Qolab, a leader in developing utility-scale superconducting quantum computers, has announced a strategic investment from Western Digital (Nasdaq: WDC). This partnership combines Western Digital’s expertise in materials science, precision manufacturing, and nanofabrication with Qolab’s advancements in quantum hardware design, specifically focusing on superconducting qubits. The collaborative effort aims to improve qubit performance, reliability, and scalability through next-generation nanofabrication processes. This joint undertaking intends to translate quantum computing from scientific research into scalable production, strengthening U.S. leadership in semiconductor research and advanced nanofabrication.
Strategic Investment in Quantum Hardware
Qolab has secured a strategic investment from Western Digital (Nasdaq: WDC) to accelerate advancements in quantum hardware. This partnership unites Western Digital’s expertise in materials science, precision manufacturing, and nanofabrication with Qolab’s approach to quantum hardware design. The goal is to improve qubit performance, reliability, and scalability, ultimately moving quantum computing beyond research and toward practical applications. This collaboration is focused on next-generation nanofabrication processes.
The partnership aims to strengthen U.S. leadership in both semiconductor research and nanofabrication. Specifically, it leverages Western Digital’s deep engineering expertise alongside Qolab’s leadership in superconducting quantum hardware. According to Alan Ho, CEO of Qolab, this collaboration represents a critical step in translating quantum computing from scientific research into scalable production, building a foundation for reliable, high-performance systems.
Western Digital’s strategy involves applying its nanofabrication expertise to emerging fields like quantum computing. Carl Che, SVP and Chief Technology Officer at Western Digital, notes the company’s history of translating physics breakthroughs into data storage technologies. This joint effort extends innovation into a new domain, converging storage, materials, and manufacturing to power computational breakthroughs, while fostering job creation in California’s technology corridor.
Advancing Nanofabrication and Scalability
Qolab has secured a strategic investment from Western Digital to accelerate advances in scalable quantum hardware. This partnership leverages Western Digital’s established expertise in materials science, precision manufacturing, and crucially, nanofabrication. Combining this with Qolab’s breakthroughs in quantum hardware design aims to improve qubit performance, reliability, and scalability—moving quantum computing beyond research and towards practical, real-world applications.
The collaboration centers on next-generation nanofabrication processes, directly applying Western Digital’s engineering strengths to Qolab’s superconducting qubit advancements. This joint effort isn’t simply about innovation, but also about reinforcing U.S. leadership in semiconductor research and advanced nanofabrication—specifically within California’s technology sector. The companies intend to build a foundation for reliable, high-performance quantum computing systems.
This partnership extends innovation into a new domain by converging storage, materials, and manufacturing. Western Digital’s history of translating physics breakthroughs into data storage technologies aligns with Qolab’s focus on building scalable quantum systems. The companies are working together to solve challenges on the path to fault-tolerant quantum computing and to drive computational breakthroughs.
Our collaboration represents a critical step in translating quantum computing from scientific research into scalable production.
Alan Ho, CEO of Qolab
