One of my last calls with a friend before he retired in June was about quantum computing. I’ll admit, it wasn’t on my radar. But the way he spoke about it stuck with me. The science is fascinating, but in my typical form, I was interested in the physical buildings.

So I earmarked it. I wanted to understand who the players were, where they were building, and what kind of infrastructure this next wave of computing would demand.

That led me here.

First off, What Is Quantum Computing?

Quantum computing is not just a faster computer. It’s an entirely different kind of machine.

Most computers use bits—ones and zeros—to process information. A quantum computer uses qubits, which can be a one, a zero, or both at the same time. That sounds unusual, but it enables quantum machines to explore multiple solutions simultaneously, rather than one at a time.

Quantum computing is no longer science fiction. According to JLL, its rise mirrors AI’s early days, but with even more demanding infrastructure needs. That makes now the right time for real estate professionals to pay attention. The market is forming, the capital is arriving, and the buildings needed to support this shift are unlike anything we’ve seen.

Here’s what you need to know.

Where to Look: The Emerging Quantum Real Estate Map

Quantum real estate will concentrate in a few highly specialized zones. These are not typical tech hubs. They are ecosystems with:

We’re already seeing early activity in places like Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Munich, Tokyo, Hefei, and cities across Germany and the Netherlands. These regions host major quantum research hubs, state-backed funding, and the specialized infrastructure needed to support the physical demands of quantum computing. China, in particular, has committed significant national resources to quantum development, with large-scale facilities already operational in Hefei and expanding in other tech hubs, such as Shenzhen.

In Chicago alone, analysts project up to 191,000 quantum tech jobs across the Illinois–Wisconsin–Indiana region by 2035, assuming sustained government investment.

The quantum market won’t spread evenly. Its growth is gated by talent, power, and capital. However, in a few key areas, the foundation is already being laid, both physically and financially.

Boston / Cambridge, MA
Home to MIT and Harvard, Boston remains a stronghold for federally backed quantum research, despite the 2024 shutdown of Zapata Computing, once a high-profile startup. New construction now focuses on university labs and public-private research centers.

Chicago, IL
The Chicago Quantum Exchange, supported by the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory, has attracted federal funding and is expanding its hybrid lab and data infrastructure in Hyde Park and surrounding districts.

College Park, MD
IonQ, one of the few publicly traded quantum hardware companies, anchors a growing cluster in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. Lab-specific needs, long-term leases, and federal co-investment are shaping the real estate landscape.

Boulder, CO
With NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder as anchors, Boulder supports companies like Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta). Development focuses on low-vibration lab space and next-gen cryogenics facilities.

Delft, Netherlands
The €615 million national initiative to support Quantum Delta NL is equivalent to approximately $670 million USD. This funding is being used to build infrastructure across Delft, Eindhoven, Leiden, Amsterdam, and Twente, including labs, testbeds, and commercial R&D space.

Munich, Germany
IQM and the Munich Quantum Valley have raised substantial capital to develop fabrication, cooling, and hybrid computing campuses. Bavaria alone pledged over €300 million to accelerate growth.

Tokyo, Japan
Japan’s Society 5.0 strategy supports quantum research and development (R&D) at RIKEN, Moonshot Research and Development, and the University of Tokyo. Companies like NTT are piloting commercial quantum networks, driving demand for specialized telecom infrastructure and cooling systems.

China - Hefei and Shenzhen
China is building the world’s largest quantum lab in Hefei, a $10 billion, state-funded facility led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It focuses on quantum communication, cryptography, and photonics.

Public details are limited. Quantum work is closely tied to national security, so information is mainly conveyed through academic channels and satellite-confirmed construction. Shenzhen supports commercial efforts, with Huawei developing telecom-based quantum technology in government-zoned parks.

The infrastructure is massive. The silence is intentional.

Landowners and developers near research clusters and high-spec data centers are positioned to gain. Early investors in industrial parks zoned for heavy infrastructure will also benefit.

Winners will include:

Only regions with the right technical talent, energy stability, and policy support will compete.

You don’t need to build a quantum computer. You need to understand where they’ll go—and what they’ll need.

Three investment categories stand out:

Land near research universities or national labs
Long lead times mean real estate near these sites will appreciate as demand matures. Buy now, zone for industrial, and build later.

Hybrid data centers
Facilities that combine classical compute with space for future quantum racks will be in demand. These need shielding, cooling, and fault-tolerant power. Think of them as the garages where the next revolution starts.

QaaS infrastructure and support real estate
Most companies will access quantum power via the cloud. That cloud still needs buildings.

Look at:

The investment curve for quantum computing resembles the one for AI in 2015. Early believers bought data center land, backed hardware startups, and funded GPU infrastructure. Today, those bets have compounded.

JLL expects quantum investment to hit $20 billion by 2030. A breakthrough in what researchers call “quantum advantage” could trigger a $50 billion surge in one year.

We saw this with ChatGPT. One demo changed the funding landscape overnight. The same is possible here.

Quantum computing is real. It’s a new foundation for architecture. These machines need a different kind of building—shielded, stable, efficient, and secure. Every real estate cycle brings one or two chances to get ahead of the curve.

This is one.

If you’re a proptech founder, developer, or investor, this is your moment. You missed the first wave of data centers. Maybe the early phase of crypto. Don’t miss this one.

JLL’s research doesn’t suggest quantum might happen. It says it’s already happening.

xoxo,

Maximillian Diez

GP, Twenty Five Ventures

P.S. Stay with me on this journey. 

Disclaimer

www.twentyfiveventures.com

If nothing else, thanks for reading.