Global quantum study maps cross-border supply chains

A new international survey of 160 quantum companies finds the sector is highly dependent on foreign suppliers and customers, underscoring how global the emerging industry already is. The report’s authors say the findings could help policymakers and investors balance market access, resilience and technology protection.

Why it matters: - The quantum sector’s supply chains already cross national borders at scale, which matters for commercialization, resilience and industrial policy. - The findings give policymakers and investors a clearer picture of where quantum companies source inputs, build products and sell into global markets. - The report points to a tension now shaping the industry: governments want trusted access to critical technologies, while companies need international suppliers and customers to grow.

What happened: - A new Global Quantum Supply Chain report surveyed 160 quantum companies headquartered in 15 countries. - Respondents reported suppliers in 36 countries, customers in 49 countries and manufacturing locations in 25 countries. - The survey was organized by the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C®), European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC), Quantum Industry Canada (QIC), UK Quantum, Japan’s Quantum Strategic Industry Alliance for Revolution (Q-STAR) and Korea Quantum Industry Association (KQIA), with engagement across India’s quantum ecosystem. - The survey was distributed in March and April 2026 to quantum companies in the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and India. - The full report is available as the full report.

The details: - 90% of respondents reported at least one foreign supplier. - 74% reported at least one foreign customer. - The median respondent reported supplier ties in three countries and customer ties in three countries. - Component suppliers sold into more countries than quantum systems developers. - Companies of every size, including firms with fewer than 10 employees, reported buying from and selling to multiple countries. - The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan were the five locations most frequently named for both suppliers and customers. - The European Union, taken as a bloc, was the second most frequent location for both suppliers and customers, according to QuIC. - The survey excluded research organizations and did not collect company-identifying trade details. - Companies headquartered in China were not represented among respondent headquarters, although China appeared in respondent data as a location.

Between the lines: - The report suggests the quantum industry is already organized as a global network, not a set of isolated national markets. - That structure could make policy choices around export controls, procurement rules and supply-chain security especially consequential. - The study also shows that the countries companies buy from are not always the same as the countries they sell to, which complicates simple trade blocs. - For emerging quantum economies such as India and Korea, the data point to an opening to specialize in parts of the value chain rather than trying to build every capability domestically.

What's next: - The report’s authors say the findings should help countries design policies that preserve access to trusted markets and suppliers while protecting critical technologies. - Industry groups are expected to use the data to push for more international coordination on standards, supply-chain resilience and market access. - Quantum companies will likely face growing pressure to balance global sourcing with tighter scrutiny of strategic technologies.

The bottom line: - Quantum may be an emerging technology, but its supply chains are already deeply international.