Quantum computers edge toward industrialization Recent investments in the U.S. and Europe aim to boost production, but the industry still faces scalability, error correction and software challenges. Quantum technology is edging closer to industrialization as national governments commit billions to scale the technology, while hardware and software providers — sometimes with the support of enterprise customers — push toward useful systems. In May, the U.S. federal government unveiled a program earmarking $2 billion in planned funding to nine quantum computing companies. The U.K. government in March launched a £2 billion quantum innovation effort to rollout quantum computers at scale. Other countries are also investing in their national quantum ecosystems. The moves signal a push to make quantum a practical computing tool, with quantum processing units eventually taking their place in data centers alongside CPUs and GPUs. But while quantum's arrival might seem inevitable, the technology still faces significant obstacles. The Department of Commerce announcement outlining the U.S. government's quantum investment strategy cited "unresolved engineering problems." Industry executives, meanwhile, cited manufacturability, technical hurdles such as quantum error correction (QEC) and software as areas of focus. David Mooter, principal analyst at Forrester, noted that uncertainty remains, even as quantum technology appears poised for industrialization. However, he's become more optimistic about quantum technology over the past couple of years. He pointed to the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), the first programmable electronic computer, built in the 1940s, as an analogy for quantum's current state. "We're still in the pre-ENIAC phase; we're still a ways off," Mooter said. "But I feel like the endgame is in sight, because we are now in the engineering phase rather than just the scientific theorizing phase." Boosting manufacturability Making quantum easier and cheaper to manufacture is on the minds of quantum technologists worldwide. Boosting production capacity is