By Jennifer Zaino
Though the United States has more quantum computing than anyone, when it comes to quantum communications, China leads. Investments in quantum computing are roaring back after a one-year dip. And a survey finds that thinking about quantum cryptography makes one in four Americans nervous.
These are among the many findings of the MIT Quantum Index Report 2025. Hot off the press, the nearly 120-page report offers a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of the current state of quantum computing. The report’s editorial team was led by Jonathan Ruane (pictured above)— a Research Scientist with the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE) and a Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School — and includes three officers at IDE partner Accenture.
Ruane and company say we’re now in quantum computing’s second revolution. The first revolution gave us the rules of the quantum world, then applied those rules to create groundbreaking technologies. By contrast, the second revolution is all about controlling and engineering quantum systems directly. That includes using qubits for computing and entangled photons for communications.
Leadership Differences
The MIT report explores different quantum computing paths being pursued by global leaders. For example, it shows how China is focusing on using quantum computing for specific national priorities, including infrastructure. Indeed, China leads the world in both quantum communications — particularly satellite-based systems — and patents.
That leadership includes China’s space-based quantum communications, which utilizes satellites and long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) networks. Market intelligence provider Quantum Insider Intelligence says China’s intercontinental communication network is advancing resistance to hacking, giving it potential applications in finance, national security and other sensitive fields.
By contrast, the United States is the clear leader in quantum computing research quality and impact. The country is foremost in the number and diversity of quantum processing units (QPUs), making it the front-runner in quantum computing’s commercialization.
In addition, the U.S. and Europe together have the greatest number of quantum networking test beds — a total of 28, the MIT report finds. This strategic investment approach in technological validation and risk mitigation helps to keep the focus on scaling mature, promising technologies for more extensive networks.
Test beds are essential for advancing quantum networking, the MIT report notes. They provide realistic environments in which users can explore the performance, interoperability and scalability of their quantum components.
Test beds can also help organizations address a potential talent shortage. In the U.S., demand for workers with quantum skills has nearly tripled since 2018, according to the report. Test beds can help by providing hands-on opportunities for students, researchers and engineers to develop their quantum skills. In addition, companies can use test beds to align their products with the latest findings from government and academic research.
Quantum Funding
A great deal of money is being invested in quantum computing, the MIT report shows. Companies based in the U.S. secured the most funding: close to $5 billion during the years 2012 to 2024. Last year, quantum technology funding in the top 10 countries approached $2.5 billion, following a 40% decline in the previous year [Figure 1, below].
While these numbers may sound big — and they certainly are — quantum technology investment still represents less than 1% of total venture funding worldwide.
That said, the overall consistent upward investment trend across the globe indicates a growing recognition of the technology’s strategic performance. It also shows a desire to create companies able to turn scientific research efforts into commercial success.
General awareness of quantum technology is on an upswing, too. The Quantum Index Report’s authors analyzed more than 58,000 corporate documents issued between 2022 and 2024, including news stories, expert calls and research documents. This analysis, the authors write, reflected “an expanding awareness and importance of quantum concepts.”
More specifically, the authors find that during the first quarter of 2024, quantum technology was mentioned in 25 corporate earnings calls, up sharply from just six mentions in the same period of 2016. This, they write, “reflects an increasing and broader commercial interest in quantum computing.”
Public Awareness: Mixed
The general public, however, is neither completely familiar with quantum technology nor fully convinced of its value.
To explore this topic, the authors of the MIT report surveyed 1,375 U.S. residents in October 2024, all aligned with U.S. Census Bureau distributions for both gender and age groups. In this survey, the authors aimed to determine respondents’ attitudes, awareness and expectations surrounding quantum technology.
The survey’s main finding: Quantum computing awareness tends to cluster at ends of the spectrum. That is, people either have minimal exposure to the technology or they have invested significant time in understanding it. “Quantum computing represents a complex technology whose ultimate societal impact remains uncertain for the general public,” the authors write.
In one survey question, respondents were asked to consider three uses of quantum computing: discovering new materials, optimization, and data security/cryptography. Then the respondents were asked whether these uses made them feel nervous, excited or nothing much.
For the discovery of new materials, nearly one in five respondents (18%) said it made them somewhat or very nervous, while slightly over half (52%) said the application left them somewhat or very excited. Optimization fared about the same, making 18% nervous and just over half (51%) excited. But quantum’s use in data security and cryptography made more respondents nervous — about one in four (24%).
Yet nearly a third of respondents said they were neither nervous nor excited about any of the three applications. As the MIT report authors explain, that indicates either uncertainty about the implications or a wait-and-see attitude toward this emerging technology [Figure 2, below]. “Public acceptance of quantum computing,” they write, “may depend heavily on how its applications are framed and communicated.”
The Quantum Index Report is committed to bridging science, commercialization, entrepreneurship and societal needs for the quantum community. The methodology supports this goal by tracking, measuring and visualizing trends across research, development, education and public acceptance. Public data — including from academic, industry and policy sources — has been aggregated. In addition, original data has been contributed, and new metrics have been extracted by combining data series.
In such a new field, though, it is not surprising that data can be sparse, hard to discover and difficult to gather. To help overcome these challenges, the MIT report’s authors are eager for industry members and other stakeholders to contribute their own data on an ongoing basis. Their goal: keep the Quantum Index Report updated and relevant while fostering collaboration and innovation.
Read the interactive MIT Quantum Index Report 2025.
Jennifer Zaino is a contributing writer and editor to the MIT IDE.