Something interesting just happened in quantum computing patents
Are we starting to see a more concentrated, IP-intensive group of companies emerge around quantum computing?
Looking at published patent activity in May 2026, quantum-first companies led every other organisation type on a per-company basis.
Among the organisations publishing that month:
- 48 quantum-first companies published 101 patent applications, 50 granted patents and 5 unitary patents
- 143 commercial companies published 203 patent applications, 111 granted patents and 2 unitary patents
On a per-company basis, that works out at:
- Quantum-first: 2.1 applications, 1.0 granted patents and 0.1 unitary patents
- Commercial: 1.4 applications, 0.78 granted patents and 0.01 unitary patents
So although substantially fewer quantum-first companies were publishing, their patent activity per company was higher across all three measures.
It is only one month of data, but it raises an interesting question: are we starting to see a more concentrated and IP-intensive group of companies emerge around quantum computing?
This is one of many areas tracked each month in the Quantum Computer Patent Monitor.