OECD Report on Global Quantum Ecosystem: Mapping Innovation, Investment, and Strategic Value Chains
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
NITI Aayog | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
The joint OECD-EPO report, “Mapping the Global Quantum Ecosystem,” (December 2025) provides an unprecedented diagnostic of the rapidly evolving quantum landscape. As the world celebrates the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in 2025, the report highlights that quantum technologies have moved from theoretical science to an early stage of industrial maturity.
Key Ecosystem Insights:
Explosive Innovation Growth: International patent families (IPFs) in quantum have increased sevenfold since 2005, with growth accelerating at a CAGR of 20% since 2014—ten times faster than the growth rate across all other technologies.
Dominance of Quantum Computing: While quantum communication was historically the largest area, quantum computing overtook it in 2022 to become the most dynamic domain, growing nearly 20-fold over the last decade.
High Barrier to Entry: The industry is exceptionally science-driven; over 50% of quantum startup founders hold a PhD, compared to just 10% in non-quantum sectors.
Geographical Concentration: The United States remains the leading player, accounting for 60% of total recorded global quantum funding, despite hosting only 30% of global startups and patent filings.
Supply Chain Dependencies: The report identifies rising vulnerabilities in global supply chains for critical inputs like static converters, industrial diamonds, and aluminium oxide, with a high level of dependency on single-country suppliers like China.
What is the “International Patent Family” (IPF) metric? An IPF represents a set of patent applications filed for the same invention with at least two different authorities, one of which is a major international office like the EPO or through the PCT. This metric is used to filter for higher-value inventions that are deemed commercially relevant for global protection.
Policy Relevance
India is emerging as a significant contributor to the global quantum ecosystem, particularly as a crucial talent hub and an essential node in international R&D collaborations.
Strategic Human Capital Hub: India stands out as a major “inventor country” for global corporations. The report highlights a significant asymmetric collaboration where 275 patent families involve Indian inventors working for US-based applicants, underscoring India’s deep talent pool in quantum information science.
Rising Corporate Participation: In terms of firm entry into the quantum field between 2015–2024, India ranks among the top 10 countries globally for both general ecosystem members and core quantum-focused startups.
India-Specific Strengths and Specialisation: India is listed among the countries with national quantum strategies and has seen a notable increase in quantum-related scientific publications between 2012 and 2022. Additionally, India is identified as a specialised exporter of aluminium, a key raw material for quantum infrastructure.
Trade Vulnerabilities: As a key importer of quantum-relevant raw materials like doped chemical compounds, India must navigate increasing concentration in global supply chains. Ensuring resilient access to key materials is vital for scaling domestic quantum infrastructure.
Follow the full report here: Mapping the Global Quantum Ecosystem