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Patents, Power, and Qubits: Who’s Really Winning the Quantum Race?
Quantum computing is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about technologies of the current time. And it’s no surprise the potential is extraordinary. From faster drug discovery and new materials development to unbreakable communication systems, quantum promises breakthroughs that could transform industries and even national security.
Governments and corporations worldwide are racing ahead: the EU’s Quantum Flagship programme alone has invested over €1 billion, while companies like IBM, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are pouring billions more into developing scalable quantum systems.
But, behind the headlines, patents tell the real story. This analysis by PatSeer’s Patent Intelligence platform explores the quantum patent landscape in this fast-moving field.
What is Quantum Computing?
At its core, quantum computing is a completely new way of processing information.
- Classical computers are the ones we use every day that work with bits, which are either a 0 or 1. Every calculation, app, or website is ultimately built from these binary building blocks.
- A quantum computer uses qubits, which can be 0, 1, or a combination of both at the same time (a property called superposition).
- Qubits can also be linked through entanglement, meaning the state of one qubit can instantly affect another, no matter how far apart.
Together, these properties allow quantum computers to explore many possible solutions at once, rather than one step at a time like classical systems. This is why they hold promise for cracking codes, simulating molecules, or optimizing complex systems at speeds beyond what’s possible today.
Patenting Trends: Explosive Growth in Quantum Computing
Quantum computing patent activity stayed relatively flat from 2000–2014, with fewer than 100 families filed each year. But starting in 2015, filings began a sharp upward climb and by 2020, annual filings crossed 1,600 families, more than a 15-fold increase over the baseline of a decade earlier.
However, filings briefly dipped in 2021 after this peak, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on research budgets, lab access, and corporate patenting strategies in the U.S. and Europe. The slowdown was not universal: China’s state-backed programs and WIPO’s PCT route kept global totals resilient. Rather than signaling decline, this dip was a temporary pause in momentum before filings resumed their upward trajectory.
The timing is no accident. The surge aligns with the rise of cloud-accessible NISQ systems such as IBM’s launch of the IBM Quantum Experience in 2016, major national initiatives like the EU Quantum Flagship (2018) with €1 billion in funding, the US National Quantum Initiative Act (2018), and China’s state-led programs.
The data confirms that quantum computing has moved beyond academic exploration into intensive commercialization. Filings are not only accelerating but also shifting toward enforceable, globally protected portfolios, a sign that competitive positioning is being decided now, not in the distant future.
Who Owns the Future? Leaders and Challengers
This chart compares portfolio size vs. 360° Quality for top assignees, with bubble size reflecting overall portfolio value index. The 360° Quality score combines Citation Quality, Market Quality, Legal Quality, and Document Quality, offering a holistic measure of both technological strength and commercial leverage. It then reveals the quadrant overlay, which separates the landscape into Leaders, Challengers, Marginal Players, and Under-achievers.
Key takeaways from this view:
- Challengers: Alibaba and D-Wave stand out with exceptionally high 360° Quality, despite smaller portfolios, signaling highly strategic, focused filing approaches.
- Under Achievers: IBM, while holding by far the largest portfolio, lags in overall quality, indicating scale without the same depth of enforceability or impact.
- Marginal Players: Alphabet, Microsoft, Intel, Toshiba, and Northrop Grumman have notable portfolios but sit in the mid-to-lower range of quality.
- Niche Contributors: Yale University and IonQ contribute smaller, focused portfolios that still advance innovation in key areas.
This perspective highlights that leadership in quantum patents is not only about filing volume – challengers with smaller but higher-quality portfolios may shape the competitive race just as much as those with the biggest holdings.
Geo-Protection Growth: Expanding Global Footprint
Quantum computing inventions are increasingly protected across multiple jurisdictions. The United States and China are clear leaders, both seeing sharp growth since 2015.
- China shows particularly rapid acceleration, reflecting strong state-led initiatives.
- The US and PCT (WIPO) routes dominate, showing applicants’ intent to secure multinational coverage early.
- The European Patent Office continues steady growth, reinforcing Europe’s position as a strategic market.
- Secondary markets like India, Australia, and Canada are beginning to emerge, signaling new opportunities for future expansion.
This highlights how quantum players are betting on a truly global commercial future and positioning themselves to enforce patents across continents.
Conclusion
Quantum computing’s patent landscape reflects a field in hypergrowth, driven by both corporate giants and agile new entrants. As technology advances toward practical, scalable systems, portfolio value will increasingly depend on quality and enforceability rather than filing volume. Competitive advantage will hinge on not only who files but also where and how strategically they seek protection.
Nations are equally shaping the race: the US, China, and Europe lead with large, enforceable portfolios, while emerging markets like India, Australia, and Canada signal new growth frontiers. For investors, policymakers, and innovators, tracking both corporate strategies and jurisdictional trends will be key to navigating the quantum future.