Classic computers compute linearly. Quantum machines make leaps.
Today’s most advanced computers are built on classic logic: chips packed with transistors switching between 1s and 0s to drive calculations. While powerful, their performance scales linearly—and that model is hitting a ceiling. “In traditional computing, power increases linearly with the more transistors you have,” explains Henning Soller a McKinsey partner who leads our work in quantum computing. “It gets harder and harder to build more powerful computers, because you start needing really huge amounts of transistors.”
Enter quantum computing
This technology relies on qubits that can represent 1, 0, or both 1 and 0 at the same time. It’s hard to master—but once achieved, it enables exponential increases in computing power. Complex, statistical problems that could take years for digital computers to solve could be completed in minutes.
Microsoft’s unveiling of its Majorana 1 chip—powered by topological Qubits—marks a major step toward stable, scalable quantum hardware. The company’s new Quantum Ready program provides tools for organizations to prepare now. Quantum is no longer a moonshot—it’s already on the market.
The Year of Quantum: From concept to reality in 2025
Our fourth annual Quantum Technology Monitor report shows that surging investment and faster-than-expected innovation could propel the quantum market to $100 billion in a decade.
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"This technology is coming faster than you would expect, and change will be a lot more dramatic because of the exponential scaling underlying the machine," says Henning. “In fact, we expect quantum could give a jump-start to some of the scaling challenges we’ve seen with AI.”
McKinsey’ quantum team—more than 30 scientists, physicists, mathematicians, and engineers—are helping clients develop strategies, pilot use cases, and build future-ready organizations. These clients range from enterprises with in-house quantum labs to venture-backed startups and investors.
“Waiting for quantum to be ready is a strategic error. Leaders need to anticipate how quantum computing will change their industry and adjacent industries, and, second, understand the opportunity to be a forerunner and shape the future,” says Henning. “The third imperative is how do they prepare their people for it—find the talent, build capabilities, rethink processes—because this will impact everyone.”
Our firm brings an interdisciplinary approach: industry expertise for a business-first perspective combined with deep technology skills. “Our clients have the benefit of external insights and research news through the McKinsey Technology Council,” says Martina Gschwendtner, a co-leader of McKinsey’s quantum work. “For many businesses, the best pathway into quantum computing is to start by collaborating with a partner—often a quantum startup, to identify and develop applications together. These initiatives will enable the expected $1-2 trillion in value that quantum computing will generate across industries by 2035.” The McKinsey Business Building team can structure organizations, source top talent, and build the capabilities needed to support and scale quantum initiatives.
Examples of our work:
Strategy consulting: helping businesses, such as a financial institution and a pharmaceutical company, prepare for how quantum computing will impact their industries, including identifying use cases, building capabilities, developing ecosystems
Investment advisory: providing insights on quantum computing opportunities such as key success factors, the competitive landscape, and tech and business maturity
Business building: implementing employee skills development and organizational design initiatives for new quantum solutions
Experiment. Partner. Develop. Repeat.
Momentum is accelerating. In McKinsey’s 2024 survey of quantum-industry leaders, 39 percent of respondents said their companies now have more than 100 employees—up from 9 percent in the year before. Overall, governments announced $1.8 billion in funding for all types of QT endeavors in 2024. Major players like Microsoft continue to invest in scalable quantum chips, speeding commercialization.
While quantum will touch nearly every industry, its benefits show the most promise in these four sectors:
- Finance: Optimizes collateral and enhances fraud and risk detection, improves derivative pricing, and powers high-frequency trading
- Mobility: Improves autonomous driving algorithms and fast-tracks R&D in battery materials and clean fuels
- Pharma: Simulates molecular interactions to transform drug discovery, clinical trials, and production
- Sustainability: Unlocks breakthroughs in carbon capture, fuel efficiency, and climate modeling
“We are at a unique moment. Many of the Quantum startups are currently available to partner with on use cases, so there is a real potential of generating IP and establishing a competitive advantage with significantly low investment,” says Henning. “Now is the time to act.”
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Miklós Gábor Dietz is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Vancouver office, Dieter Kiewell and Jared Moon are senior partners in the London office, Alexandre Ménard is a senior partner in the Paris office, and Mark Patel is a senior partner in the Bay Area office.