Quantum computing is a nascent industry with significant potential but still working towards commercial viability. As such, a nurturing environment is needed to support quantum ecosystems as they mature. The leading quantum markets have all the ingredients listed below. Note that not all ingredients are equal.

Over the next several years, the majority of quantum development will be concentrated in regions with established quantum ecosystems, as opposed to prominent data center markets. Given the nascent characteristics of the quantum industry, resources such as talent and specialized research facilities are not widely available. Access to these quantum industry assets will drive site selection decisions more than the proximity to data center clusters. ​

However, as quantum technology matures, there is debate on whether development activity will remain concentrated in quantum hubs or if a larger percentage of QPUs will be deployed to data center markets. There is one viewpoint that development will remain concentrated in quantum hubs. This logic leans on the fact that quantum computing is highly specialized technology and there may be a limited number of regions that have sufficient ecosystems to operate quantum clusters at scale.

There is another viewpoint that development may gravitate towards data center markets as the technology matures. Quantum computers will likely require access to data center cloud infrastructure, and there will probably be efficiency gains by integrating AI and quantum within the same facility. There are already multiple instances of quantum computers being installed in data centers. ​

It is plausible to see a scenario where quantum usage accelerates to the point where QPUs become a common component in many data centers. In this case, likely 10 years or more in the future, we may see a larger percentage of quantum deployments directed towards data center markets where supportive infrastructure is abundant. Keep in mind that the largest cloud providers are developing quantum computers, and they may decide to place quantum operations within their existing data center assets or in close proximity.

Quantum-as-a-Service (QaaS) is a likely pathway to commercial adoption 
 

QaaS is a way for organizations to access quantum technologies via the cloud. Several companies already offer the service, although the technology is a fraction of what it will be in 5 or 10 years.​

Quantum computers are currently prohibitively expensive to build and require specialized expertise to maintain. This is why many believe that QaaS is a pathway towards quantum commercial adoption in the near term. Over time, as quantum costs decline and operational protocols are simplified, on-premise ownership will likely gain market share. ​

QaaS pricing options include subscription plans and on-demand pricing. QaaS resources include quantum computer hardware, software applications, algorithms and other quantum tools, technologies and services.​

It’s worth noting that several of the largest cloud providers are developing quantum chips, which positions them advantageously to gain market share in the QaaS industry over the long term.