Highlights
- While classical systems struggle to model the quantum behavior of chemical reactions, quantum computing offers a unique advantage for these problems.
- Early estimates indicate that quantum applications in the chemical sector could carry 200–500 billion dollars of potential value by 2035.
- In the short term, hybrid approaches combining HPC, AI/ML, and quantum offer the greatest benefit.
- Companies such as BASF, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Covestro, BP, and Mitsubishi Chemical are pursuing collaborations with quantum providers.
- Battery materials, biocides, OLED luminophores, and microplastic-degrading peptides are among the promising application areas; roadmaps foresee 2–5 years for fault-tolerant systems.
The chemical industry is undergoing a profound transformation due to digitalization, the proliferation of electric vehicles, the transition to renewable energy, and stricter environmental regulations targeting substances such as PFAS, and this is increasing demand for new materials, safer formulations, and energy-efficient processes. Drawing on McKinsey & Company's report dated February 2026, the report addresses the application areas of quantum computing in the chemical industry, hybrid approaches, and industrial investments. While classical systems struggle to model the quantum behavior underlying chemical reactions, quantum computing offers unique advantages for such problems; early estimates indicate that the total potential value of quantum applications in the chemical sector could be between 200 and 500 billion dollars by 2035. In the short term, hybrid approaches that bring together classical high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence/machine learning, and quantum technologies offer the greatest benefit; quantum simulations, hybrid AI/ML models, and optimization algorithms are listed as the prominent applications. Collaborations by companies such as BASF (SEEQC, Kipu Quantum), Volkswagen (IQM), Hyundai (IonQ), Covestro (Google Quantum AI), BP (ORCA Computing), and Mitsubishi Chemical (PsiQuantum) exemplify the industrial investments in the field. Promising application areas are listed, such as biocides for sustainable agriculture, high-energy-density battery materials for electric vehicles, OLED luminophores, and peptides that break down microplastics; it is noted that fully fault-tolerant quantum computers are still under development and that current roadmaps foresee more powerful systems within the next two to five years.