$38M CHIPS Act Award to Scale Diraq Silicon Quantum Processors

Diraq has secured a Letter of Intent for 38 million in proposed funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce through the CHIPS Research and Development Office, a commitment designed to scale domestic production of silicon quantum computing processors. The company’s approach, leveraging silicon spin technology, is potentially a more economical and scalable path toward utility-scale quantum computing than other qubit technologies currently in development. “The Department of Commerce’s incentives strengthen U.S. quantum leadership and technological resilience,” said Bill Frauenhofer, Executive Director of Semiconductor Investment and Innovation. This investment builds upon 25 years of U.S. government support, through the U.S. Army Research Office and DARPA, that underpins Diraq’s technology, potentially establishing a fully American quantum supply chain for cryostats, chips, and packaging.

38M CHIPS Act Funding to Scale Silicon Quantum Processors

A proposed 38 million investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce signals a move toward silicon-based quantum computing, specifically targeting the scaling of processors developed by Diraq. Diraq’s approach centers on utilizing existing CMOS manufacturing processes, a strategy designed to circumvent the substantial infrastructure hurdles facing other quantum modalities and potentially deliver millions of qubits on a single chip. This financial commitment is not a sudden endorsement, but rather a continuation of decades-long government support; Andrew Dzurak, Diraq Founder and CEO, explained that “The U.S. Government has played an important role for over 25 years in funding silicon quantum research through entities such as the U.S. Army Research Office and more recently DARPA.” Diraq is targeting a price point of less than 1 per physical qubit, a critical threshold for utility-scale quantum computing, and designing systems compatible with standard data center infrastructure.

GlobalFoundries, a key partner, is leveraging its cryo-CMOS quantum capabilities to support this scaling effort. Dr. William Jeffrey, Chairman of the Board for Diraq and former Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), underscored the strategic importance of this approach, noting that “This LOI is a powerful signal that the U.S. government recognizes silicon-based quantum processors as a viable architecture to securing domestic computing leadership.” The company, with offices in Palo Alto, Chicago, and soon Los Angeles, is actively expanding its U.S. presence to bolster the domestic quantum ecosystem.

Diraq’s Silicon Qubit Technology for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing

While superconducting and trapped-ion approaches currently dominate public discussion, Diraq is pursuing a different path to scalable quantum computing; the company is focused on harnessing the potential of silicon spin technology for building processors capable of tackling real-world problems. This strategy is the culmination of 25 years of investment from U.S. government agencies including the U.S. Army Research Office and DARPA, providing a robust foundation for their current advancements. Diraq’s processors aim to circumvent limitations of other qubit types by leveraging established semiconductor manufacturing techniques, potentially offering a more economical and scalable route to industrial-level quantum infrastructure. A recently signed Letter of Intent with the U.S. government demonstrates this commitment, and Diraq’s architecture is designed to achieve a critical benchmark for utility: scalable cost, aiming for sub-dollar pricing per physical qubit, and infrastructure readiness with compact, rack-deployable units compatible with existing data centers.

This focus on practical engineering and scale represents a shift as quantum computing transitions from scientific discovery to industrial application. Andrew Dzurak, Diraq Founder and CEO, emphasizes the long-term implications of this approach, stating, “The foundational advancements that came from this work underpin Diraq’s technology today.” The company’s ambition extends beyond simply creating qubits; they are building an end-to-end quantum supply chain, encompassing cryostats, chips, and packaging, all with fully American production. Dr.