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A transition is underway – from theoretical quantum science to real-world applications across industries. The year 2025 marks a century since the formalization of quantum mechanics, and the United Nations has designated it as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025). Quantum technologies hold the potential to drive advancements across key sectors, offering new possibilities for addressing global challenges. For example, quantum computing is accelerating drug discovery by simulating complex molecular interactions, quantum-safe cryptography is enhancing cybersecurity with robust encryption, and quantum sensors are improving climate monitoring and precision agriculture. However, for many low- and middle-income countries, the high costs, infrastructure requirements, and limited accessibility of quantum technologies present major barriers.
What is Quantum Technology?
In essence, quantum technologies leverage the unique properties of subatomic particles – such as their ability to exist simultaneously in multiple states or become interconnected (“entangled”) across great distances – to achieve capabilities impossible with classical technologies. Two core phenomena underpin quantum technology: superposition, which allows quantum particles to exist in multiple states simultaneously until observed; and entanglement, where two or more particles become deeply connected so that actions performed on one particle instantly influence the others, regardless of distance. By harnessing these properties, scientists and engineers have developed a new category of technologies with powerful applications.
Quantum technologies encompass several primary domains, each harnessing quantum phenomena to achieve capabilities beyond classical limits. Quantum computing uses qubits – particles existing simultaneously in multiple states – to perform complex calculations rapidly and simultaneously. While quantum computers are unlikely to replace classical computers for everyday tasks in the near future, they hold promise for solving highly specialized challenges, such as simulating complex chemical reactions in multiple industries, that today’s supercomputers cannot practically solve. Quantum communication ensures secure data transfer by using quantum states, typically photons, for encryption. Industries such as finance, healthcare, and communication stand to benefit from quantum key distribution (QKD) which allows two parties to exchange encryption keys with security guaranteed by the laws of physics – any eavesdropping attempt will disturb the quantum states and can be detected. At the same time, post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is being developed as a complementary approach, using classical cryptographic algorithms that can withstand attacks from quantum computers. Large-scale QKD networks are being explored alongside PQC methods to provide an additional layer of encryption security.
Additionally, quantum sensing exploits quantum effects for highly sensitive measurement of gravitational changes, electromagnetic fields, or time. Practical applications include quantum gravimeters that monitor volcanic activities by detecting changes in gravity caused by magma movement, improving early warning systems. They also identify landslide risks and track groundwater resources, thereby improving disaster preparedness. Lastly, quantum materials are engineered at the quantum level or exhibit quantum behaviours – such as superconductivity – to dramatically enhance efficiency and sustainability in electronics, batteries, solar cells, and energy transmission. Quantum computing itself relies on these advanced materials, and conversely, quantum simulations may accelerate the discovery of next-generation materials essential for sustainable industry and clean energy.
A Global Quantum Landscape and Collaboration
Globally, quantum technology is gaining momentum as a strategic frontier for innovation and economic competitiveness. As of 2024, over 20 countries have launched national quantum initiatives, and global public investment in quantum R&D was estimated to exceed 30 billion USD in 2022. Governments are actively shaping the quantum landscape through dedicated funding, national roadmaps, and institutional support. For instance, India approved its National Quantum Mission with a budget of approximately 730 million USD for the period 2023–2031, aiming to foster research and build national quantum capabilities. Brazil followed with an initiative led by EMBRAPII (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa e Inovação Industrial), announcing 11 million USD in funding to establish a Competence Centre in Quantum Technologies. Meanwhile, Thailand has also outlined its ambitions through the Quantum Technology Roadmap 2020–2029.
Despite significant global investments, the vast majority of countries have yet to launch dedicated quantum initiatives, raising concerns about an emerging ‘quantum divide’. Such a gap could deepen existing inequalities, limiting access to future quantum-driven innovations and economic opportunities for many nations, particularly low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, it’s important to recognize that governments cannot advance the quantum revolution alone. A vibrant global ecosystem of technology companies, startups, and research institutions is essential to driving progress. Given the high costs and complexity involved in developing quantum hardware and software, collaboration among all stakeholders is vital to ensure that quantum technologies benefit all countries and communities.
Major technology firms – such as Microsoft, IBM, Google, and Amazon – play a key role in quantum research and development, often partnering with startups that are tackling specific challenges, from building novel quantum hardware to designing quantum algorithms, software platforms, and quantum-safe cryptography. For example, Microsoft acknowledges that “building and deploying scalable quantum computers will require a community of dedicated partners” and has established support programs that provide startups with access to technical expertise, quantum development tools, and cloud-based resources. These efforts offer important opportunities to extend access, foster partnerships, and transfer knowledge to innovators in low- and middle-income context, helping to prevent the deepening of global technology divides.
