Thought Leadership
According to an industry survey by QuEra, budgets for quantum computing are largely holding steady. But companies and government agencies are increasingly demanding solid results rather than mere promises.
The market for quantum computing is entering a new phase. Budgets can no longer be justified through competitive pressure and visions of the future alone. That is the takeaway from the second part of the 2026 Quantum Readiness Report by US provider QuEra Computing, which surveyed 291 professionals from more than 25 countries in December 2025.
Key findings at a glance
- 46 percent of respondents expect stable quantum budgets in 2026, 44 percent anticipate higher spending, and 10 percent expect cuts.
- Only nine percent cite successful pilot projects as the main reason for increased investment.
- 28 percent point to government funding programs as the central driver, with public agencies and defense seen as the strongest growth engine over the next three years.
- 62 percent actively factor technological sovereignty into procurement decisions.
- 37 percent name the shortage of skilled workers as the biggest hurdle, ranking ahead of hardware and algorithms.
Boards hit the brakes while engineers push for speed
The study reveals a clear gap within organizations. Executives are more cautious about rising quantum budgets than researchers and technical staff. Investments are increasingly evaluated using traditional criteria such as capital allocation and economic viability. Enthusiasm for the technology is no longer enough to secure approval.
“Potential customers today want fewer promises and more proof,” says Yuval Boger, Chief Commercial Officer at QuEra. With around a hundred quantum companies on the market, executives are asking two questions above all: which firms are financially strong enough for the long haul, and who can make a scientifically convincing case for a path to more powerful systems.
The public sector as a central source of funding
The role of the state remains striking. In terms of expected market development, public agencies and defense organizations lead at 24 percent, followed by large enterprises at 20 percent and pharmaceuticals and life sciences at 11 percent. The financial industry, once viewed as a frontrunner, comes in last at five percent. The sector appears to be waiting for fully fault-tolerant systems before reentering the field in earnest.
Sovereignty and the skills shortage as bottlenecks
Geopolitics is increasingly making its way into procurement departments. In the United States, performance-oriented global sourcing strategies dominate, while in the EU sovereignty, robust supply chains, and regional expertise carry more weight. Anyone targeting the European market can hardly avoid regional partnerships.
According to the survey, the biggest obstacle to broad adoption is not technology but talent. The situation is especially tight in quantum error correction, a key area on the road to fault-tolerant systems. Only a few specialists work in this field worldwide, and universities are not expanding their training capacity fast enough to meet demand.
(lb/QuEra)
