Thirteen corporates invested a total of $1.31bn in quantum computing start-ups in 2021. That is a 68% rise from 2020. But is this nascent sector ready to see even bigger corporate cheques?  

SAIC Motor’s Shang Qi Capital vehicle led RT Advanced Materials’ $740m series D round while Contentsquare pulled in $600m from investors including SoftBank Vision Fund 2.

Intesa Sanpaolo Group helped online property marketplace Casavo pull in over $400m while collaborative robotics developer Jaka raised $150m from investors including SoftBank and Saudi Aramco.

Google, Chevron and Sumitomo were part of fusion power system developer TAE’s $250m series G2 while GMO VenturePartners and Christie's Ventures formed new funds.

Eli Lilly and Illumina took part in liquid biopsy developer Delfi Diagnostics' $225m series B round while Sompo, Yamaha Motor and Bridgestone invested $87.8m in driverless vehicle software provider Tier IV.

Bertelsmann vehicle BAI Capital co-led a $150m C2 round for payment card provider Stori while Sram and Mram supplied $100m in series A funding for blockchain ecosystem developer 5ire.

Flow Traders Capital is equipped with over $50m and will invest in digital asset and financial infrastructure technology for its market maker parent.

Oxford Science Enterprises now has just over $1bn under management and already boasts a portfolio of more than 80 University of Oxford spinouts.

NextEra Energy, SK and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America were part of a $300m round for Monolith while Superscrypt helped Safe secure $100m.

Alphabet unit GV participated in autonomous flight technology developer Merlin Labs’ $105m series B round while several corporates helped Cathay Innovation close a $1bn fund.