A new international survey reveals that 90% of the 160 quantum companies surveyed rely on at least one foreign supplier, challenging expectations of national self-sufficiency in this emerging technology. The study, conducted by six quantum industry associations including the Korea Quantum Industry Association, mapped supply chains across 15 countries, finding a median of three supplier and three customer nations for even the smallest firms.
“Quantum innovation does not stop at national borders, and neither do the supply chains that make it possible,” said Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, as the report highlights the deeply interconnected nature of the global quantum economy.
International Consortiums Map Global Quantum Dependencies
The Korea Quantum Industry Association (KQIA) is now part of a six-group collaboration mapping the international flow of quantum technologies, resources and expertise, revealed by a new global study of 160 companies. This collaborative effort, including the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, European Quantum Industry Consortium, Quantum Industry Canada, UK Quantum, and Japan’s Quantum Strategic Industry Alliance for Revolution, demonstrates a coordinated approach to understanding an increasingly interconnected industry despite rising geopolitical concerns.
The resulting “Global Quantum Supply Chain” report details sourcing, manufacturing, and customer locations for quantum firms across 15 countries, revealing a complex web of dependencies. Respondents to the study reported relationships with suppliers in 36 countries and customers in 49, indicating that even smaller quantum firms are actively cultivating multiple international partnerships for both inputs and sales.
This reliance on international connections challenges narratives of complete national self-sufficiency in a sector often linked to national security, and emphasises the need for policies that maintain access to key markets and suppliers. “With its recently expanded membership and new charter, ICQIA can use this shared evidence to strengthen international coordination, safeguard critical technologies and preserve trusted access to the necessary suppliers, customers and markets.” For Korea, the KQIA’s participation signals a commitment to integrating its companies into these global supply chains, rather than pursuing isolation.
“For Korea, the priority is to help our companies contribute specialized capabilities and become trusted partners in global quantum supply chains,” stated a representative from KQIA. “KQIA will work with fellow industry associations to translate this report’s findings into practical cooperation that expands market access, strengthens supply-chain resilience and protects critical technologies.” Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Seoul, the KQIA coordinates commercialization efforts and advocates for policies supporting Korea’s quantum sector, currently comprised of 50 members including telecom providers, semiconductor firms and startups.
The association recently hosted a quantum investor pitching day at Quantum Expo in Seoul, featuring presentations from six companies. The report also highlights opportunities for emerging quantum economies like India to integrate into these global value chains. Purohit added, “This study shows that the strength of the quantum industry will depend not only on national capability, but on how effectively those capabilities connect across borders.” The findings emphasize that quantum innovation is inherently international, spanning markets, standards, research, talent, capital and supply chains.
Quantum innovation does not stop at national borders, and neither do the supply chains that make it possible.
Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of QED-C
Survey Data Reveals Extensive Cross-Border Quantum Flows
This partnership demonstrates a coordinated, multi-national approach to understanding the emerging quantum ecosystem despite increasing geopolitical tensions and a focus on national security interests, according to the report released September 23, 2026. Seventy-four percent of the 160 companies surveyed report serving customers in foreign countries, a figure that highlights the necessity of international market access as quantum technologies transition toward widespread commercial availability. The study, conducted in March and April 2026, deliberately excluded research organizations to focus on companies directly involved in the production of quantum components and systems, excluding widely available off-the-shelf parts.
While companies headquartered in China were not represented among the respondents, they did appear as supplier or customer locations within the data, indicating existing, if limited, connections. “Quantum commercialization requires more than access to technology—it requires access to global markets,” the report emphasizes, suggesting that policies preserving market access and relationships with preferred suppliers in like-minded countries are important for sustained growth. The report highlights this global interconnection and the need for practical cooperation between quantum nations, as set out in the inter‑governmental Quantum Development Group’s April 2026 communique.
Bang Seung-hyun, chief executive of the Korea Quantum Industry Association, has been instrumental in encouraging these international collaborations, positioning Korea as a key contributor to specialized capabilities within the global quantum landscape, the company says. The data collected provides policymakers, investors and stakeholders with a clearer understanding of the international relationships that underpin innovation and growth across the quantum sector, offering a vital resource for understanding the complexities of this rapidly evolving field.
This study shows that the strength of the quantum industry will depend not only on national capability, but on how effectively those capabilities connect across borders.
Abhishek Purohit, India Ecosystem liaison for the Global Quantum Supply Chain Study and Director of Technology Strategy at QURECA
See today’s quantum computing news on Quantum Zeitgeist for the latest breakthroughs in qubits, hardware, algorithms, and industry deals.
