Quantum computing stocks soar! Microsoft takes action: We are at the beginning of a reliable quantum computing era (full text attached)

On Wednesday, quantum computing stocks generally surged significantly, driven by Microsoft's declaration that 2025 will be the "quantum-ready" year.

Mitra Azizirad, President and COO of Microsoft's Strategic Missions and Technologies division, wrote in a blog post:

We are at the beginning of a reliable quantum computing era. We are about to see quantum computers solve meaningful problems and capture new business value.

Microsoft announced a plan to help businesses prepare for the arrival of the quantum computing era. Azizirad stated that this is a "critical and catalytic time for business leaders to take action," and he expects quantum research and development to accelerate rapidly in the coming year.

Microsoft's statement has driven a significant rise in quantum computing stocks. Rigetti Computing and D-Wave Quantum's stock prices both soared over 22%, while IonQ skyrocketed over 33%.

Quantum computing is a field of computer science that uses quantum mechanics to solve complex problems that traditional computers cannot solve quickly. Proponents of quantum computing argue that quantum computers will be able to perform computational tasks that traditional computers cannot complete while processing more data.

Microsoft is the latest company to ignite enthusiasm for quantum computing. Last year, quantum computing stocks surged after Google announced breakthroughs with its Willow quantum computing chip.

However, recent comments from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have led to a sharp decline in quantum computing stocks. Huang suggested that useful quantum computers are still decades away. Despite the funding frenzy in the quantum computing field, many on Wall Street share Huang's view, believing that practical applications of the technology are still decades away.

The surge in quantum computing stocks was also fueled by NVIDIA's announcement on Tuesday that it will host a "Quantum Day" at the GTC conference in March. Additionally, the overall U.S. December CPI data came in below expectations, significantly boosting investors' risk appetite, which also contributed to the frenzy in quantum computing stocks.

Full Text from Microsoft

Below is the full blog post by Mitra Azizirad, President and COO of Microsoft's Strategic Missions and Technologies division.

We are at an exciting and critical time. We are entering the beginning of a reliable quantum computing era. We are about to witness quantum computers solving meaningful problems and creating new business value. Looking ahead to the next 12 months, the pace of quantum research and development will only accelerate, making now a critical and catalytic time for business leaders to take action. We see that business leaders increasingly need to have the information and tools to better understand the depth of these amazing technological breakthroughs and the business applications and value they unlock. In a study of business decision-makers, 12% of respondents indicated that their organizations are already prepared to assess quantum opportunities. Clearly, leaders urgently need to acquire more information and better understand how quantum technological advancements can have real-world impacts.

Leaders of global companies, investment funds, and governments are investing billions of dollars in the field of quantum computing. Organizations that are developing comprehensive quantum-ready strategies are creating lasting competitive advantages for themselves and positioning themselves to fully leverage the potential of quantum technology as it scalesClearly, without strategic preparation, leaders will struggle to assess risks and returns or design effective and responsible quantum strategies, which are necessary for developing a comprehensive quantum roadmap for their organizations.

This is why Microsoft is pleased to announce our new "Quantum Ready" program, aimed at addressing these challenges by providing business leaders with the insights and tools they need:

1. Build practical and high-impact hybrid applications.
2. Invest in strategic skills training and acquire reliable quantum computers for experimentation.
3. Embrace quantum security with a focus on cryptographic flexibility.
4. Prepare for scalability to future-proof your investments.

"Quantum Ready" is not only a business necessity but also a global mission. In fact, the United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), reflecting the transformative impact of quantum mechanics over the past century and laying the groundwork for the next wave of quantum innovation. As part of this global initiative, Microsoft will partner with the American Physical Society (APS) to be a leading collaborator for IYQ, celebrating the 100th anniversary of quantum innovation together. We are excited to work with APS and other leading organizations to support IYQ and collaborate with communities around the world to raise awareness of how quantum science and applications are transforming various industries.

Hybrid Applications: Current and Future Business Value and Security

Given the rapid pace of innovation, organizations must begin to explore, identify, and build application roadmaps to prepare for a successful quantum future. This will clarify when and where quantum technology can deliver tangible business value and guide how and to what extent you should invest today to become quantum ready.

Through our Quantum Ready program, leaders will have the opportunity to participate in one-on-one workshops and industry-specific forums with Microsoft, accelerating their strategic preparation and identifying high-value use cases. We hope to bring the learnings from these industry-specific forums to a broader ecosystem in the form of customized industry outlook reports, providing practical insights to help guide your organization's leadership and corporate strategy.

Additionally, business leaders need to start preparing for the future of quantum security; this is not because of an immediate threat, but because the transition to emerging cryptographic standards will take time. Security is a top priority for Microsoft—that's why we established the Microsoft Quantum Security Program to achieve security alignment from both business and technical perspectives.

Cultivating a Quantum Ready Culture: Skills Training and Vision for the Hybrid Era

Cultivating an innovative culture begins with strong workforce skills and training, empowering teams with the knowledge and mindset to embrace the possibilities of quantum empowerment. Putting this mindset into practice requires providing a unified hybrid platform that integrates powerful quantum computing, classical supercomputing, and artificial intelligence. Especially as 76% of leaders report that the quantum skills crisis is slowing innovation, organizations that can leverage these complementary technological strengths and understand that their use is not a choice, but rather when and how to use them, will be at a distinct advantage.

Our Quantum Ready program will offer various skills and training opportunities to help business and government leaders prepare, providing them with the resources, frameworks, and tools they need:

• Understand how quantum technology can help revolutionize your business operations, talent strategy, and infrastructure.
• Gain an early competitive advantage by creating a quantum strategy aligned with your specific business and innovation goals.
• Gain insights into the impact quantum computing will have on your industry and what it means for your organization.

Successful Action: Prepare for Scaling with the Right Partners

So, where and how should organizations start? Navigating the myriad skills, strategies, and cultural considerations is not easy, and it requires the right partners: those experienced in putting advanced hybrid tools into practice and with real-world impactful applications; those who carefully consider the risks posed by quantum technology and are committed to mitigating those risks through leading security solutions and a commitment to secure usage; and finally, those who adopt an open ecosystem approach to ensure your investments are future-proof.

From envisioning new use cases and identifying co-innovation opportunities to gaining forward-looking industry insights, prospect reports, skills, workshops, and other exciting upcoming projects, click here to sign up for Microsoft's Quantum Readiness Program. We look forward to connecting with you soon!