The Quantum Avenue in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone hosts nearly one-third of China's quantum firms, as the number of local quantum firms grew from 40 to 80, with industry-chain revenue approaching 5 billion yuan in 2025. Computing, measurement, and communications are moving from labs to markets.

A startup in the zone co-developed a device with suppliers. Within a year, the device is set to generate over 10 million yuan (US$1.47 million) annually. Key components — lasers, vacuum, cryogenics, machining, electronics, chips — are all available within a 10-kilometer radius.

Precision measurement catches microscopic flaws missed by conventional methods. In a factory trial, inspection time fell from 3.5 hours to 3 to 5 minutes per batch, with 19 samples tested at once. The equipment is now deployed across all sites and improves with use.

The sector is transitioning from lab to factory floor. Reliable field performance matters more than the technology itself. Battery leads, with semiconductors, grids, and biotech following. Users supply real scenarios, vendors provide sensors, and both sides iterate together.

The Quantum Avenue is just the start — the supply chain is deepening, and the technology is moving from papers to orders.