A KPI framework to standardize the measurement of a country’s progress in bringing quantum computing into application

Quantum computing (QC) is a new and disruptive technology with large economic potential especially in application and downstream value creation stages. Hence, it is important for an economy to understand the current implementation state and to know the ecosystem to support the successful industrial application of this technology. Regularly identifying potential areas of improvement and then defining appropriate actions is necessary to ensure a leading position. Therefore, the Quantum Technology and Application Consortium (QUTAC) has developed a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) framework consisting of 24 KPIs that represent a country’s performance in applying QC. Detailed measurement guidelines and clear data sources ensure transparency of measurement, reproducibility of KPI values and comparability over time. An aggregation method allows summarizing the results of all KPIs. Thus, it is possible to assess the performance of each stakeholder involved and to calculate a single composite indicator that represents the country’s performance. The KPI framework can be adapted to any country and enables the comparison of the performance of different countries. It is a proposal for standardizing the evaluation of QC and its ecosystem on a national level. Thus, strengths and weaknesses can be identified and measurements for improvement derived. The paper highlights the development of the framework, its main features and the application of the framework to Germany. Based on the results, we will discuss the current state of QC application in Germany and make possible suggestions for improvement.