Quantum Computing: A new strategic horizon for your organisation

Quantum sensing is also emerging as a transformative technology, addressing critical challenges that conventional sensors cannot solve. By exploiting proven physics principles, quantum sensing is already delivering measurable results in field trials across aviation, maritime, rail, and road transport.

In terms of post-quantum security, Telecom, utility, and financial companies are already developing strategies to protect against the threat that quantum computing poses to today's encryption standards. The concern is not only future data, information stolen now could be decrypted later, once quantum technology becomes widely available.

Preparing for the quantum era: from hype to business readiness

Quantum technologies are steadily moving from use-case and field research into the strategic agendas of organisations. While large-scale quantum computing (quantum supremacy) is still a longer-term horizon, its implications for security, optimisation and competitiveness are already becoming tangible today. The real challenge for executives is no longer what quantum is, but how to prepare for its impact in a pragmatic and responsible way.

From promise to practical relevance

Not all quantum technologies are equally mature. In today’s market, two areas stand out for their immediate relevance:

• Optimisation use cases: particularly in transport and logistics, where routing, network optimisation and workforce planning can already benefit from quantum-inspired approaches.
• Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): driven by regulatory pressure and the growing awareness that current encryption standards will not remain future proof.

Other domains such as quantum communication and sensing are evolving rapidly but remain more exploratory for most organisations. This uneven maturity makes a one-size-fits-all quantum strategy unrealistic. What matters is understanding where quantum creates real business urgency and where it does not (yet).

Why quantum readiness is becoming unavoidable

Specifically in cyber security, the discussion has clearly shifted. Organisations are moving from asking “should we act?” to “how do we prepare responsibly?”. The risks of not preparing are not hypothetical: sensitive data with long-term value can already be harvested today and decrypted later, once quantum capabilities mature.

This makes quantum readiness less about technology adoption and more about governance, data classification and long-term risk management. Preparing for PQC is increasingly seen as a natural extension of existing cyber and risk frameworks instead of a standalone technology project.

Bridging research and executive decision-making

One of the main barriers to quantum adoption remains the gap between technical research and executive decision-making. Many organisations struggle with:

• Overhyped or fear-driven narratives
• A lack of concrete, sector-specific use cases
• Unclear timelines and responsibilities

What executives need instead is a clear framing of short-, mid- and long-term impact, grounded in their own industry context. In Belgium, this is particularly relevant for sectors such as logistics and mobility, energy and infrastructure, financial services, and chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

A business-first role in the quantum ecosystem

Technology vendors and research institutions play a crucial role in advancing quantum capabilities. But organisations also need an independent partner who can translate ecosystem insights into business decisions, risk priorities and governance choices.

Rather than building technology, the focus lies in:

• Translating quantum developments into executive language
• Connecting strategy, regulation, risk and operations
• Helping organisations move from awareness to readiness
• Orchestrating ecosystems without vendor lock-in
• Helping construct business cases and funding programmes

This pragmatic, human-centric approach avoids science-fiction scenarios and instead builds on familiar analogies from AI adoption and cyber security maturity.

The most credible first steps into quantum are deliberately low threshold:

• Executive briefings and awareness sessions
• Quantum readiness or PQC impact assessments
• Use-case exploration workshops
• Partner-enabled proofs of concept, where relevant

These steps allow organisations to build understanding and resilience today, without overcommitting to immature technology paths.