https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00405-7
Review
Superconducting quantum computers: who is leading the future?
1
Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, 11566, Cairo, Egypt
2
Zewail City of Science, Technology and Innovation, 12678, Giza, Egypt
Received:
3
March
2025
Accepted:
1
August
2025
Published online:
19
August
2025
Superconducting quantum computing has emerged as a leading platform in the pursuit of practical quantum computers, driven by rapid advances from industry, academia, and government initiatives. This review examines the state of superconducting quantum technology, with emphasis on qubit design, processor architecture, scalability, and supporting quantum software. We compare the hardware strategies and performance milestones of key players—including IBM Quantum, Google Quantum AI, Rigetti Computing, Intel Quantum, QuTech, and Oxford Quantum Circuits—highlighting innovations in qubit coherence, control, and system integration. Landmark demonstrations such as quantum supremacy experiments are discussed alongside progress toward real-world applications in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era. Beyond hardware, attention is given to the broader software and service ecosystem, including quantum programming frameworks, operating environments, and cloud-accessible platforms such as Amazon Braket, Azure Quantum, and OriginQ Cloud, which enable remote access and algorithm development. Persistent challenges in superconducting quantum computing—such as error correction, system stability, and large-scale integration—are assessed in light of emerging approaches aimed at fault-tolerant quantum computing. As the field moves from the NISQ era toward fault-tolerant quantum computing, we capture the defining hardware achievements and characteristics of current superconducting processors, while examining the ongoing efforts and challenges in overcoming NISQ-era limitations. These developments offer critical insights into the path toward scalable quantum systems and their transformative impact on future technologies, while also underscoring the strategic and societal considerations that require balancing innovation with responsible oversight and thoughtful governance.
Key words: Superconducting quantum processors / IBM Quantum / Google Quantum AI / Rigetti Computing / Zuchongzhi Quantum computers / Oxford Quantum Circuits / Intel Quantum / QuTech / Quantum Inspire / Alibaba Cloud / Microsoft’s Azure Quantum / QuantWare. OriginQ Cloud / Alice and Bob / IQM / Amazon Braket
© The Author(s) 2025
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