Patent applications for quantum computing technology totalled 6,900 in the 12 months to 31 March 2026, compared with 5,900 a year earlier, based on PATENTSCOPE figures from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Across broader quantum technology categories, total applications across quantum computing, communications and sensing reached 32,806, up from 32,566.
Quantum communications patents grew at a faster rate, rising 35% to 899 applications, while quantum sensing filings rose 10% to 205.
The US dominates the filing landscape. American organisations submitted 4,234 quantum computing patent applications to the USPTO in the period, compared with 153 filed with the UK Intellectual Property Office. IBM filed the largest number at 1,300. Google submitted 150, Microsoft 90, and Bank of America 70. Among specialist quantum firms, Quantinuum filed 97 patents and PsiQuantum 79.
Dr Matthias Brittinger, Partner at Mathys Squire, said the timing reflects anticipation of a commercial turning point: "Many of these labs have spent years exploring different quantum computing architectures and are now seeking to consolidate those advances into their own patent portfolios. Businesses and quantum labs that haven't secured patent protection for their technologies risk seeing them adopted as industry standards without being able to claim intellectual property rights over them."
Standards are central to the filings boom. Technologies chosen as common industry standards will need to be incorporated into almost all future quantum-based systems, and the holders of standard-essential patents (SEPs) over those technologies stand to receive significant royalty income across the industry for decades. Dr Brittinger noted that some organisations have "spent billions in developing quantum technologies" and are patenting to protect their return on investment.
Commercially viable quantum computers are widely expected by 2030, and that deadline has accelerated standardisation work in quantum networking, including early quantum network testbeds, intercity quantum links and emerging quantum internet architectures.
The US government announced in May 2026 that it would invest more than $2 billion in quantum computing technologies, with $1 billion allocated to IBM. Reports indicate that Quantinuum and PsiQuantum will each receive £100 million. Quantinuum listed on Nasdaq in 2026 at a valuation of £15 billion.
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