Quantum computing, you might have heard, offers immense potential to solve complex problems and promises to revolutionize various industries, including computing, communication, and materials science. The pace of innovation is accelerating. And yet, it still sounds like science fiction for some. How is this technology impacting the Internet of Things and digital transformation? Can companies of all sizes leverage the opportunities this change arises?
American theoretical physicist Richard Feynman once said, “If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics.” But still. When talking about quantum computing, a simplified breakdown would be that unlike classical bits, which can only be 0 or 1, qubits can be 0, 1, or a superposition of both states simultaneously. Quantum magic.
This allows quantum computers to process information exponentially faster than classical computers. And that means that they have the potential to solve highly complex problems such as simulating chemical reactions or molecule behavior, developing more sustainable materials and combustibles, or offering unbreakable encryption and more secure and high-speed communication. Additionally, they can speed up current logistic problems to optimize supply chains and improve finances and banking or energy consumption.
“Using quantum computers allows us to work with a quite different logic of data manipulation. With this logic, we can build algorithms to perform certain tasks—not all of them—to get more efficient solutions. By efficient, I mean with improved computation time, more accurate results, and better sustainability,” says Marta P. Estarellas, CEO at Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, a Barcelona-based company that builds full-stack quantum computers and provides remote access to its infrastructure for researchers, laying the groundwork for broader applications in the future.
Indeed, sustainability is key in an increasing digital economy where AI is super hungry for data processing.
“With quantum computing, you can encode a lot of data in truly little space. Therefore, you can consider coding exceptionally large neural networks and improving the learning process of these neural networks with fewer resources and less energy consumption,” Estarellas adds.
For the record, “quantum computers’ electricity usage is expected to be seven orders of magnitude less than any supercomputer. And this can have a significant impact on cost reduction and sustainability as well as on improving the efficiencies of operational pipelines in different industries,” insists Qilimanjaro’s CEO.
When put that way, quantum seems like Saint Grail for solving pressing challenges in our society. But the world is not perfect, nor is any technology.
Quantum literacy
“There are two big hurdles for the development of quantum technology. The first one is quantum error correction, as qubits are highly susceptible to interference from their environment. And the second one is scalability across the full stack of the computer,” explains Eduard Alarcón, Head of the Quantum Computing Lab at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC) and lecturer at the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB).
In a nutshell, building and operating large-scale quantum computers and networks is not plain sailing. Also, “you need 2-3 years of training to become quantum literate,” says Alarcón.
Despite these challenges, the development of this technology continues, and, as Marta P. Estarellas stresses, “it surely can help companies in their digital transformation journey.” Moreover, “it will be a way to do green computing,” adds Eduard Alarcón, who is also a member of QuSpain think tank.
At IOTSWC22, Shimon Kolkowitz, Physics Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), predicted that in the short term (5-10 years), the primary area where there might be significant developments is quantum sensing. He underlined that one of the clear cases for quantum sensors is autonomous vehicles and “provably secure” communications (which can be proved secure). “In the long term, we could see quantum integrated into mobile and household devices,” he claimed.
At IOT Solutions World Congress 2025, to be held 13–15 May 2025 in Barcelona, international experts will reflect on what this emerging technology, which will be coexisting with supercomputers and AI, can bring in the coming years.
In any case, as the Head of the Quantum Computing Lab and member of the QuSpain think tank advises, “be quantum ready,” as change is coming faster than you think.
Article by: Anna Solana