Why do the reports disagree?
Reports on quantum technologies often give different figures for what sounds like the same thing. This page puts their estimates side by side with the year, the geography, what was counted, the population and the method, so that the reasons for a difference are visible. Estimates are never averaged, added up or reconciled into one figure; where comparability is unknown, the page says so.
Lack of staff as a barrier to quantum computing
Share of surveyed companies citing a lack of personnel resources as a barrier.
Comparability: One source only so far. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitkom e.V. | 65 percent | 2025 (Observation) | Germany | Quantum computing. Companies in Germany with 100 or more employees (n=607), multiple answers | Representative survey by Bitkom Research, autumn 2025. | printed page 34, PDF page 34, 4.4 Challenges and Support Needs, Figure 23 |
Depth of company engagement with quantum computing
Share of surveyed companies engaging deeply with quantum computing or using it in production.
Comparability: Survey populations differ completely (German companies with 100 or more employees against screened quantum practitioners worldwide); the shares are not comparable. 2 publishers. Read the definitions before comparing; no combined figure is given.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitkom e.V. | 8 percent | 2025 (Observation) | Germany | Quantum computing. Companies in Germany with 100 or more employees, manufacturing and services (n=607) | Representative survey by Bitkom Research, weeks 42 to 48 of 2025, weighted on VAT statistics, margin of error 3 points. The summary says telephone survey; the methods table says online survey. | printed page 21, PDF page 21, 2.2 Level of Engagement, Figure 14 |
| IQM Quantum Computers | 3% | 2026 (Observation) | Worldwide (EMEA, Americas, Asia-Pacific) | Quantum computing. Industry respondents screened for active quantum engagement (dedicated budget, staff or pilot); 70 industry respondents of 107 | Survey by Resonance, March to May 2026, for a report published by a quantum computer manufacturer; not representative of all businesses. | printed page 45, PDF page 45, Theme III, Enterprise Adoption, Text above Figure 17 |
Founders of core quantum firms holding a PhD
Share of founders of core quantum firms whose highest degree is a PhD, among founders with known education.
Comparability: One source only so far. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OECD and European Patent Office | 58% | 2025 (Observation) | Worldwide | Core quantum firms. 657 of 1,208 identified founders of core quantum firms with education information (Crunchbase) | OECD calculations, STI Micro-data Lab, October 2025. | printed page 19, PDF page 19, Executive summary, 4. High technological complexity and skill requirements, Figure E7 and its notes |
Quantum computers installed at national HPC centres
Quantum computer installations at national high-performance computing centres, by world region.
Comparability: Regions are EMEA, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, not Europe or the EU27. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IQM Quantum Computers | 21 of 32 (installations) | 2025-2026-Q1 (Observation) | EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa; not the EU27) | Quantum computers at HPC centres. Installations at national HPC centres tracked by The Quantum Insider | Market transaction data of The Quantum Insider, checked against public information. | printed page 38, PDF page 38, Theme II, HPC-Quantum Computing programs perspective, Text and Figure 15 |
Companies without internal quantum computing skills
Share of surveyed companies reporting no internal capability to apply quantum computing or defend against it.
Comparability: One source only so far. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitkom e.V. | 61 percent | 2025 (Observation) | Germany | Quantum computing. Companies in Germany with 100 or more employees interested in or using quantum computing (n=463) | Representative survey by Bitkom Research, autumn 2025. | printed page 31, PDF page 31, 4.2 Skills and Professional Development, Figure 20 |
International quantum patent families by applicant location
Quantum patent families filed in more than one jurisdiction, counted by the applicant's country or group.
Comparability: Patent filings (as some industry reports count them) are not international patent families. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OECD and European Patent Office | 2,193 (patent families) | 2005-2024 (Observation) | European Patent Convention member states (not the EU27) | Quantum technologies. International patent families by applicant country, EPO data of October 2025 | EPO patent data; families filed in more than one jurisdiction, counted by applicant location. | printed page 44, PDF page 44, 3.3.1 Country relevance in quantum innovation, Text beside Figure 3.3.1, Panel B |
| OECD and European Patent Office | Not available | 2005-2024 (Observation) | EU27 | Quantum technologies. Patent families by applicant country | Chart values are not estimated by eye; a value needs a stated figure or a recorded reading method with its uncertainty. | printed page 44, PDF page 44, 3.3.1 Country relevance in quantum innovation, Figure 3.3.1, Panel A, All EU bar |
Investment in quantum companies, worldwide
Money invested in companies working on quantum technologies in one year. Publishers count different things: venture capital only, all private and public investment in start-ups, or all investment in quantum technology.
