September 28, 2026
Quantum is moving beyond the laboratory, with advances in computing, sensing, communications, and security increasingly translating into economic opportunities for enterprises and governments. The Avasant-UCLA joint report, The Quantum Economy: Technology, Talent, and the Race for Competitive Advantage, provides a comprehensive view of this transition and the forces shaping the next phase of the quantum ecosystem.
Developed as part of Avasant’s SPARQAI program, the report draws on Avasant’s research and extensive ecosystem engagements, as well as UCLA’s technical research expertise. It examines how quantum technologies are progressing from technical development toward commercial adoption. It covers the following aspects:
- Quantum foundations: Applications, adoption pathways, and considerations
- Technology landscape: Tech stack, commercial readiness, and road map
- Enterprise readiness: Evaluation frameworks, adoption maturity, and trends
- Market opportunity: Economic impact and industry applications
- Workforce outlook: Talent growth projections, emerging roles, and skills
- The global race: Investment, innovation, and tech sovereignty
“Quantum is moving into a new phase where the question is no longer whether the technology will mature, but how quickly enterprises and nations can translate these advances into strategic and economic value,” said Avasant Managing Partner Akshay Khanna. “The winners will be those that build the right ecosystem across technology, talent, infrastructure, and partnerships well before quantum reaches broad commercial scale.”
Rather than predicting when large-scale quantum computing will arrive, the report takes a broader view of the quantum transition, identifying what is already commercially viable, where adoption is accelerating, what breakthroughs could unlock the next wave of value, and where organizations should begin preparing now.
The following are some key findings from the report:
- Enterprise adoption: Over 25% of G2000 companies are now actively working on quantum technologies, up from less than 5% three years ago.
- Adoption mix: Quantum adoption is led by computing, which accounts for 69% of initiatives, followed by communications at 25% and sensing at 6%.
- Economic impact: Quantum technologies could add up to USD 1.4T to the global economy by 2035, led by BFSI, manufacturing, energy, and high-tech sectors.
- Workforce impact: The quantum economy is expected to create over 4.1 million jobs by 2035, growing at nearly 37% CAGR.
- Technology landscape: Superconducting leads hardware at 28%; Qiskit leads software at 70%; and EU leads hardware vendor concentration at 23%; however, quantum leadership remains up for grabs.
- National readiness: Sovereignty is the next defining theme in quantum, yet only 30% of countries have a national road map.
“Our research shows that quantum adoption is already moving beyond experimentation, with enterprises beginning to invest across computing, sensing, and quantum-safe security,” said Avasant Director Chandrika Dutt. “The next phase will be defined by practical use cases, measurable business value, and the capabilities needed to integrate quantum into the broader enterprise technology stack.”
The report builds on Avasant’s earlier work on quantum, including its market study with NASSCOM on India’s quantum landscape, The Quantum Revolution in India: Betting Big on Quantum Supremacy, covering technology development, workforce, startups, government initiatives, industry participation, and enterprise adoption.
About Avasant
Avasant is a leading management consulting firm focused on translating the power of technology into realizable business strategies. Specializing in digital and IT transformation, sourcing advisory, global strategy, and governance services, Avasant prides itself on delivering high-value engagements through industry-focused innovation and flexible client-based solutions.
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About Avasant Quantum Strategy & Advisory
Avasant helps enterprises, technology providers, and governments navigate the transition from quantum experimentation to commercial adoption. Our quantum advisory combines market intelligence, technology assessment, use-case prioritization, ecosystem analysis, workforce strategy, and sourcing expertise to help organizations identify where quantum can create value and when to invest.
We work across quantum computing, security, communications, and sensing, supporting clients in developing practical road maps, building ecosystem partnerships, evaluating technology and service providers, and preparing the talent, operating models, and infrastructure required to test and scale quantum capabilities.
Learn more about Avasant Quantum Strategy & Advisory.