Honestly: I approached it with a dose of skepticism. Quantum still sounds to many CIOs and IT managers like something vague, something that will become relevant somewhere “later.” What I took away after half a day of sessions is the exact opposite. Quantum is already relevant today, even deployable in some domains, with choices organizations need to make now to avoid falling behind tomorrow.
Four speakers took us through the different dimensions of quantum: sensing, processing, exploration and readiness. Below are the insights that seem most relevant to our clients.
A market accelerating faster than expected
The tone was immediately set with a clear market sketch. By 2035, quantum technology could create up to 2.3 trillion in economic value. The quantum computing market itself is growing at a CAGR of 27 percent. More than 300 companies worldwide are already actively experimenting or investing in the technology, with a strong concentration in energy, materials, pharma, healthcare, finance and logistics.
The striking thing: quantum is moving from research to what speakers call a “commercial tipping point.” In particular, hybrid models, where classical computing is complemented by quantum (or quantum-inspired) algorithms, are already delivering concrete value today.
Q-Sensing: value you can book today
Walter Vanherle, Partner at BDO Belgium and Transport & Industry Market Lead at Quantum Circle, brought a nuance that I thought was important. Quantum sensing is already delivering direct business value today. Think ultra-precise timing via quantum clocks (crucial for telecom, energy grids and financial transactions), gravity sensors that detect underground infrastructure or pipes, inertial navigation without GPS, and RF sensing for security and medical applications.
In practice, for organizations looking to get started with quantum, sensing often proves to be the first, low-level entry point.
Q-Processing: where quantum makes a difference today
Mark Thienpont, Lead Expert Data Science & AI at delaware BeLux, addressed quantum computing for complex optimization problems, and this is where things got really concrete. Today, companies are structurally bumping up against the limits of classical computing. As many as 81 percent of organizations use simplifications or heuristics. Problems are broken down into subproblems, simplified or solved “good enough.” The result: suboptimal decisions that cost money.
Quantum, and specifically quantum-inspired techniques, addresses exactly that gap. Combinatorial optimization, complex decision problems and real-time decision making suddenly become feasible. The use cases reviewed speak for themselves:
- KWR (water networks): optimal placement of sensors in networks with exponentially large search space.
- UNILIN: truck loading optimization that goes beyond the usual “90 percent full” rules of thumb.
- LINEAS (rail): real-time rescheduling in the event of disruptions, in less than a minute.
- Elia: outage planning in complex energy networks.
The biggest commercial traction today is in quantum-inspired computing: classic hardware, but with algorithms inspired by quantum principles. Accessible, scalable and proven.
Q-Exploration: the broader ecosystem in view
Eric Michiels, Account Technical Leader & Quantum Ambassador at IBM, placed quantum in a broader ecosystem. The landscape is layered: hardware (qubits, cryogenics, photonics), software and algorithms, and cloud providers such as Azure, AWS and Google. The technological complexity is real. Some systems require cooling to millikelvin levels; others are betting on laser-based alternatives.
In the longer term, the biggest breakthroughs lie in molecular simulation and drug discovery, new materials for batteries and energy, AI and machine learning, and cybersecurity. For pure quantum computing, we’ll have to be patient here for a few more years. But the direction is clear.
Q-Readiness: the strategic question
The closing keynote by Elias Oumouadène, AI Strategy Manager at BDO Belgium, addressed what I personally thought was the most important message of the day: how do you prepare your organization? The drivers are clear: sharply rising public and private investments, a growing demand for competitive advantage, and the rise of Quantum-as-a-Service models.
But the risks are equally real. There is a shortage of quantum talent. The technology remains complex. And a migration to quantum-safe security, or post-quantum cryptography, is coming. Those who encrypt sensitive data with classical encryption today should expect that in time, that protection will no longer be sufficient. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as “Q-Day,” requires preparation long before it happens.
The strategic actions presented feel recognizable to those who have guided cloud or AI transformations before:
- Start today with use-case identification.
- Experiment with quantum-inspired solutions where it can already be done.
- Build internal knowledge and partnerships.
- Prepare your security stack for a post-quantum world.
Our reflection
What Sam and I took away most of all was the shift from theory to concrete business use cases. The speed at which optimization use cases gain traction was the biggest eye-opener for me. The clarity that hybrid (classical plus quantum) is the way forward suddenly makes the barrier to entry much lower.
For organizations in sectors such as logistics, energy, manufacturing and finance, the message is clear. Quantum starts today. The biggest mistake you can make is waiting until the technology feels “ripe.” By then, others have already built a lead in use-case knowledge, talent and partnerships that you’ll have trouble catching up with.
In conclusion
So the right question as far as I’m concerned is this: “what decisions do we make today to lead with tomorrow?” This includes a sober look at where quantum can already provide value today (sensing, optimization, hybrid workloads), and where it still requires an investment in time and knowledge.
At Xylos we follow these evolutions closely, so we can help our customers take the right steps at the right time. Want to spar with our team about this? Let us know, we are happy to come by.
About the author
Frank Dierckx is Partner Alliance Manager at Xylos and tracks the evolution of infrastructure, partner ecosystems and emerging technologies. His expertise helps clients make technology choices that are technically sound and economically sound.
