October 29, 2025
In quantum, roadmaps help show where research and investment are headed. Each one reflects the perspective of its authors, from scientists and engineers to policymakers and business strategists, each with their own priorities and assumptions. Read collectively, they tell a deeper story. Together they reveal where the field agrees, where it diverges, and what the next five years are likely to bring. Across these maps, a shared direction is emerging toward reliability not just scale, collaboration rather than isolation, and measurable progress over incessant hype.
From more to better: the shift to reliable qubits
For much of the past decade, quantum progress was measured by qubit count. Each announcement promised a larger system and more power. The latest roadmaps from IBM, Quantinuum, IonQ, and Pasqal all show how that narrative is changing. The next era will not be defined by who has the most qubits, but by who can make them stable, repeatable, and error tolerant.
Across both academic and industry sources, the focus has moved toward logical qubits and the development of scalable error correction. This shift may seem subtle, but its importance can’t be overstated. It means the field is leaving behind raw experimentation and entering a phase of refinement. Reliable performance, even at smaller scales, will determine whether these systems become useful tools instead of research outputs.
When viewed together, public roadmaps outline similar trajectories. Despite differences in design and pacing, most are aiming for practical, error-corrected systems by the end of the decade.
Figure 1. Collective Quantum Roadmap Timeline
Global roadmaps converge on similar milestones: logical qubits, hybrid workflows, and fault-tolerant prototypes by 2029–2030.
Economic signals are coming into view
Quantum technologies have reached the point where early markets are forming. According to the Quantum Technology Monitor 2025, global quantum revenue could reach $1 billion this year and grow to more than $40 billion by 2040. That growth will not happen in a straight line, but the signs of commercial traction are becoming visible. Several roadmaps connect technical milestones to economic ones. IBM projects a path toward “quantum-centric supercomputing,” while IonQ and Rigetti emphasize integration with existing cloud platforms. These approaches show that the business value of quantum will not arrive all at once. It will build gradually as hybrid systems, where quantum processors work alongside classical ones, and prove their worth in solving targeted business problems.
Ecosystems are consolidating
Quantum is moving from isolated research programs to regional ecosystems that combine government support, academic research, and private investment. National strategies from the United States, Canada, and the European Union all outline multi-year funding structures that encourage collaboration and cross-border partnerships. Company-level roadmaps also highlight similar thinking. Pasqal’s neutral-atom strategy depends on partnerships with European labs and manufacturers, while Alice & Bob’s work on cat qubits aligns closely with French and EU initiatives. The field is organizing itself around clusters that can support the full chain of development, from materials and hardware to software and workforce training. These clusters, whether Chicago, Delft, Toronto-Waterloo, or emerging hubs, will drive much of the innovation in the coming decade.
Applications are taking shape
Across nearly every roadmap, the rise of domain-specific applications is consistent. Hardware alone will not extend value. The organizations that connect quantum capabilities to real-world use cases will lead the next phase of growth.
Classiq and Microsoft are both investing in software tools that make quantum programming more accessible. IQM is focusing on simulation and optimization for specific industries such as energy and materials science. D-Wave continues to advance quantum annealing for logistics and supply chain optimization. These efforts signal that the industry is looking for measurable results that align with practical problems.
While research roadmaps describe rapid advances, real progress will depend on when quantum systems make economic sense in solving real problems. MIT researchers describe this point as quantum economic advantage. This is the moment a quantum computer can deliver a solution faster or more efficiently than a classical one of comparable cost. It is a practical reminder that, beyond the optimism of roadmaps, adoption will come down to where performance meets value in the real world.
This shift reflects a larger trend across the field. Value creation in quantum is moving upward from physical hardware toward software, services, and the people who make useful systems to achieve meaningful advantages.
Figure 2. The [Useful] Quantum Stack
Value in quantum technology is shifting upward—from hardware to software, applications, and people.
Public investment and shared standards
The government-led roadmaps included in this analysis share a common purpose: building infrastructure and trust. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Quantum Initiative Roadmap and Canada’s National Quantum Strategy both highlight workforce development, security standards, and open collaboration. These are not technical goals but social and economic ones, aimed at reducing risk for companies and increasing public benefit.
In many ways, public investment serves as the bridge between early research and private adoption. The creation of common testbeds, certification processes, and training programs ensures that progress is shared and verifiable. Without these elements, innovation would remain fragmented. With them, the field gains stability and credibility.
What’s missing from today’s roadmaps
Despite their scope, most roadmaps focus heavily on hardware and algorithmic performance, while underrepresenting human and organizational factors. Few documents include measurable goals for workforce readiness, software-hardware co-design, or open standards. The Quantum Computing Report noted this gap, arguing that the field’s progress depends as much on systems integration and collaboration as on physics.
Through our work in South Carolina, including the development of a quantum ecosystem in collaboration with the region, SC Quantum has seen firsthand how much progress depends on people, partnerships, and shared intent. Relationships form the foundation of sustainable ecosystems. The accompanying figure illustrates how the human side of innovation, or “peopleware,” comprises a quantum opportunity linking technical capability, implementation, and widespread benefits.
Now is the time to strengthen connections. By linking education, industry, and community partners, convening initiatives help build human infrastructure. Unprecedented collaborations ensure, as the technology matures, the people and organizations prepared to use it will be ready to turn potential into progress.
Figure 3. Quantum Opportunity Matrix
Most roadmaps emphasize technical progress while underrepresenting collaboration, governance, and workforce development.
Reading between the lines
When viewed together, these roadmaps reveal a field that is maturing. The language is shifting from prediction to planning, from competition to coordination, and from abstract potential to defined progress. They show an industry that is learning to measure itself by stability, usability, and real outcomes.
The next five years will likely not produce a single breakthrough that changes everything. They will instead bring steady advances in reliability, applications, and collaboration that add up to meaningful progress. The roadmaps we read today are field notes from a technology still finding its path. Collectively, they point toward a future built not only on quantum mechanics, but on human connection, shared effort, and steady confidence in what we can build together.
APPENDIX: PROMINENT ROADMAPS & STRATEGIC PLANS
Alice & Bob Roadmap — Alice & Bob
Canada National Quantum Strategy Roadmap: Quantum Computing — Government of Canada
European Union Quantum Flagship Strategic Research Agenda — European Commission, Quantum Flagship Initiative
Google Quantum AI Roadmap — Google Quantum AI
IBM Quantum Roadmap — IBM
IonQ Roadmap — IonQ
IQM Quantum Roadmap — IQM Quantum Computers
Microsoft Quantum Roadmap — Microsoft
National Strategic Overview for Quantum Information Science — National Science and Technology Council's Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (SCQIS)
Pasqal Quantum Roadmap — Pasqal
Quantinuum Roadmap — Quantinuum
Rigetti Quantum Roadmap — Rigetti
Dave Alsobrooks
Director of Communications, SC Quantum
dalsobrooks@scquantum.org