UK bullish on quantum but skills gaps cloud outlook

UK organisations rank among the most confident globally about the country's position in quantum computing, though many warn progress could be constrained by a shortage of skilled staff, according to a new survey from QuEra Computing.

In QuEra's 2026 Quantum Readiness Report, 88% of UK respondents said the country is well positioned in quantum computing. A third described their organisations as "very prepared" for quantum adoption. However, 37% cited a lack of skilled talent as a major barrier.

Overall, the findings suggest the market is moving from early experimentation to tougher demands for evidence. The report described a "show me" phase in which buyers expect credible progress and clearer paths to commercial value.

Classical limits

Interest in quantum technologies is increasingly shaped by the constraints of existing approaches. The survey found that 62% of respondents with applicable workloads face moderate to critical limits with classical computing. UK respondents reported the same 62% figure for hitting limits with classical workloads.

The report linked these constraints to rising demand for quantum computing grounded in economics rather than experimentation. It also noted a year-on-year shift in sentiment: the share of respondents describing their country as "very well positioned" fell by 20 percentage points, from more than 45% in 2025 to 25% in 2026.

Yuval Boger, QuEra's chief commercial officer, said the survey points to a more disciplined market conversation.

"What we're seeing in 2026 is a reset in expectations. Organisations are moving from asking whether quantum will matter to asking when, where, and under what conditions it delivers real value. That shift from belief to benchmarking is a hallmark of a maturing market."

Readiness gap

Despite growing engagement, fewer organisations say they are ready to adopt quantum computing. Across the full sample, 55% described their organisation as somewhat or very prepared, down from more than 65% a year earlier.

The report called this a "preparedness paradox", linking the decline to a higher bar for what qualifies as readiness as organisations better understand implementation requirements.

In the UK, confidence in national positioning remains high, but the data suggests a gap between exploration and large-scale use. More than half of respondents (56%) said their organisations are actively exploring or piloting quantum computing, while only 13% reported deploying quantum solutions at scale.

Larger organisations also reported feeling less prepared than smaller ones, a difference the report linked to legacy systems, longer approval cycles, and competing budget priorities.

Talent constraint

Workforce availability emerged as a consistent barrier. More than a third of respondents (37%) cited talent availability as a primary challenge, and the UK results highlighted skills shortages as a factor that could limit adoption even as interest grows.

Boger said the jump from proof of concept to operational projects is often a practical staffing problem.

"The quantum talent pipeline may now be the binding constraint on innovation speed," he said. "Organisations can't deploy what they can't staff. This finding should focus attention on workforce development as a strategic priority, not just a human resources issue."

Regional confidence

Confidence varied by region. The UK and US recorded some of the highest levels, with 88% of UK respondents and 82% of US respondents saying their countries are well positioned in quantum computing. In the European Union, 51% expressed the same view.

At the organisational level, the UK also stood out on self-assessed preparedness: a third of respondents described their organisations as "very prepared", above the global average.

Use cases

Near-term application focus is concentrated on simulation, particularly in materials science, chemistry, and drug discovery. The survey found that 42% of planned quantum applications relate to simulation, and that pharmaceutical and life sciences organisations are more likely than other sectors to prioritise these workloads.

Boger said the strongest interest is emerging where current methods rely heavily on approximations.

"The sectors hitting the hardest classical computing walls are the same ones where quantum advantage is theoretically demonstrable," he said. "Molecular simulation, protein folding, battery chemistry - these aren't speculative use cases. They're problems organisations face today where classical approximations fall short."

Spending outlook

The survey also pointed to a more cautious budgeting environment. Nearly half of respondents (46%) expect quantum budgets to remain flat in 2026, while 10% anticipate decreases-suggesting consolidation rather than a broad pullback.

Timeline expectations remain relatively aggressive despite lower confidence. More than 43% expect quantum computers to outperform classical systems for certain workloads within five years, and a further 37% expect this within six to 10 years.

QuEra said these findings are the first part of a broader report series, with further analysis planned on investment and procurement behaviour, technology expectations, and factors shaping commercial adoption.