Quantum computing technologies have the power to transform the way we compute, communicate and measure the world around us, driving a new quantum era with applications ranging from defense to health. The global quantum market is expected to reach around €93 billion by 2035.
According to a new study published today by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the quantum technologies ecosystem is growing rapidly, consolidating an emerging quantum industry, with a greater number of new companies, an increase in investment and a solid increase in quantum innovation; however, it faces challenges related to quantum scaling and commercialization. Spain has taken decisive steps in the last two years to strengthen its position in the quantum field, integrating these quantum technologies into its national recovery and resilience plans.
As part of the biennial work plan of the EPO Patent and Technology Observatory, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the quantum ecosystem, assessing the quantum value chain by analyzing patent activity, investments, training, supply chain and public policies related to quantum science. The publication coincides with the United Nations International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ).
“Quantum technologies have enormous potential, but they are still in an early quantum development stage,” said EPO President António Campinos. “As this study and the Draghi report highlight, the EU has room to increase its investment in quantum and strengthen its quantum technological sovereignty, especially compared to leading countries such as the United States. Private sector funding is now needed to commercialize quantum basic research, and governments should make this a strategic quantum priority.”
According to the study, the number of international patent families (IPFs) in quantum – a set of patent applications filed in several countries for the same quantum invention – has increased five-fold in the last decade.
The report identifies three major subsectors of quantum technology: quantum communication, quantum computing (including quantum simulation technologies), and quantum sensing. Quantum communication concentrated the largest number of IPFs until 2022. However, it is quantum computing that has experienced the greatest growth, increasing about 60 times since 2005, and is emerging as the quantum segment that would dominate the ecosystem.
Spain promotes a national strategy
Spain has registered 67 international patent families (IPFs) in quantum technologies between 2005 and 2024, reflecting a growing quantum scientific capacity. The country registers 2.7% of companies with purely quantum activities, according to the study, and concentrates 0.9% of the funds allocated to these quantum-based companies. In fact, there are 36 quantum companies in Spain, of which 21 are dedicated solely and exclusively to the quantum sector.
In order to strengthen the national quantum ecosystem and prepare society for the changes that these disruptive quantum technologies will bring, in April of this year the Government launched the first Spanish Strategy for Quantum Technologies, with an estimated budget that amounts to 808 million euros, coming mainly from FEDER funds and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, with a potential to mobilize up to 1,500 million euros if additional public and private investments in infrastructure are added. quantum.
In line with this quantum strategy, the Council of Ministers approved the royal decree that creates the Quantum Communications Hub, intended to bring together the main Spanish public actors in quantum communications and consolidate a quantum network of research, development and implementation. The initiative foresees significant investments in key scientific institutions in the quantum field, such as the Institute of Photonic Sciences of Catalonia (more than 2.4 million euros), the Quantum Information and Communications Group of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (more than 1.4 million euros), the Donostia International Physics Center Foundation (930,000 euros) or the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (480,000 euros).
Quantum technologies at a global level
Innovative countries around the world have generated around 9,740 quantum IPFs between 2005 and 2024, consolidating a highly competitive global quantum market. The United States leads the ranking, followed by Europe, Japan, China and South Korea. Within Europe, the top three countries in number of quantum patents are Germany, the United Kingdom and France. Europe has also seen the emergence of numerous quantum startups, such as the French C12 and PASQAL, included as case studies in the report, although many face difficulties in financing and quantum scaling.
The quantum ecosystem currently has more than 4,500 companies, of which less than 1,000 (just under 20%) have quantum as their main activity. These quantum companies are usually startups and largely depend on initial investment and public funds aimed at quantum innovation. Companies that do not have quantum as their main activity (80%) concentrate the majority of patents in this quantum field, are the ones that create the most jobs and, in addition, are best positioned to commercialize these quantum technologies on a large scale.
There are 36 quantum companies in Spain, of which 21 are dedicated solely and exclusively to the quantum sector
Europe is home to one of the densest clusters of quantum-only companies in the world, with percentages close to 40% in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France. This is in stark contrast to the United States, where the proportion of companies focused only on quantum is lower (20%). In the United States there is a greater presence of technological giants, which distribute their activity in multiple technological fields, not only in quantum, but also in other advanced digital areas.
Companies with patents
The top five quantum patent applicants between 2005 and 2024 globally were IBM, LG, Toshiba, Intel and Microsoft, all of them with clear strategies in quantum research. European companies such as IQM Finland and Robert Bosch are also among the top applicants in quantum computing and quantum sensing, respectively. Four of the five leading universities in quantum patents are American, led by MIT and Harvard. The CNRS stands out as the only European public institution among the top 20 patent applicants in this quantum field.
The study indicates that collaboration between public research centers, startups and large companies is increasingly important for sustainable quantum innovation. The quantum sector also faces challenges such as increasing concentration and dependence on global supply chains for quantum-critical components. Additionally, quantum companies must ensure both the availability of highly trained technical personnel in quantum science and the integration of cross-cutting skills necessary to support quantum commercialization.
