New research from Censuswide and D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) reveals that 41% of large UK enterprises surveyed believe quantum computing could unlock more than £100 million in business value within a single year.
The findings come from a report titled “The Quantum Effect: How Quantum Computing is Reshaping Business Today in Preparation for Tomorrow’s Quantum Economy,” examining how organisations are moving from theoretical exploration into practical application.
Two-thirds, or 65%, of UK business leaders surveyed are already adopting or testing quantum computing, signalling a decisive shift in how enterprises view the technology.
More than a quarter of respondents, 26%, said their organisation is actively adopting quantum computing, while a further 39% are experimenting through pilots or proof-of-concept initiatives.
“The era of enterprise quantum computing adoption has arrived. Companies are no longer asking if they should explore quantum, but how quickly they can implement it,” said Murray Thom, vice president of quantum technology evangelism at D-Wave.
“This study shows that UK organisations increasingly see quantum computing as a practical tool for tackling real business challenges, from supply chain optimisation to manufacturing to AI,” Thom added.
More than a third, 34%, of surveyed UK business leaders now view quantum computing as an emerging business tool, while 20% described it as already a strategic boardroom priority.
Organisations actively engaging with quantum computing estimate nearly twice the commercial value of those waiting for the technology to mature, with 37% believing it is already delivering value today compared to 16% of business leaders overall.
Surveyed business leaders identified workforce scheduling, resource allocation, supply chain optimisation, and manufacturing processes as key areas that would benefit from improved optimisation, with support ranging from 82% to 90% across those categories.
The study also found growing pressure around artificial intelligence investment returns, with 35% of surveyed UK business leaders saying AI has delivered some ROI but results have fallen below expectations.
Nearly two-thirds, 62%, of respondents expressed concern about whether existing energy infrastructure can support the continued expansion of AI and other compute-intensive technologies.
Against that backdrop, 87% of those surveyed said quantum computing could help optimise AI-related processes and complex computational challenges.
Barriers to broader quantum adoption remain, with cost concerns cited by 46% of respondents, lack of internal expertise by 33%, and limited awareness by 30% of those surveyed.
The research was conducted by Censuswide among a sample of 1,003 senior business decision makers across the UK, with data collected between May 7 and May 13, 2026.
