Quantum technologies: key strategies and opportunities for ICT leaders
In March 2025, the World Economic Forum published a new report in conjunction with Accenture. Quantum Technologies: Key Strategies and Opportunities for ICT Leaders explains how to harness the power of quantum technologies to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving digital landscape.
The report is intended to provide ICT leaders with a strategic roadmap that will help them navigate the constantly changing quantum landscape. It highlights both challenges and opportunities; helping organizations position themselves for success. The report profiles three key areas of quantum technology.:
- Quantum computing
- Quantum sensing
- Quantum communications and security
Each is benchmarked using 5 key indicators (maturity, learning curve, implementation time and cost, scalability, and risk) and illustrated with real world case studies.
Quantum Computing
The WEF recognises the potential of quantum computers to solve complex problems but also places the technology in an early developmental phase; requiring significant investment and R&D to achieve practical, scalable solutions. It acknowledges that the learning curve is steep and there are still financial and operational barriers to deployment at scale. The report profiles two case studies. The first is a partnership between Fujitsu and the University of Toronto that leverages Digital Annealer to solve large scale optimization problems. The second highlights AT&T’s Next Best eXperience (NBX) proof of concept, designed to optimise customer engagement.
Quantum Sensing
The quantum sensing market is maturing rapidly, with technologies evolving beyond theoretical and experimental into real-world applications, such as the use of quantum microscopes and antennae. The report points to barriers to implementation and scalability, based on the level of investment required and the risk associated with some technical limitations that still need to be overcome. The WEF showcases two sensing applications in the report: Infleqtion’s optical atomic clock for the University of Strathclyde, and BT’s trial of hyper-sensitive quantum radio receivers.
Quantum Communications and Security
The report summarises the threat posed by the emergence of quantum computers and advocates for a “defence in depth” approach to ensure future business confidence. Appendix A2 of the report focuses on the complimentary technologies of PQC, QRNG and QKD, and the role they each have to play in securing network data in the long-term.
The WEF again points to challenges associated with maturity (acknowledging the recent NIST algorithm publication and efforts by the US to mandate adoption), deployment and scalability but recognises there is an added imperative that will help drive adoption. On the topic of scalability, the report references the 800km QKD network in South Korea, developed by IDQ and SK Broadband to protect 48 different government agencies.
“Failure to adopt quantum and relevant technologies for security could lead to serious data breaches and compromise communications”.
The report profiles three quantum security case studies. First, the collaboration with Canadian telco TELUS to provide Photonic with access to a dedicated 30km fibre network as a testbed for quantum infrastructure. Second, IDQ’s own collaboration with SK Telecom and Samsung on the Galaxy Quantum series of mobile phones. IDQ has been part of this ground-breaking range of phones since the outset, with the latest Samsung Galaxy 5 launched in 2024. Finally, the report mentions the work of SandboxAQ with telco’s such as Vodafone to evaluate PQC-ready secure networks.
The report concludes with the identification of 5 strategic pillars for policy makers and ICT innovators looking to create a sustainable quantum ecosystem:
- Research and development
- Infrastructure and technology
- Public-private partnerships
- Start-ups and private venture
- Education and workforce
A call to action
Quantum technologies promise a new era of innovation and growth. This WEF report is a call to action: the ICT leaders who embrace them today and capture their opportunities will be the ones driving the economy of tomorrow.
Reach out to learn how ID Quantique can help you take the first step toward quantum adoption.
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