Quantum Computing: A Leap for Industrial Operations?

By Daniel Kuepper, Theresa Sophie Wolf , Yannick Bastubbe ?

Quantum computing is reaching a critical inflection point, driven by breakthroughs that could accelerate its path to real-world applications. This article examines recent advances in quantum computing, in particular the announcement of new quantum computing chip prototypes by tech giants, and what it implies for industrial operations.?

Computing Performance – Engine of Technological Innovation?

Breakthroughs in computing power are driving a new era of technological advancement, enabling faster data processing, more accurate simulation, and increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI). At the same time, AI is rapidly advancing, from code generation to complex reasoning, driven by innovations in model architecture. Simultaneously, physics-based, photorealistic simulations enable vision-based AI models to be trained and refined in virtual environments before real-world deployment. These advancements are revolutionizing industrial operations, pushing the boundaries of what machines and digital systems can achieve on the factory floor.?

While these innovations have been driven by specialized processors like GPUs and TPUs, the question now is: How will quantum computing further accelerate this revolution? Once considered a distant theoretical concept, quantum computing is now making tangible progress, suggesting that practical applications in the industry are closer than expected. Quantum computing is a computing paradigm that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to perform certain types of calculations much faster than classical computers. Unlike traditional computers, which use bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to superposition and entanglement.?

The Quantum Race: Tech Giants Compete in Quantum Technologies??

“All the world's current computers operating together can't do what a one-million-qubit quantum computer will be able to do."??[Source: Microsoft announcement]

微软 's recent unveiling of the Majorana-1 chip could potentially solve one of the field’s greatest challenges: stability and scalability. Unlike traditional qubits, which are highly sensitive to external interference and require complex error correction, the Majorana-based qubits leverage a unique quantum state that inherently resists decoherence. This means quantum calculations can be performed with far greater stability, reducing error rates and making large-scale quantum systems more feasible. By demonstrating topological qubits — an approach long considered a theoretical concept—Microsoft brought back this approach into the race toward practical quantum computing.?

Other tech companies, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) with their Ocelot chip (announced in February 2025) and 谷歌 with Willow (announced in December 2024), have also introduced new quantum computing chip prototypes.??

If those advances would lead to stable, high-performing quantum processors, the implications would be enormous: from cryptographic advancements to revolutionizing material science, industrial simulations and accelerating AI model training.??

From Lab to Reality: When Will Quantum Deliver??

Despite the excitement surrounding quantum computing, commercial-scale quantum processors remain a work in progress. Most current quantum systems are still in the experimental phase, with only a handful of functioning qubits. While Google’s Sycamore chip, IBM’s Condor processor, and startups like Rigetti Computing have made strides, quantum computers today remain limited to specific problem-solving tasks. Efforts to accelerate commercialization are underway — PsiQuantum is leveraging photonics technology to mass-produce quantum chips in collaboration with GlobalFoundries, while Amazon Web Services’ Ocelot prototype aims to cut development timelines by up to five years. Microsoft’s breakthrough with Majorana qubits represents another critical step forward, but widespread industrial adoption will still require years of engineering and refinement.??

Most experts anticipate that fault-tolerant quantum computers — capable of solving real industrial problems — will emerge by the 2030s. Early adopters will be industries that rely heavily on complex simulations and optimization problems, such as pharmaceuticals, e.g., for modeling molecular interactions at the quantum level. The ability to optimize supply chains in real time, can provide a significant competitive advantage. For instance, aerospace company Airbus partnered with IonQ to optimize cargo loading and successfully run a 28-qubit variational quantum optimization problem on a gate-based quantum system. While quantum computing won’t replace classical computing, hybrid approaches — where quantum and classical systems work in tandem — will emerge as the most effective path forward in industrial operations.?

Outlook: A Quantum-Enabled Factory of the Future??

In industrial operations, quantum computing might act as a force multiplier for AI training and simulation technologies. It could supercharge this cycle, accelerating AI-training and enhancing performance, while simulations increasingly become more precise and accurate. ? Applications such as scheduling and process optimization as well as quantum-enhanced machine learning techniques for predictive maintenance or real-time quality control may particularly benefit.?

Quantum computing is still in its infancy, and its concrete applications are yet to be fully identified. However, Virtual AI and Embodied AI are already transforming industries today. As the technology advances and matures, staying ahead of these developments will be essential.

Explore how AI is reshaping industrial operations in our latest article here: https://www.bcg.com/about/partner-ecosystem/world-economic-forum/ai-project-survey?