Quantum technology matters now because rapid technological advancement is converging with leading organizations’ adoption and integration. This unique moment marks the transition from potential to real impact, positioning quantum as a catalyst for innovation across health institutions and life science firms. Overall venture capital funding for quantum start- ups reached nearly $2 billion in 2024,1 signalling not just speculative interest but a significant commitment to long-term value creation. The question is no longer whether quantum will matter, but why leading organizations are prioritizing it now – and how they are positioning themselves to capture its benefits. C-level sponsorship is one of the key elements for quantum programme success. When asked about barriers to funding their quantum programme, Clemens Utschig-Utschig, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Architect from biopharma company Boehringer Ingelheim, remarked: “Securing board approval for our quantum programme was straightforward – there was clear understanding of its strategic importance and potential.” This perspective underscores a critical shift: quantum is no longer viewed as an experimental technology on the periphery of R&D but rather as a strategic enabler of core business goals. Executive boards’ willingness to approve significant investments reflects both the scale of the opportunity and the risk of inaction in a competitive landscape. The current environment mirrors the early days of personal computing in the 1980s, when multiple architectures and operating systems competed for dominance. Today, development of quantum computing is advancing along many modalities, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. At the same time, diverse pathways are being explored in quantum sensing and communication, laying the groundwork for their transformative roles in future biomedical innovation. This diversity reflects a competitive frontier, where leadership will be determined by pioneering health and life science organizations’ ability to identify high-value applications and scale them effectively. Momentum is further amplified by national funding programmes, health-focused quantum testbeds and cross-disciplinary partnerships that are accelerating algorithm development for biomedicine. Hospitals and research institutions are emerging as early adopters and co-developers, piloting solutions that integrate quantum capabilities into clinical and operational workflows. These dynamics point to a clear trajectory: the organizations making strategic, well-informed investments today will shape the standards, ecosystems and value chains of tomorrow. Around the world, leading institutions are taking concrete steps to integrate quantum technology into health systems. Cleveland Clinic and IBM2 – supported by the National Institute of Health, US – are advancing biomedical research using an on-site quantum computer. In the United Arab Emirates, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is partnering with regional hospitals and global quantum firms to explore sensing and simulation applications.3 A cross-border EU consortium of universities, start-ups and pharmaceutical companies is developing quantum-enhanced healthcare solutions under the Horizon Europe framework.4 Many of these entities are actively engaged with the World Economic Forum, whether through the Quantum Economy Network5 or the Digital Healthcare Transformation Initiative.6 This report includes five sections, exploring the potential of quantum technology in addressing different health challenges: Section 1: Quantum’s role in next-generation (next-gen) healthcare: Outlines healthcare’s core challenges and why quantum is uniquely suited to accelerate delivery, resilience and discoveries in pharma and human biology Section 2: Quantum for creators: Explores how quantum can transform biomedical R&D, from target discovery to trials and manufacturing Section 3: Quantum for deliverers: Assesses how quantum sensing, computing and communication can improve diagnostics, care and operations Section 4: Quantum for enablers: Examines how regulators, infrastructure providers and funders shape adoption through standards, access and incentives Section 5: Strategic actions for healthcare innovators: Highlights practical steps and collaborations that leaders can take to capture value and accelerate adoption. These insights synthesize expert voices from across the quantum for health ecosystem. They are a guide to evaluating where quantum technologies offer practical advantages, how to allocate resources and when to engage. Quantum Technologies: Strategic Imperatives for Health and Healthcare Leaders 7

Quantum Technologies Strategic Imperatives for Health and Healthcare Leaders 2025