Shares of Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) surged 5.03% in the last 24 hours, fueled by renewed optimism surrounding the future of quantum computing technology. The rally came as major tech giants like Microsoft and Nvidia expressed their bullish views on the sector, propelling investor interest in quantum stocks.

Microsoft announced its "Quantum Ready" program on Tuesday, aimed at helping businesses prepare for the quantum computing era. In a blog post, the tech giant stated that it anticipates the pace of quantum research and development to accelerate rapidly over the next 12 months, bringing meaningful applications closer to reality.

"We are at the advent of the reliable quantum computing era," Microsoft wrote. "And we are right on the cusp of seeing quantum computers solve meaningful problems and capture new business value."

Adding to the positive sentiment, Nvidia revealed plans to host its first-ever Quantum Day during its annual GTC conference in March. The event will feature discussions with executives from quantum computing companies like Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and IonQ, highlighting the progress and potential of the technology.

These announcements from industry leaders provided a much-needed boost to quantum stocks, which had taken a hit last week after CEOs from Nvidia and Meta Platforms expressed skepticism about the immediate practical applications of quantum computing.