Quantum Computing Research: Who’s Winning the Global Race?

Quantum computing research is picking up speed around the world, with governments, universities, and private labs putting more time and money into it. Some countries are focusing on publishing as much as they can, while others are aiming for quality and long-term impact.

This article looks at the numbers, compares different approaches, and shows how global efforts are shaping this fast-moving field. The data comes from The Quantum Index Report 2025 by the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Global Research Output: Who’s Publishing The Most in Quantum Research
3. Measuring Quality: H-Index Rankings in Research in Quantum Computing
4. Impact Over Quantity: Most Highly-Cited Studies in Quantum Theory
5. Overall Performance: Which Countries Lead in Quantum Technologies Research
6. The Bottom Line
7. FAQs
8. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Global Research Output: Who’s Publishing The Most in Quantum Research
3. Measuring Quality: H-Index Rankings in Research in Quantum Computing
Show Full Guide
4. Impact Over Quantity: Most Highly-Cited Studies in Quantum Theory
5. Overall Performance: Which Countries Lead in Quantum Technologies Research
6. The Bottom Line
7. FAQs
8. References

Global Research Output: Who’s Publishing The Most in Quantum Research

In the world of quantum computer research, a few countries were clearly ahead between 2019 and 2023, but many others were also involved in meaningful ways. At the top of the list were China and the US, which together produced nearly half of all published work in this field during that period.

These two countries made up the highest tier of quantum research internationally, leading in both activity and visibility.

The next group included countries that published less overall but still contributed a strong share to the global conversation:

• India: 5%
• Germany: 5%
• Japan: 4%
• United Kingdom: 4%

Each of these nations played a steady role in advancing research in quantum computing, supported by national labs, university departments, and growing interest from industry.

There was also a wider circle of countries with a smaller share, but still part of the global research effort:

• Canada, Italy, Russia: 3% each
• France, Spain, South Korea, Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland: 2% each
• Iran, Poland, Austria, Brazil, Taiwan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Denmark: 1% each

Altogether, the spread shows how broad the field had become. While the biggest contributions came from a few leaders, quantum research during that time was already a global effort with a strong international base.

Measuring Quality: H-Index Rankings in Research in Quantum Computing

In quantum research, it’s not only about how many papers a country publishes; the H-index helps show which research is actually being used and cited by others. A higher score means the work has had more influence across the field.

Between 2019 and 2023, the US had the strongest result, with an H-index of 104. This shows that American research in this space had a wide reach and strong impact.

China, which published the most overall, came next with 61. In third place was the UK, with a score of 46.

Several other countries also performed well in terms of research quality:

• Germany: 43
• The Netherlands: 39
• Canada and Japan: both 38

These countries didn’t produce as many papers as the US or China, but they still made a clear mark on the field. Their work in research in quantum computing was solid and widely respected.

This type of measurement helps highlight where quantum computing researchers had the most significant influence, building knowledge that others relied on and used in their work.

Impact Over Quantity: Most Highly-Cited Studies in Quantum Theory

While the H-index measures steady influence across a wide range of papers, the top 10% most highly cited studies focus on something else.

The H-index shows how many papers a country has published that are consistently well-cited. It reflects a steady, reliable influence across a large body of work.

In contrast, the most highly cited studies focus only on the top-performing papers – the ones that have received the most attention overall. Even if a country hasn’t published much, one or two standout papers can still push it into this group.

In this top group – the 10% most cited studies worldwide between 2019 and 2023 – the US led the way, accounting for 34% of the most influential research in quantum computing.

China came second with 16%, showing that its work was not only widely published but also frequently referenced.

Several other countries had smaller shares but still stood out:

• UK and Germany: 6% each
• Japan and Canada: 4% each
• India, Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland: 3% each

Overall, the data showed that high-impact research in quantum theory and related fields wasn’t limited to one region. Between 2019 and 2023, leading quantum researchers were based across multiple continents and contributed to a growing global knowledge base.

Overall Performance: Which Countries Lead in Quantum Technologies Research

When we look at quantum computing research across all key areas – volume, citation impact, and influence – some countries performed consistently well between 2019 and 2023.

The US stood out as the most consistent performer. It ranked second in total publications (22%), but came first in both H-index (104) and share of the most highly cited studies (34%). This showed strong, steady leadership in quantum computer research.

China had the highest number of published papers (23%) and ranked second in both H-index (61) and top-cited work (16%). While its output was high, its average impact was slightly lower than that of the US.

Some countries were especially efficient with their research:

• The UK had fewer publications (4%) but still ranked third in H-index (46) and contributed 6% of the top-cited papers.
• The Netherlands showed a similar pattern with strong citation results (3%), fifth place in H-index (39), and a smaller volume of work (2%).

Japan and Canada showed a balanced performance across the board; both were in the middle group for publication volume, and each had an H-index of 38. Their results in quantum technologies research reflected steady growth and increasing international recognition.

The Bottom Line

The data shows that quantum computing research is active across many parts of the world. The US leads in quality and global influence, while China has the highest number of published papers. Countries like the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada are also making steady progress.

As more regions invest in this field, quantum research internationally is becoming more balanced, with a mix of strong output and rising talent.

FAQs