[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Rubidium is emerging as a core strategic resource in the quantum-computing era. As development of neutral-atom quantum computers accelerates, demand for rubidium, which has remained in a small market, may expand rapidly.

On July 17 (local time), blockchain media outlet Cryptopolitan reported that quantum computer developers, governments and the defence industry are increasing interest in securing rubidium. It said the strategic value of rubidium, which has limited supply, is rising as neutral-atom quantum computing enters the commercialisation stage.

Rubidium is a rare alkali metal and is mostly produced as a byproduct during the processing of other minerals, rather than being mined from standalone mines. As a result, supply volumes are not large. Market Research Future forecast global rubidium demand will rise from 7.44 tonnes in 2025 to 7.79 tonnes in 2026 and to 11.96 tonnes in 2035. The compound annual growth rate is about 4.87 percent.

Behind the demand increase are neutral-atom quantum computers. QuEra Computing, Pasqal and Atom Computing are developing technology that uses lasers to trap and cool rubidium-87 atoms and then use them as qubits.

Early neutral-atom quantum computers stayed below 100 qubits, but recent test equipment has exceeded 1,000 qubits. QuEra Computing and Pasqal have set a goal of building systems with more than 10,000 qubits before 2032.

The problem is supply. The industry estimates that even if only 50 to 100 commercial quantum computers operate worldwide, an additional 0.5 to 0.8 tonnes of rubidium a year would be needed. That is not a small increase given the current market size. As a result, quantum hardware companies may increasingly face the task of securing long-term supply contracts before moving from research and development to full-scale commercialisation.

Rubidium use is not limited to quantum computers. Rubidium vapour cells are also used in quantum magnetometers, quantum gravimeters and quantum key distribution (QKD) networks. Such equipment can be used across industry and defence, including geological exploration, underground mapping, secure communications, navigation systems and submarine detection.

Governments are also accelerating investment in quantum technology. The United States plans to invest $1.2 billion through the National Quantum Initiative by 2028, and the European Union allocated 1 billion euros to the Quantum Flagship programme over 10 years.

U.S. President Donald Trump also signed 2 executive orders this year to include quantum technology in national industry and security strategy. One executive order defined quantum technology as a core technology to drive U.S. innovation, and the other focused on protecting cryptographic systems in preparation for a future quantum-computer era.

The U.S. government plans to make direct purchases to help form an early market. The executive orders assigned the Department of Energy (DOE) the role of an early buyer of research quantum systems and recommended that the Department of Commerce review advance purchase agreements. For private companies, the government effectively serves as a stable first customer.

Companies are also competing on investment. Alphabet, Microsoft and IBM are expanding in-house quantum-computing research and development, and IonQ is expanding its business as a listed company. The U.S. Department of Commerce is known to have secured investment intentions worth about $2 billion from companies in quantum technology, semiconductors, rare minerals and defence industries.

Quantum computer buildouts are also gaining momentum in Europe. Dutch startup QuiX Quantum supplied the photonics-based quantum computer Carina to the German Aerospace Center (DLR). It was introduced as the Netherlands' first quantum computer.

The industry views quantum computing as still at an early stage, but expects the strategic importance of rare resources such as rubidium to grow as better equipment performance, increased government investment and applications in sensing and security converge. It also sees a chance that supply-demand imbalances could emerge quickly if distribution of commercial quantum computers increases, given the market's narrow supply base.