowing prospective customers to try out the technology. 

• Due to the impossibility of personal or mobile quantum computing this decade, early users may have to rely on the cloud to get a taste of the technology before the wider ecosystem grows. 

Ecosystem of Quantum Computing.

The foundations for a quantum-computing business have started to take shape. 

According to our analysis, the value at stake for quantum-computing businesses is close to $80 billion (not to be confused with the value that quantum-computing use cases could generate). 

Private And Public Funding For Quantum Computing

Because quantum computing is still a relatively new topic, the bulk of funding for fundamental research is currently provided by the government. 

Private financing, on the other hand, is fast expanding. 

Investments in quantum computing start-ups have topped $1.7 billion in 2021 alone, more than double the amount raised in 2020. 

• As quantum computer commercialization gathers steam, I anticipate private financing to increase dramatically. 

• If leaders prepare now, a blossoming quantum-computing ecosystem and developing commercial use cases promise to produce enormous value for sectors. 

Quantum computing's fast advancements serve as potent reminders that the technology is soon approaching commercial viability. 

• For example, a Japanese research institute recently revealed a breakthrough in entangling qubits (quantum's fundamental unit of information, equivalent to bits in conventional computers) that might enhance error correction in quantum systems and pave the way for large-scale quantum computers. 

• In addition, an Australian business has created software that has been demonstrated to boost the performance of any quantum-computing hardware in trials. 

• Investment funds are flowing in, and quantum-computing start-ups are sprouting as advancements speed. 

• Quantum computing is still being developed by major technological firms, with Alibaba, Amazon, IBM, Google, and Microsoft having already introduced commercial quantum-computing cloud services. 

Of course, all of this effort does not always equate to commercial success. 

While quantum computing has the potential to help organizations tackle challenges that are beyond the reach and speed of traditional high-performance computers, application cases are still mostly experimental and conceptual. 

• Indeed, academics are still disputing the field's most fundamental concerns (for more on these unresolved questions, see the sidebar "Quantum Computing Debates"). 

• Nonetheless, the behavior shows that CIOs and other executives who have been keeping an eye on quantum-computing developments may no longer be considered spectators. 

• Leaders should begin to plan their quantum-computing strategy, particularly in businesses like pharmaceuticals that might profit from commercial quantum computing early on. 

• Change might arrive as early as 2030, according to some firms, who anticipate that practical quantum technologies will be available by then. 

I conducted extensive research and interviewed experts from around the world about quantum hardware, software, and applications; the emerging quantum-computing ecosystem; possible business use cases; and the most important drivers of the quantum-computing market to help leaders get started planning. 

~ Jai Krishna Ponnappan

Further Reading:

• Quantum Computing's Future Outlook.

• Quantum Computing - Areas Of Application. 

You may also want to read more about Quantum Computing here.

Quantum Computing's Future Outlook.

 

Corporate executives from all sectors should plan for quantum computing's development. 

I predict that quantum-computing use cases will have a hybrid operating model that is a mix of quantum and traditional high-performance computing until about 2030. 

• Quantum-inspired algorithms, for example, may improve traditional high-performance computers. 

• In order to develop quantum hardware and allow greater—and more complex—use cases beyond 2030, intensive continuous research by private enterprises and governmental organizations will be required. 

• The route to commercialization of the technology will be determined by six important factors: finance, accessibility, standards, industry consortia, talent, and digital infrastructure. 

Outsiders to the quantum-computing business should take five tangible measures to prepare for quantum computing's maturation: 

• With an in-house team of quantum-computing specialists or by partnering with industry organizations and joining a quantum-computing consortium, keep up with industry advances and actively screen quantum-computing application cases. 

• Recognize the most important risks, disruptions, and opportunities in their respective businesses. 

• Consider partnering with or investing in quantum-computing players (mainly software) to make knowledge and expertise more accessible. 

• Consider hiring quantum-computing experts in-house. Even a small team of up to three specialists may be sufficient to assist a company in exploring prospective use cases and screening potential quantum computing strategic investments. 

• Build a digital infrastructure that can handle the fundamental operational needs of quantum computing, store important data in digital databases, and configure traditional computing processes to be quantum-ready whenever more powerful quantum hardware becomes available. 

Every industry's leaders have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to keep on top of a generation-defining technology. 

The reward might be strategic insights and increased company value.

~ Jai Krishna Ponnappan

You may also want to read more about Quantum Computing here.

Quantum Computing - Areas Of Application.

 

Quantum simulation, quantum linear algebra for AI and machine learning, quantum optimization and search, and quantum factorization are the four most well-known application cases. 

I go through them in detail in this paper, as well as issues leaders should think about when evaluating prospective use cases. 

I concentrate on prospective applications in a few areas that, according to studies, might profit the most in the near term from the technology: medicines, chemicals, automotive, and finance. 

The total value at risk for these sectors might be between $300 billion and $700 billion (to be cautious). 

Chemicals

Chemicals may benefit from quantum computing for R&D, manufacturing, and supply-chain optimization. 

• Consider how quantum computing may be utilized to enhance catalyst designs in the manufacturing process. 

• New and improved catalysts, for example, could allow existing production processes to save energy—a single catalyst can increase efficiency by up to 15%—and innovative catalysts could allow for the replacement of petrochemicals with more sustainable feedstocks or the breakdown of carbon for CO2 usage. 

A realistic 5 to 10% efficiency boost in the chemicals sector, which spends $800 billion on production each year (half of which depends on catalysis), would result in a $20 billion to $40 billion gain in value. 

Pharmaceuticals

Quantum computing has the potential to improve the biopharmaceutical industry's research and development of molecular structures, as well as providing value in manufacturing and farther down the value chain. 

• New medications, for example, cost an average of $2 billion and take more than 10 years to reach the market once they are discovered in R&D. 

• Quantum computing has the potential to make R&D more quicker, more focused, and accurate by reducing the reliance on trial and error in target identification, drug design, and toxicity assessment. 

• A shorter R&D timetable might help deliver medications to the correct patients sooner and more efficiently—in other words, it would enhance the quality of life of more people. 

• Quantum computing might also improve production, logistics, and the supply chain. 

While it's difficult to predict how much revenue or patient impact such advancements will have, in a $1.5 trillion industry with average EBIT margins of 16 percent (by our calculations), even a 1 to 5% revenue increase would result in $15 billion to $75 billion in additional revenue and $2 billion to $12 billion in EBIT. 

Finance

Quantum-computing applications in banking remain a ways off, and the benefits of any short-term applications are speculative. 

• However, I feel that portfolio and risk management are the most potential applications of quantum computing in finance. 

• Quantum-optimized loan portfolios that concentrate on collateral, for example, might let lenders to enhance their services by decreasing interest rates and freeing up money. 

Although it is too early—and complicated—to evaluate the value potential of quantum computing–enhanced collateral management, the worldwide loan industry is estimated to be $6.9 trillion in 2021, implying that quantum optimization might have a substantial influence.

Automobiles

Quantum computing can help the automotive sector with R&D, product design, supply-chain management, manufacturing, mobility, and traffic management. 

• By improving features such as route planning in complicated multirobot processes (the path a robot travels to perform a job), such as welding, gluing, and painting, the technology might, for example, reduce manufacturing process–related costs and cut cycle times. 

Even a 2% to 5% increase in efficiency might provide $10 billion to $25 billion in annual value in an industry that spends $500 billion on manufacturing expenditures. 

~ Jai Krishna Ponnappan

You may also want to read more about Quantum Computing here.