2025 Global Quantum-Safe Industry Development Outlook

With the rapid development of quantum technology, quantum-safe has become a crucial area in the global technology and industry competition. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), as the two pillars of quantum security, each possess different technical advantages and application prospects.

From the perspective of global industrial trends, the choice of quantum-safe technologies is closely associated with a country's strategic goals, industrial foundation, and technological development stage. China has a clear strategic positioning and is in a critical period of transitioning from QKD to PQC. While striving to gradually take the lead in QKD technology, China has also started to increase R&D investment in the field of PQC, forming a two-wheel drive of the technology system. The United States, on the other hand, focuses more on the direct deployment of PQC. Its PQC - based technical architecture has been gradually commercialized globally, providing a forward - looking solution to the security threats posed by quantum computing. The European Union has adopted a compromise approach, advocating the parallel development of QKD and PQC, striving to promote both the construction of quantum communication infrastructure and the application of PQC algorithms simultaneously to ensure its competitiveness in the global quantum-safe landscape.

This report aims to comprehensively analyze the current development trends in the field of quantum-safe, explore the prospects of combining QKD and PQC technologies, deeply analyze the technical route choices and industrial layouts of various countries in the field of quantum-safe, look ahead to the evolution of the future global quantum-safe landscape, and put forward corresponding industrial development suggestions.

Definition of Quantum-Safe

Quantum security refers to the measures taken to counter the threats posed by quantum computing, encompassing both physical and mathematical technical approaches. The physical technology pertains to quantum secure communication, which includes Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG), Quantum Teleportation (QT), and others. The mathematical technology is centered around Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), which builds cryptographic security algorithms, and extends to various aspects such as quantum digital signatures and the application of quantum computers in the field of security.

Overview of Policies and Financing

In 2024, countries and regions around the world frequently introduced quantum-safe policies, covering various aspects such as strategic planning and industry regulations. Simultaneously, financing activities surged, with both government and social capital jointly injecting vitality into the quantum-safe industry.

In 2024, the global quantum security sector experienced moderate activity in investment and financing. Although there was an increase compared to 2023, the growth rate was sluggish. The industry's development is still in its nascent stage.

In 2024, financing rounds were dispersed without a concentrated trend, covering seed rounds, Series A, Series B, as well as government grants/subsidies. This indicates that quantum enterprises have made varying degrees of progress at different stages.

From 2020 to 2024, the number of financing rounds in the quantum security sector has decreased year by year. However, post - quantum cryptography, as an important branch of quantum security, is attracting increasing investment, Moreover, despite the recent downturn in financing within the quantum security sector, governments worldwide are actively laying out industrial plans for quantum security. They have introduced a series of policy measures to promote the R&D and application of quantum communication, providing policy support for the advancement of this field.

Industry Size ForecastIn 2024, with multiple resources being invested globally in quantum security, the market drove the further expansion of the entire industry scale, reflecting an accelerated momentum in industrial development. This indicates that the quantum security field is attracting increasing attention and its recognition is significantly rising.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) product technology has matured through continuous development. In 2024, the market size of Quantum Key Distribution reached $509 million. As a critical technology for ensuring the security of information transmission, the future development direction of QKD products will deeply integrate into various fields, constructing more comprehensive and innovative solutions for secure communication.

In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the technology of Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) chips. Through continuous innovation in manufacturing processes and material optimization, their size has been progressively reduced, and costs have significantly decreased. This has enabled the chips to be widely adopted across multiple critical fields. As the applications of quantum random numbers in cryptography, simulation, and other emerging areas continue to be explored, the market size is expected to gradually expand.

In 2024, the industrial scale of PQC grew rapidly, reaching $656 million. With the release of the first official post - quantum cryptography standards by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2024, 2024 became a crucial turning point for the development of the entire PQC industry.