The JRC's Outlook Report on Quantum Technologies, published today, analysed 195 quantum technology foresight signals that were detected across the scientific literature.
Foresight signals are observable changes that hint at a larger shift that could grow into a trend, identified by text and data mining.
The report found that nearly half of the quantum technology signals are only at the proof-of-concept stage, almost a third have reached system-demonstration level, while 12.9% are already operational.
For example, quantum random number generators are already used commercially, whereas the use of quantum computers for climate forecasting is still at the experimental stage.
Quantum technologies are based on the behaviour of matter at subatomic level. They could lead to new types of computers with capabilities to tackle problems that current computers would take millions of years to solve, unbreakable cryptography, and possible applications across many sectors.