Nearly half of companies evaluating quantum technology now prioritize a clear path to fault tolerance over simply increasing qubit counts, according to a new survey from QuEra Computing. The findings signal a marked shift in industry focus, as 45% of respondents identified a fault-tolerance roadmap as one of the most important criteria when selecting a quantum computing provider. The survey also reveals neutral atoms are emerging as a leading architecture, selected by 23% of respondents.

Fault-Tolerance Roadmaps Drive Quantum Technology Selection

Cost-effectiveness ranks as the most important selection criterion for 50% of companies evaluating quantum technology, according to new survey data, despite a growing emphasis on demonstrable progress toward fault tolerance. This prioritization suggests businesses are actively seeking near-term value alongside long-term potential in quantum investments, balancing ambition with practical considerations.

The demand for fault tolerance is not merely aspirational; 78% of respondents consider quantum error correction either critical or very important for realizing commercial value in their intended applications, QuEra Computing says. This high percentage underscores a growing recognition that scaling qubit numbers alone will not deliver useful quantum computation, and robust error mitigation is essential.

Yuval Boger, Chief Commercial Officer at QuEra Computing, explained that customers are getting more discerning about what they need to see from competing quantum architectures. He further stated that proven and scalable quantum error correction approaches, once considered desirable features, have now become essential requirements. Neutral atoms emerged as a leading architectural choice, selected by 23% of respondents, surpassing both superconducting qubits at 15% and trapped ions at 11%.

Open-ended responses from the survey further highlighted the importance of error correction, with a third of substantive replies identifying error correction, quantum error correction, and logical-qubit milestones as the most impactful developments of the past year. QuEra Computing’s recent release of Tsim, an open-source simulator designed to accelerate quantum error correction research, demonstrates a commitment to fostering collaborative progress in this critical area.

Only 4% of respondents prioritized hardware scaling or increases in qubit count, a figure that signals a clear departure from previous industry trends, according to the company. This suggests a growing understanding that simply building larger quantum computers is insufficient without addressing the fundamental challenges of maintaining qubit coherence and mitigating errors.

QuEra Computing’s approach, focused on neutral-atom qubits and scalable error correction, appears to be resonating with a segment of the market seeking practical, reliable quantum solutions. The company’s preservation of structure for scalable quantum programs, reported on September 22, further supports this focus on building systems designed for real-world applications.

Neutral Atom Architecture Leads Amidst Modality Uncertainty

Founded in 2018 from research originating at Harvard and MIT, the company’s approach centers on scalable error correction techniques and has attracted $280 million in funding. This capability, combined with the company’s demonstrated performance of quantum reservoir computing using Rydberg-atom quantum computers for tasks like image classification, positions it as a key player in the development of practical quantum applications.

A partnership with Zapata Quantum further expands QuEra’s reach, focusing on the development of applications for QuEra’s planned megaquop-class system, the company says. QuEra’s Kipu neutral atom quantum processor is also being explored for improving molecular toxicity predictions, showcasing the potential of neutral atom technology in scientific discovery.