$2 Billion to Fund 9 Companies, Accelerate Quantum Computing

The Department of Commerce will allocate 2 billion in federal incentives, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, to nine companies expected to advance the United States’ position in quantum computing. Two of those companies will focus specifically on domestic quantum hardware manufacturing. This investment supports building a complete quantum ecosystem vital for national security, advanced materials discovery, and financial modeling. These strategic quantum technology investments will build on our domestic industry, creating thousands of high-paying American jobs while advancing American quantum capabilities. The funds, intended to strengthen America’s technological resilience, will support companies like GlobalFoundries and IBM as they establish foundational domestic manufacturing capacity for diverse quantum architectures, with 625 million remaining for other companies in the portfolio.

2 Billion CHIPS Act Incentives for Quantum Computing Companies

These funds, distributed through letters of intent, target both the development of quantum computers and the crucial infrastructure required for their manufacture. GlobalFoundries and IBM are designated as domestic quantum foundries, receiving a combined 1.375 billion to establish and accelerate foundational manufacturing capacity for a variety of quantum architectures. GlobalFoundries will receive 375 million to create a secure domestic foundry capable of producing components for superconducting, trapped ion, photonic, topological, and silicon spin-based quantum computers. IBM’s planned 1 billion investment will establish a new subsidiary focused on quantum-grade superconducting wafers, leveraging the company’s existing U.S. leadership in this fabrication technology. The remaining 625 million will be distributed among seven quantum computing companies, each tackling distinct technological hurdles across multiple quantum modalities, including neutral atom, silicon-spin, superconducting, photonic, and trapped ion.

Bill Frauenhofer, Executive Director of Semiconductor Investment and Innovation, explained that the “CHIPS R&D Office is taking a portfolio approach to strengthen and accelerate U.S. leadership across multiple quantum modalities at once, while focusing each award on discrete technological problems of genuine consequence.” This strategic allocation reflects a deliberate effort to address critical engineering challenges, including device reproducibility, error rates, and cryogenic systems integration, to benefit U.S. taxpayers and ensure long-term strategic leadership in this rapidly evolving field.

GlobalFoundries & IBM Receive Funding for Domestic Quantum Foundries

The United States is rapidly attempting to establish a robust domestic capacity for quantum technology manufacturing, a sector currently dominated by overseas facilities. While much attention focuses on the development of quantum computers themselves, a critical component is the specialized foundries needed to build the quantum hardware. This funding isn’t simply bolstering computational research; it’s directly targeting the creation of facilities capable of producing quantum components at scale. GlobalFoundries and IBM are dedicated quantum foundry companies among the nine receiving these letters of intent. This broad approach signals an intention to avoid prematurely favoring a single quantum technology. GlobalFoundries will receive 375 million in planned funding to establish a secure, domestic quantum foundry for leading architectures and multiple modalities (superconducting, trapped ion, photonic, topological, and silicon spin) used in large-scale quantum computers. IBM will receive 1 billion in planned funding to establish a new quantum foundry subsidiary for quantum-grade superconducting wafers by building on its U.S. leadership in superconducting quantum wafer fabrication technology. The remaining funds available after these awards will total 625 million.

Quantum Portfolio Targets Key Challenges Across Multiple Modalities

Atom Computing is poised to receive 100 million to tackle fundamental hurdles in neutral-atom quantum computing, specifically focusing on the hardware development and systems integration necessary to manipulate and validate the performance of tens of thousands of qubits. This investment, one of nine letters of intent totaling 2 billion announced by the Department of Commerce, signals a strategic push beyond mere computational advancement and toward establishing a robust domestic quantum manufacturing base within the United States. The Department of Commerce is proposing to provide incentives for two quantum foundries (GlobalFoundries and IBM) to help establish and accelerate foundational domestic manufacturing capacity for the quantum sector, with GlobalFoundries receiving 375 million and IBM receiving 1 billion, leaving 625 million for the remaining companies. This emphasis on manufacturing capacity is a key differentiator, addressing a critical vulnerability in U.S. leadership in fabrication technology.

The portfolio approach extends beyond modality, with companies like Diraq, receiving up to 38 million, and Quantinuum, receiving $100 million, targeting specific engineering bottlenecks in silicon spin and trapped-ion technologies respectively, including qubit reliability and integrated photonics. This will strengthen America’s position in this critical frontier technology and drive continued U.S. dominance in the quantum landscape.