The IBM Institute for Business Value has published a report titled "Journey to Quantum Advantage." In it, the company describes quantum advantage not as a single milestone for the entire market, but as the ability to solve specific problems more accurately, cheaply, or efficiently than classical methods.

What the Research Covers

The report is based on interviews with representatives from the aerospace, finance, biomedicine, energy, automotive, education, and public sectors. According to the authors, early market participants increasingly evaluate quantum computing through practical scenarios rather than abstract benchmarks.

IBM identified three reasons why companies are pursuing quantum computing:

  • Seeking solutions for complex business challenges — 60%;
  • Preparing computational strategies for future changes — 55%;
  • Accelerating innovation — 54%.

The report links quantum readiness not only to technological development but also to the importance of practical tasks, skills, and partnerships. Quantum advantage is described as a milestone whose timeline will depend on specific scenarios and industries.

Among the main barriers to implementation, the authors noted:

  • Lack of quantum skills — 61%;
  • Immaturity of technology — 56%;
  • Unclear timelines for practical scenarios — 46%.

IBM pointed out that companies face not only technical limitations but also issues related to return on investment, internal competencies, and the selection of tasks where quantum methods can yield measurable results.

Existing Use Cases

Boeing is exploring quantum computing through quantum chemistry and materials science challenges. The company associates potential advantages not with individual technological milestones but with applications in the design, testing, and certification of aircraft. For such calculations, explainability, validation, and the ability to use results in an operational environment are crucial.

Vanguard began its quantum experiments in 2022, investigating hybrid quantum-classical approaches for combating money laundering, risk modeling, and portfolio optimization. According to Bimal Mehta, Vanguard's chief researcher for emerging technologies, the advantage makes sense only when it helps solve client problems rather than merely demonstrating a technological milestone.

E.ON has tested quantum methods for optimization, quantum machine learning, and scenario modeling. The pilots showed potential but also revealed limitations of current hardware: shallow circuits, a limited number of qubits, and an inability to surpass established classical methods. Following this, the company revised its roadmap and shifted its focus to long-term preparation.

Bosch underwent a similar phase. After early demonstrations on noisy quantum devices, the company faced scaling issues, noise, and limited qubit connectivity. Its current program focuses on algorithms and workflows for future fault-tolerant systems.

Biomedicine

In the biomedicine section, IBM highlighted Yonsei University, where quantum resources are used alongside classical supercomputers for bioscience tasks, including mitochondrial processes and electronic structures. Jae Ho Chung, director of the Yonsei Quantum Initiative, noted that drug development takes about 15 years, and even a 10% or 20% reduction in this timeline could significantly impact the industry.

The Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Oxford are exploring quantum methods for pangenomics. The report states that in April 2026, the Quantum Pangenomics team uploaded the complete genome of the hepatitis D virus to a 156-qubit IBM Heron processor.

The Role of Partnerships

IBM specifically highlighted ecosystems—partnerships between businesses, government, universities, equipment suppliers, and research organizations. According to the report, every second quantum-ready organization is involved in at least one such collaboration.

Examples include Volkswagen, Chicago State University, BasQ, Tokyo Electron, Bradesco, and Singapore. IBM describes the current market stage as a period of experimentation, skill-building, and preparation for future practical scenarios. The report does not claim that quantum advantage is equally close for all industries or that it has already become a mainstream business tool.

In June, researchers tested the IBM Nighthawk quantum processor through two practical tests: a simplified model from particle physics and the filtering of malicious traffic.

Previously, specialists discussed a new approach to finding quantum error correction codes using large language models.