Comparability: Not comparable without reading each definition: the investors, the kinds of company and the deal types counted differ. 2 publishers. Read the definitions before comparing; no combined figure is given.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IQM Quantum Computers | $10-$12 billion (USD billion) | 2025 (Estimate) | Worldwide | Quantum technology, mostly quantum computing. Investment tracked by Resonance (The Quantum Insider) | Resonance analysis for a report published by a quantum computer manufacturer; the range is the publisher's. | printed page 27, PDF page 27, Theme II, The Quantum Computing market today, Second paragraph and footnote 11 |
| Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), managed by SRI International | $4.9 billion (USD billion) | 2025 (Estimate) | Worldwide | Quantum technologies. Private venture capital deals in quantum companies | QED-C estimate of venture capital only; excludes public money and other deal types. | Press release of 14 April 2026, Paragraph on public funding and venture capital |
Countries with national quantum strategies or programmes
The number of countries with a national strategy, programme or tailored policy for quantum technologies.
Comparability: Country sets and definitions differ: QuantERA surveyed its 31 member countries; the OECD counts tailored policies worldwide and comprehensive strategies of OECD members. 2 publishers. Read the definitions before comparing; no combined figure is given.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuantERA | 10 countries | 2023 (Observation) | QuantERA member countries (31 EU Member States and associated countries) | Quantum technologies. 41 QuantERA Consortium members from 31 countries, spring 2023 survey | Self-reported inventory by research funding organisations; five further countries had strategies in development and five had significant government initiatives. | printed page 16, PDF page 16, Key findings, National policies, National QT strategies and initiatives |
| OECD and European Patent Office | over 30 countries (18 OECD countries with comprehensive strategies) | 2025 (Observation) | Worldwide | Quantum technologies. Countries with quantum policies | OECD count of national policies; a tailored policy is broader than a comprehensive strategy. | printed page 2, PDF page 2, Forewords, Foreword by the OECD Secretary-General |
Italian and international quantum scenario (Politecnico di Milano)
Figures of the Osservatorio Quantum Computing and Communication on public funding, strategies and company activity.
Comparability: Not available: the full report needs an account. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osservatori Digital Innovation, Politecnico di Milano | Not available | 2024 (Observation) | Italy, with worldwide context | Quantum computing and communication. Not known | Not known: the report was not read. | Report page, description and access notice |
Public funding commitments for quantum, worldwide, cumulative
Total amounts governments have announced for quantum research and innovation over several years.
Comparability: Announced commitments, not expenditure; totals rest on public announcements and may include multi-year and legacy budgets. 2 publishers. Read the definitions before comparing; no combined figure is given.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OECD and European Patent Office | an estimated USD 55.7 billion | 2013-2025-07 (Estimate) | Worldwide | Quantum science and technology. Government commitments announced since 2013 | Secondary figure: the report cites QURECA (2025); announcements may include legacy budgets and non-governmental money. | printed page 117, PDF page 117, 8.2 Government funding, Second column, first paragraph |
| Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), managed by SRI International | an estimated $56.7 billion (USD billion) | end of 2025 (Estimate) | Worldwide | Quantum technologies. Public funding commitments announced worldwide | QED-C estimate; cumulative commitments, not disbursements; the public release does not describe the method. | Press release of 14 April 2026, Paragraph on public funding commitments |
Workforce of pure-play quantum companies, worldwide
People employed by companies whose business is quantum technology.
