Knowledge of quantum physics is not necessary in order to harness its potential over the coming years.
The new Internet and artificial intelligence will be based on quantum computing to gain efficiency and allow scalability. These three technologies come together under the concept WAIQ (Web3, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum). The seminar that I, and other colleagues, have the pleasure of leading at Harvard University will put a spotlight on this concept.
The joint EPO-OECD analysis Mapping the Global Quantum Ecosystem was published a few days ago.
The study offers an in-depth mapping of the worldwide quantum ecosystem, combining data from patents, companies, investments, human skills, international trade and public policy. It confirms that quantum has entered an innovative acceleration phase, but now faces the challenge of transforming expectations into results and moving towards marketing.
The number of international patent families relating to quantum technologies increased seven-fold between 2005 and 2024, with an annual growth rate close to 20% as of 2014 compared to barely 2% in technologies as a whole. This difference demonstrates how quantum has become a strategic priority for global innovation.
Within the three main areas —communications, computation (including simulation) and sensors—, quantum computing stands out as the most dynamic vector. However, the reality is that we could still be between eight and ten years away from reaching general commercial maturity. Meanwhile, there are already products on the market that are related to these technologies, especially in the above-mentioned fields: communications and sensors.
The report also identifies the fact that there are currently over 4600 active organisations in the quantum ecosystem, of which only 830 can be considered core quantum firms, or in other words, companies mainly focussing on quantum or enabling technologies. These companies are usually deep tech start-ups that are highly dependent on early funding and public support. There are companies in Spain that have the potential to become unicorns, such as Multiverse Computing, Qilimanjaro, Quside, Qcentroid and LuxQuanta.
The study puts Spain among the group of European countries that has increased its presence in the quantum ecosystem over the last decade. However, unlike Germany, France or the United Kingdom —which are among the countries with the highest number of core quantum firms—, Spain does not appear among the leaders in companies that develop quantum technologies as their main activity. Nor does it stand out for attracting international investment or for the volume of international quantum patents, which are both key indicators for assessing the ability to scale innovation to market. These are the main challenges until 2026.
Based on a strategic reading of the report, the challenge for Spain is not so much entering into quantum —which is already the case—, but rather transforming scientific and patentable activity into industrial and commercial capacity. This means prioritising the technological niches in which Spain is competitive, professionalising the university-business transfer, using public purchase to leverage early adoption and designing industrial property strategies that allow scaling without losing control of the technology assets. In a quantum ecosystem that is still immature, Spain’s future position relies less on research volume and more on its ability to transform industrial property into market value.
Another positive point for Spain is that we are a powerhouse for “quantum talent”, who work both in our main scientific centres and spearhead some of the most important research groups in the world.
A novel aspect of the report is the analysis of the international goods market that is relevant to quantum. While still emerging, it shows increasing dependency on critical supply chains. These dependencies pose geopolitical risks and reinforce the need for coordinated industrial policies.
Governments have responded by increasing public support. Eighteen countries of the OECD already have national quantum technology strategies, and public funding for quantum R&D has progressively increased. Nevertheless, the report emphasises that the next challenge is not only researching more, but facilitating the transition to industrial implementation and market.
In this context, the Spanish government approved in April the Spanish Quantum Technology Strategy, with a budget of 8 billion euros, and created a Quantum Communication Hub with the aim of bringing together industry players in a network that promotes the research, development and implementation of these technologies.
The United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, which highlights the opportunity that these technologies can provide for economic and social development when well managed. 2026 may be the year in which Europe, and particularly Spain, consolidate a key position in this field. In 1971, our country pioneered the launch of the first public data network in the world, which was driven by the financial sector. Today we can once again lead the implementation of a new banking or energy technology. Some of our biggest companies are already taking steps in that direction.
Written by: Luis Ignacio Vicente del Olmo. Strategic Advisor at PONS IP.
