CASE STUDY 6 Merck – driving quantum innovation through collective strength Merck is a founding member of the Quantum Technology and Application Consortium (QUTAC), established to explore, together with peer companies, how quantum computing can complement existing methods for material and drug development. Traditional molecular simulation techniques face unavoidable trade-offs that make them either limited in precision or constrained in the size of the systems they can model. This creates bottlenecks for innovation in pharmaceuticals and advanced materials, where higher accuracy and larger system sizes are often critical. Through QUTAC, Merck collaborates with BASF, Boehringer Ingelheim and other German industry leaders in a pre-competitive setting. Together, members co-develop intellectual property, define reference problems and establish benchmarks that guide the development of algorithms and hardware towards applications with measurable industrial impact. By contributing R&D use cases, data and scientific expertise, Merck helps ensure that the most pressing challenges in chemistry and pharmaceuticals are represented in the early stages of ecosystem building. This work is aimed at embedding quantum components into established R&D workflows, overcoming the precision/efficiency trade-off in molecular simulations, and benchmarking problems of industrial importance. It also seeks to create shared intellectual property that de-risks early exploration and to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty by ensuring critical health and materials challenges are included in the industrialization of quantum technologies. This approach positions Merck as both a user and an enabler. By shaping shared frameworks and participating in collaborative IP development, Merck supports Germany’s ambition for digital sovereignty while helping bridge the gap between world-class scientific research and commercial leadership. The company’s engagement illustrates how industrial actors can strengthen the foundations of an emerging quantum ecosystem while preparing their own pipelines for future breakthroughs. The development of effective quantum algorithms is still a major challenge that we need to overcome. It’s a long journey ahead, but one worth taking. Philipp Harbach, Global Head, Group Digital Innovation, Merck CASE STUDY 7 Abeer Group – securing healthcare data in preparation for a post-quantum era Abeer Group, a regional healthcare provider, is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest groups in the affordable healthcare segment, serving more than 4 million patients a year. As part of its ethos, patient confidentiality and the confidential nature of EHR are of paramount importance from an ethical, operational and regulatory perspective. With the recent surge in AI-driven cyberattacks and the future vulnerability of data, given the emergence of quantum computing, Abeer seeks long-term security through a quantum-safe solution. Quantasphere, a quantum communications company, will enable Abeer Group to protect patient data and ensure healthcare operations are secure against cyber threats. Both companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement quantum solutions in two phases. The first step will enable Abeer clinics and remote staff to safely exchange information by using the provider’s API-based quantum entropy engine (QEE). This engine harnesses quantum entanglement to deliver the highest level of randomization for encryption keys, so confidential records and communications always stay private – without the need for any extra equipment at the clinics.The second phase will add an on-site QEE, strengthening protection for critical internal networks across facilities and sensitive mobile devices. This advanced capability will give Abeer full control over its own security systems and support safe connections between clinics, medical staff and external partners. By doing this, Abeer Group will be one of the first healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia to use quantum technology to keep patient data safe. Abeer Group is committed to being at the forefront of all technological advances. Our partnership with Quantasphere will reduce our cybersecurity budget by 50%, creating a robust long-term framework for our data and ensuring that we are fully compliant with regulatory requirements even before they are instated. Ahmed Alungal, Executive Vice-President, Abeer Group Quantum Technologies: Strategic Imperatives for Health and Healthcare Leaders 26

Quantum Technologies Strategic Imperatives for Health and Healthcare Leaders 2025