Quantum Technologies Key Opportunities for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains 2025

How quantum advances material discovery, product design and secure R&D from molecular structures to computational models Product design and R&D form the foundation of competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. The ability to discover new materials, engineer high- performance components, simulate complex behaviour and collaborate securely across ecosystems defines frontrunners in a fast-evolving industrial landscape. This is where quantum technologies reveal their transformative potential. Figure 4 illustrates some of the opportunities in this area, mapping specific challenges across the different functions in the design phase and highlighting how quantum technologies are poised to address them. 2.1 Innovations in product design and R&D How quantum technologies are transforming product design and R&D applications (five key examples)FIGURE 4 Material discovery (R&D, prototyping)Lengthy and expensive R&D cycles due to slow material validation processesQuantum computing can natively simulate molecular interactions at an atomic scale, enabling faster development of advanced materials. Product design and engineeringFragmented design workflows delay launches and increase costsQuantum-enhanced optimization can streamline design iterations and improve cross-domain engineering decisions, supporting faster, more efficient product development. Process simulations (prototyping; testing and validation)Low-fidelity simulations limit performance and quality assurance Component validation and performance testing (testing and validation)Conventional sensors miss subtle defects and stress factors Secure collaboration (product conceptualization, R&D)Sensitive R&D data is vulnerable to cyberthreats, including future quantum attacksPQC, QRNG and QKD ensure secure data sharing and protect intellectual property (IP) across collaborative networks.Value chain functions Challenge Quantum innovation Quantum computing Quantum sensing Quantum security and communicationsQuantum computing offers higher-precision simulations of complex physical processes, with long-term potential to improve accuracy in areas like fluid dynamics and thermal behaviour. Quantum sensors provide ultra-sensitive detection of magnetic, thermal and pressure variations, enabling earlier fault detection and better quality control. Quantum Technologies: Key Opportunities for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains 8