Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) stock surged 11.57% in pre-market trading on Wednesday, riding a broader wave of optimism in the quantum computing sector. The rally came as a rebound from recent sell-offs sparked by skepticism from tech industry leaders about the near-term prospects of the technology.

The stock's upswing was fueled by a fresh chorus of support from industry experts and analysts, who highlighted the real-world applications of quantum computing and dismissed concerns about its readiness. Microsoft urged businesses to become "quantum-ready," suggesting that the technology's potential was closer than some had anticipated.

Analysts at B. Riley and Benchmark also expressed bullishness on the sector, with B. Riley raising its price target for D-Wave Quantum and Benchmark citing a major customer purchase as validation of growing market demand. Meanwhile, D-Wave Quantum's CEO Alan Baratz refuted claims that practical uses were years away, stating that customers were already using their quantum computers to solve complex problems.