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Nine quantum computing companies are set to share $2 billion in government grants — with the U.S. taking equity stakes in each firm as part of the arrangements — according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited the Commerce Department. The funding comes from the 2022 Chips and Science Act.
Of the total award, $1 billion goes to IBM $IBM, making it the top beneficiary of the package, according to the Journal. GlobalFoundries, the chipmaker, is in line for $375 million. D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and Infleqtion are each expected to land $100 million, with the smallest disclosed allocation — $38 million — going to startup Diraq. The other firms expected to receive funding are Atom Computing, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum. The deals still need to be formally completed.
IBM confirmed a letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce to build what the company calls America's first purpose-built quantum chip foundry. A new standalone entity named Anderon, to be based in Albany, New York, will be the vehicle for the work, IBM said — with the company describing it as a 300-millimeter quantum wafer foundry built to serve a broad range of industry customers. IBM said it will contribute $1 billion of its own cash to Anderon, matching the government grant, along with intellectual property, assets, and staff.
