Yahoo Finance·2025-11-22 17:00Industry Overview - Quantum computers are expected to solve problems that classical computers cannot or would take years to solve, utilizing quantum bits (qubits) in superposition to encode more data simultaneously [1] - The global quantum computing market for hardware and software is projected to reach between $90 billion and $170 billion by 2040, with a current valuation of approximately $1.4 billion in 2024, indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 30% to 35% [2] Market Growth Potential - Significant growth in the quantum computing market is anticipated towards the backend of the forecast period, as the technology is still in its early stages and several challenges need to be addressed for practical applications [3] Patent Activity Insights - Monitoring patent activity is a valuable tool for investors in emerging technologies, as patents provide a temporary monopoly on inventions [5] - The top companies in quantum computing patent activity in 2024 include IBM with 117 patents (16% increase), Alphabet with 63 patents (13% increase), and Microsoft with 21 patents (45% decrease) [9][11] - The U.S. leads in quantum computing patents awarded in 2024, with IBM and Alphabet being the frontrunners, while Rigetti Computing holds the most patents among pure-play quantum companies [10][12]