2026-06-24
Quantum Technology is approaching a critical inflection point: moving from laboratory validation toward large-scale commercial deployment. Much like the rapid takeoff of artificial intelligence, quantum technology is expected to unlock a new wave of applications across industries. By harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics—particularly superposition and entanglement—quantum computers can explore multiple computational pathways simultaneously, enabling calculation speeds for specific problems far beyond those of conventional supercomputers.
According to McKinsey’s Quantum Technology Monitor 2026, the combined market size of quantum computing (QC), quantum communication (QComm), and quantum sensing (QS) is projected to reach approximately US$100 billion by 2035 and expand further to around US$200 billion by 2040. A key driver of this growth is the development of quantum-classical hybrid architectures, where quantum processing units (QPUs) serve as accelerators within existing high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. This model is expected to significantly broaden the scope for commercial quantum applications.
As quantum technology enters this application-driven phase, near-term industry priorities are focused on post-quantum cryptography (PQC), which aims to address future data decryption risks. Over the longer term, quantum technology is expected to reshape industrial systems and global cybersecurity frameworks through advances in molecular simulation, quantum communication.
Leading global tech companies are accelerating quantum technology to overcome computational limitations, with strategic focus shifting from pure hardware development toward ecosystem integration and computational enablement.
IBM plans to invest more than US$30 billion in the United States over the next five years, specifically targeting quantum computing R&D and quantum device manufacturing. The company aims to achieve verifiable quantum advantage by the end of 2026 and fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) by 2029. Through its Nighthawk processor and Quantum System Two architecture, IBM is integrating quantum computing directly into standard data center workflows.
Google’s Willow quantum chip achieved a quantum error correction benchmark below the critical threshold in late 2024, overcoming one of the key barriers to building large-scale, practical quantum computers. NVIDIA, meanwhile, is positioning itself as the control layer and software stack for the quantum era through its open-source CUDA-Q platform. Its Ising model, announced in 2026, focuses on automated calibration and error correction while improving the energy efficiency of AI model training, helping ease the heavy power demands placed on modern data centers.
Capital markets are also showing growing confidence in the sector. According to McKinsey, global investment in quantum technology increased 6.3-fold in 2025 to reach US$12.6 billion, with funding heavily concentrated in quantum computing. Quantinuum, a Honeywell subsidiary, filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in January 2026 at an estimated valuation of approximately US$20 billion. This reflects the industry’s transition from speculative investment toward more tangible commercial validation.
As global computing resources gradually take shape, Taiwan’s industrial, academic, and research sectors are also deepening their technological capabilities. Drawing on Taiwan’s existing strengths in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and heterogeneous integration packaging, local players are entering the development of key quantum components.
To address the low-latency error correction bottlenecks that limit data center scalability, US-based SEEQC has built a comprehensive system-on-chip (SoC) supply ecosystem in Taiwan. The collaboration closely integrates domestic industrial and academic capabilities through clearly defined division of labor: The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is responsible for superconducting chip fabrication, Kinpo Electronics is developing room-temperature control electronics, and National Taiwan University (NTU) is providing high-speed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) interface technologies. Together, these partners are enabling the cross-border integration of quantum technology and hardware.
Rigetti Computing has also formed a deep strategic alliance with Quanta Computer. In early 2025, Quanta invested US$35 million in Rigetti, and both parties signed a five-year joint development agreement. The partnership aims to integrate superconducting quantum computers seamlessly into conventional HPC data centers, accelerating physical deployment and commercialization.
Finnish quantum company IQM has also expanded its technological links with Taiwan. In 2025, IQM partnered with the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) to establish a five-qubit quantum computer system in a superconducting quantum computing laboratory. The system will serve as a subsystem verification platform and provide cloud access for research institutions. IQM later signed an agreement with Scientek to promote localized deployment and cloud-based quantum solutions, further supporting the development of quantum applications in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s domestic hardware supply has made tangible progress. Chenfull Precision Co., Ltd. Has helped international clients develop ultra-low-temperature quantum equipment systems. By applying its expertise in cryogenic sealing technology, the company provides stable structural support for the critical cooling environments required by quantum computing systems, helping complete the hardware ecosystem needed for quantum computing.
More than 30 countries worldwide have launched national quantum strategies, with total investments exceeding US$44.5 billion. Against this backdrop, Taiwan’s role in the global supply chain is shifting from pure hardware contract manufacturing toward becoming a key node in the global quantum R&D ecosystem.
To guide industry into the next generation of computing, Phase II of Taiwan’s National Quantum Program was launched in March 2026. The program brought the Northern Quantum Computer Subsystem Validation Platform into operation and began preparations for a high-performance quantum-classical hybrid computing system in southern Taiwan. In April of the same year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) established the Quantum Industry Technology Promotion Office to oversee the development of Taiwan’s domestic quantum industry supply chain.
Taiwan’s industrial strategy is based on a clear division of responsibilities. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is investing in cryogenic CMOS process technologies, while Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) is developing QPU packaging solutions capable of managing extreme low-temperature environments.
Quantum communication and cybersecurity applications are also advancing in parallel. Compeq Manufacturing and Universal Microwave Technology are using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technologies to build quantum key distribution (QKD) infrastructure. Meanwhile, startups such as PUFsecurity Corporation and Chelpis Quantum Corporation are focusing on developing PQC migration solutions.
Taiwan’s research institutions are also making steady progress. In January 2026, Academia Sinica unveiled a 20-qubit superconducting quantum computer with a coherence time of 530 microseconds, reaching a level comparable with leading international standards. Hon Hai Technology Group’s Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing Laboratory plans to launch a prototype system by 2027, establishing vertically integrated capabilities spanning hardware through application layers. The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) is also developing low Earth orbit satellite quantum communication technologies to establish satellite-to-ground QKD links.
As the global quantum industry accelerates from research validation toward commercial deployment, Taiwan is gradually moving beyond its traditional role as a hardware manufacturing base. By leveraging its strengths in semiconductor processing and its strong industrial-academic research capabilities, Taiwan is deepening technological collaboration with leading international companies.
Future development priorities will focus on sustaining international partnerships while upgrading domestic industries from individual-component supply to system-level integration. Supported by national strategic policies, Taiwan must concentrate resources on overcoming critical technological bottlenecks such as superconducting processes and ultra-low-temperature packaging technologies, while also expanding interdisciplinary talent cultivation.
Through these efforts, Taiwan is well-positioned to establish itself as a stable and resilient strategic hub within the global next-generation computing supply chain.
Source： Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) Industry Service Center Research Team
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