Academic institutions and national laboratories remain key pillars in advancing quantum technologies. Researchers in physics and engineering continue to push the boundaries of quantum knowledge. International collaboration is also gaining momentum. An example is the Open Quantum Institute (OQI), which brings together global experts to explore how to apply quantum computing toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During its pilot phase (2024-2026), OQI is focusing on specific SDG-related challenges by convening hundreds of experts to test solutions across multiple quantum computing platforms. Initiatives like OQI demonstrate how multilateral cooperation can help ensure that quantum innovation serves the global public good – including by actively engaging low- and middle-income countries in research, application, and benefit sharing.
Quantum Technologies for the SDGs and Challenges
Quantum technologies offer promising applications across multiple SDG areas such as healthcare, climate, energy, and institutional resilience. In healthcare, quantum computing can simulate complex molecular comparisons and interactions beyond the capabilities of classical computers, potentially accelerating drug discovery. For example, while traditional computers can process millions of molecular comparisons, they are limited by molecule size. Quantum computers can handle much larger and more complex molecules, opening new possibilities in pharmaceutical research. Some pharmaceutical companies are exploring and working with quantum software providers to adapt molecular comparison algorithms and application programming interfaces (APIs) to meet advanced drug design needs.
In disaster response, quantum technologies are also showing promise. In Japan, the government and research institutes collaborated with a quantum computing company to optimize evacuation routes during natural disasters. By rapidly calculating the most efficient ways to move people to safety, quantum-enabled planning tools can strengthen emergency response and help save lives. Such approaches could offer valuable insights for other countries where natural disasters often result in greater damage due to limited infrastructure and resources. In these contexts, quantum annealing based solutions could help governments more effectively allocate emergency supplies, design safer evacuation strategies, and reduce the overall human and economic impact of disasters.
Beyond disaster response, quantum technologies are also opening new frontiers in secure communication. As digital threats grow increasingly sophisticated, the ability to safeguard sensitive information is becoming more critical – particularly for governments and public institutions. Some countries are already piloting quantum-secured communication networks to protect critical infrastructure. For example, large-scale quantum key distribution networks are being explored to develop enhanced encryption, potentially offering security that is theoretically resistant to conventional – and even future quantum-based – cyber threats. While such systems are still in the early stages of deployment and remain costly, they demonstrate how quantum technologies could one day support more secure governance and institutional resilience worldwide.
Quantum sensing is also emerging as a new tool for climate action and environmental monitoring. These highly sensitive sensors can detect minute changes in environmental conditions – such as greenhouse gas concentrations, soil quality, or ocean currents – with a level of precision that surpasses conventional instruments. For example, a quantum gravimeter installed on Mount Etna has demonstrated how such technologies can provide early warning of geological activity, aiding disaster preparedness. Looking ahead, scaling up the use of quantum sensors could improve global monitoring of climate-related indicators, including ice sheet dynamics and sea-level rise. Satellites equipped with quantum sensing capabilities may also enable more accurate tracking of deforestation, water levels, and ecosystem changes – supporting progress on climate action and life on land and in water.
Despite their promise, quantum computing is still in the early stages of development – they consist of only a small number of quantum bits, or qubits, which are the basic units of quantum information. For comparison, while classical computers use billions of bits, today’s quantum computers typically use just tens or hundreds of qubits, with only a few surpassing the 1,000-qubit mark globally. The qubits used by these machines are “noisy” – prone to errors caused by decoherence and interference. Achieving meaningful breakthroughs will require the development of more stable machines with thousands – if not millions – of error-corrected reliable logical qubits, which poses major technical and financial challenges. Currently, quantum computing is primarily concentrated in well-resourced countries and major tech corporations, making it largely inaccessible to low-and middle-income nations. Without targeted efforts to lower costs, expand access, and build quantum-ready infrastructure worldwide, there is a risk that quantum advancements will deepen the global divide rather than bridge it.
As quantum technologies continue to evolve, the global community faces a critical opportunity – and responsibility – to shape this emerging frontier in a way that benefits everyone. Advancing inclusive innovation will require intentional investments in capacity building, knowledge sharing, infrastructure, and international collaboration, especially to ensure that low- and middle-income countries can meaningfully participate in and benefit from quantum advancements. By aligning quantum research and deployment with the SDGs, stakeholders across sectors and borders can help ensure these technologies serve not only as scientific breakthroughs but as powerful catalysts for equitable, sustainable progress. On this World Quantum Day, the moment calls for collective action to ensure that the quantum future contributes to shared prosperity and is inclusive of all.
This is the ninth blog of the Deep Tech Series. Click here for the full list of blogs.