Comparability: One source only so far. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), managed by SRI International | nearly 16,500 (people) | 2025 (Estimate) | Worldwide | Quantum technologies. Employees of pure-play quantum companies | QED-C estimate; the publication page shows 16,482. | Press release of 14 April 2026, Paragraph on the workforce |
QuantERA transnational calls: cumulative funding budget and projects
The cumulative funding budget of QuantERA's transnational calls for proposals and the number of projects funded or recommended for funding.
Comparability: The same metric in successive editions; each later edition covers more calls and supersedes the earlier one. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuantERA Superseded by a later edition | over 45 million (38 projects) (EUR million) | 2017-2020 (Observation) | QuantERA participating countries | Quantum technologies. Projects of the QuantERA calls 2017 and 2019 | Programme figures of QuantERA. The currency symbol is not in the PDF text layer; QuantERA's funded projects page states the programme budget in euro. | printed page 10, PDF page 10, QuantERA at a glance, Second column, last paragraph |
| QuantERA Superseded by a later edition | over 89 M (77 projects) (EUR million) | 2017-2023 (Observation) | QuantERA participating countries | Quantum technologies. Projects of the QuantERA calls 2017, 2019 and 2021 | Programme figures of QuantERA. The currency symbol is not in the PDF text layer; QuantERA's funded projects page states the programme budget in euro. | printed page 12, PDF page 12, QuantERA in figures, QuantERA calls for proposals, second paragraph |
| QuantERA | over EUR 170 M (140 projects) (EUR million) | 2017-2025 (Observation) | QuantERA participating countries | Quantum technologies. Projects recommended for funding in five QuantERA calls | Programme figure stated by QuantERA; recommended for funding, not necessarily disbursed. | Projects funded by QuantERA, Second paragraph |
Quantum computing market or revenue, worldwide
Revenue earned from quantum computing hardware, software, services or access in one year, or a projection of it.
Comparability: Publishers define the market differently (vendor revenue, enterprise spending, or revenue of quantum computing companies); forecasts are scenarios, not observations. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), managed by SRI International | $1.4 billion (USD billion) | 2025 (Estimate) | Worldwide | Quantum computing. Quantum computing market | QED-C market estimate; method in the full report, which needs a form. | Press release of 14 April 2026, Second paragraph |
| Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), managed by SRI International | $3 billion by 2028 (USD billion) | 2028 (Forecast, horizon 2028) | Worldwide | Quantum computing. Quantum computing market | QED-C projection from the 2025 market and 30% yearly growth; a higher path is assumed once quantum advantage is shown. | Press release of 14 April 2026, Third paragraph |
Quantum-engaged organisations, worldwide
Organisations engaged in quantum technology, including pure-play quantum companies.
Comparability: One source only so far. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), managed by SRI International | 7,418 (organisations) | end of 2025 (Observation) | Worldwide | Quantum technologies. Organisations engaged in quantum technology | QED-C count; its publication page shows 7,420, so the two QED-C pages differ by two. | Press release of 14 April 2026, Paragraph on organisations |
Occupations of quantum-related job postings
Shares of online quantum-related vacancies by occupation group.
Comparability: Online vacancies in three countries only; postings, not the workforce. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OECD and European Patent Office | 26% | 2024 (Observation) | Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States | Quantum technologies. Online vacancies collected by Lightcast, January 2021 to July 2025 | OECD analysis of Lightcast job postings; postings show demand, not the workforce. The value is the computer science share. | printed page 19, PDF page 19, Executive summary, 4. High technological complexity and skill requirements, First column, second paragraph |
Quantum programmes in national recovery and resilience plans
Countries funding quantum research through their national recovery and resilience programmes.
Comparability: One source only so far. One publisher so far; later editions and other sources will be added here.
| Publisher and edition | Value as stated | Reference period and status | Geography | What was counted, and among whom | Method | Where in the source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuantERA | 5 countries | 2023 (Observation) | QuantERA member countries (31 EU Member States and associated countries) | Quantum technologies. 41 QuantERA Consortium members from 31 countries, spring 2023 survey | Self-reported inventory; the programmes stem from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. | printed page 16, PDF page 16, Key findings, QT programmes within national recovery and resilience programmes, footnote 8 |
Why do the reports disagree? · Reports and figures · Market forecasts · Registered report sources · Approved evidence as JSON · Data sources and methods